"Old West" Finish on a Stainless Steel New Vaquero?

A

AraneaeFatalis

New member
Is it possible? I've seen the glass bead blasted that's been done on stainless steel guns, but while looking at Uberti's website they have an Old West finish that makes the gun look, well, old.. Any way to get this replicated on my Stainless Steel New Vaquero? Been searching around the internet, but haven't found anything really.
 
You must be talking about case hardening on a blued revolver. You could have your revolver blued, then case hardened but it might cost more than your expecting, depending on who does it.
 
It's not blued that I saw. It's a satin steel look that has some 'wear' look to it. Here's a picture:
finishantique.jpg
 
That "old west" finish is the absence of a finish. It is bare gunmetal basically. So, no you cannot do that to a stainless revolver. It would have to be done to a blued revolver.
 
As others have said, best you can do is bead blast and scuff up. I have two - a Cimarron (Uberti) and USFA Rodeo - done up after the fact. But, as said, they had originally been blued. The Cimarron was actually done for me by the smith at Cimarron on this side of the pond as they didn't have any of the "Original" (old west) finish in my caliber (.44 Sp) in their shipment order at the time and I was impatient. Through my LGS that was friendly with them, they offered to "do" a blued Model P they were inspecting on the bench. The USFA I had done by my smith.
Cimarron top, USFA bottom, 4th (late 3rd( Gen Colt in the middle.
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Another of the Cimarron
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Back to the stainless, there may be some "acid etching" I'm not aware of, but I say no, don't go there. I'd get a blue'd one to 'speriment with (there are formulas in threads in several of these forums, often involving vinegar, sometimes naval jelly to strip, etc.)

About Rugers, it's my understanding the underlying "in the white" steel on blued guns is brighter than other brands, this according to my smith, so results may be different. Not sure I've seen a blued Ruger "antiqued." Would be interesting. The current (New Vaquero) crop is nothing special to look at with it's plain blue (black) finish, so it's tempting to mess with. I'll post if I get the itch!
 
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while looking at Uberti's website they have an Old West finish that makes the gun look, well, old..
Click to expand...

I guess I've never understood the rationale behind buying new "old" guns, anymore than I've ever grasped the idea of paying for new jeans that are already half-worn out. My take on it is that if I want a gun that looks old, I'll be the one who does the aging...but that's just me.
 
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Perhaps the OP is talking Case-Hardened?

The Uberti has beautiful case hardened guns on there web page.

if that is the case I think it is possible to do on a stainless bu it will be more work for the person applying it and thus more money.
 
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