Who Does Reblue Like Early Colt Automatics?
I have two Colt 1905 .45 autos with good clear markings that need refinish in original style to replace the current reblue. One of these is as crisp and sharp as new, never buffed at all. I want the old mirror polish blue.
I know about Turnbull but wonder if something less than full restoration is available out there. I'm thinking full restoration of the lesser of the two guns I have.
Thoughtful comments appreciated. Thanks
edit Thanks! I called Colt and they don't do old guns, awaiting email reply from Ford.
I know about Turnbull but wonder if something less than full restoration is available out there. I'm thinking full restoration of the lesser of the two guns I have.
Thoughtful comments appreciated. Thanks
edit Thanks! I called Colt and they don't do old guns, awaiting email reply from Ford.
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This place seems to do what you are looking for. http://www.fordsguns.com/ 0 -
Maybe Colt? 0 -
I really appreciate responses. A lot of knowlegeable people here do try hard. Before I posted this I sent Turnbull a description of the job and they said it would require complete restoration. They would have to polish the whole surface which would remove the lettering and theh have to restore the lettering. Price starting at $3000 and 6 to 8 month turnaround time. It could make sense to do it with the one in lesser condition, but not with this one which is very crisp about 95% but not the mirror blue.
As I see the economics, I can sell the best one of these and put that plus 2500-3k with it and buy an original EXC+ for that --- based on about six that sold in the last Rock Island auction.
To be continued - Thanks!0 -
quote:To be continued - Thanks!
let us know.
in the meantime, you might want to contact Cylinder and Slide for a second opinion.
they do excellent work and have different blueing options that are patterned after different era colt finishes.
some pics would be nice!0 -
if your firearms are original colts, and your heart is set on reblueing them, then i would send them back to colt. make sure that you also get a letter from them stating that colt reblued them. dont lose the letter. it is the only way to maintain some aspect of collectible value. best 0 -
I used the new bing.com, search "gun refinishing restoration", brought up a lot of possibiities. I have emails out to a few of them.
Looking at the websites and re-studying my guns I will probably send my #2 piece. Most of what I see means probable need to recut the markings because repolishing will remove it. My #1 is almost good enough to leave as-is, too crisp and sharp to risk having the markings replaced. The markings on these 1905s is very light to begin with. I have another one original about 75% to compare with.
I will dedide what to do and close this out when it gets done. Thanks for your interest.0 -
This guy does great work, and is much less expensive than Turnbull.
http://www.restoration-gunsmith.com/0 -
Unfortunately, Mr Adair passed away late last year.
I know of nobody to replace him.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
Unfortunately, Mr Adair passed away late last year.
I know of nobody to replace him.
You are right, his phone number is disconnected! Thats sad, he did beautiful work.0 -
I have seen Ford reblues and was not impressed. The flat surfaces were not kept flat and the polish was not correct for the period of the gun (a later Colt that should have had the "satin" blue).
A M1905 will have the high polish blue, and I do not think Ford's will duplicate it correctly. If the flats are already compromsied, I doubt Ford's can restore them. If they are not, they most likely will be when Ford's get done with it.
The M1905 is a valuable gun, but a Turnbull restoration will equal or exceed the value of the gun when done. Still, to "remove" a poor reblue on such an important gun might be worth it becsuse I really hate a reblue. But it's not my money.0
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