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Cleaning 1st Colt SAA

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11 comments

  • rufe-snow
    Never heard of it before? New product on the market, appears to do the job. Per this link.

    http://wilson--blog.blogspot.com/2010/06/gun-product-review-rb-17.html

    That said. Given the value and collectability of Colt SAA's. Try it first on another gun that isn't as valuable as the Colt. To see if it works OK, without causing damage.
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  • iceracerx
    What's wrong with an oily rag? That method was used long before 1873.

    If black powder was used/fired then hot water and soap works great. After that, dry and use the oil and rag.
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  • stubbydunc
    Thanks! Nothing at all but supposedly this product removes the rust, corrosion without damaging gun.

    quote:Originally posted by iceracerx
    What's wrong with an oily rag? That method was used long before 1873.

    If black powder was used/fired then hot water and soap works great. After that, dry and use the oil and rag.
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  • steg
    Be very careful of what you use on any antique weapon. If the product removes rust and corrosion, it may very well remove patina. If you remove the patina from your SAA, it destroys its value as an antique, and you have nothing more than a very expensive shooter.
    Please follow the advice of others on this site. The only thing they haven't mentioned is the use of a bronze bore brush, of appropriate size, for the inside of the barrel and cylinder.
    Remember it took over 130 years for the patina to coat your gun, but only 10 minutes to destroy it; and. I don't think you want to lose more that 1/2 of the value of your gun.
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  • perry shooter
    STEG gives great advice.Only clean off LOOSE rust. The strongest thing you should use is get a zip lock bag and a can of KROIL this can be bought at a number of places as well as direct from KANO KROIL.Wet entire gun if it does not have wooden grips"if wood grips remove those first". Then wrap entire gun in paper towel. now wet paper towel all over with more Kroil put all of this in zip lock bag and let soak at least 24 hours 48-72 hours is better. Then remove pistol from ziplock bag.get a piece of BURLAP and scrub all surfaces with the BURLAP NOTHING STRONGER no steel wool and with a First Gen single action not even BRONZE wool . I use a pot scrubber that goes by the name CHORE BOY for modern guns BUT NEVER on antique colt single actions.
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  • stubbydunc
    Great advice - thanks!quote:Originally posted by steg
    Be very careful of what you use on any antique weapon. If the product removes rust and corrosion, it may very well remove patina. If you remove the patina from your SAA, it destroys its value as an antique, and you have nothing more than a very expensive shooter.
    Please follow the advice of others on this site. The only thing they haven't mentioned is the use of a bronze bore brush, of appropriate size, for the inside of the barrel and cylinder.
    Remember it took over 130 years for the patina to coat your gun, but only 10 minutes to destroy it; and. I don't think you want to lose more that 1/2 of the value of your gun.
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  • stubbydunc
    Thanks - I appreciate the good help.

    BTW - also trying to find an antique base pin for this gun as the one on it has either been broken (the grip tip) or sawed/filed off. Anyone know where one can be purchased? Thanks again for all the good help!

    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    STEG gives great advice.Only clean off LOOSE rust. The strongest thing you should use is get a zip lock bag and a can of KROIL this can be bought at a number of places as well as direct from KANO KROIL.Wet entire gun if it does not have wooden grips"if wood grips remove those first". Then wrap entire gun in paper towel. now wet paper towel all over with more Kroil put all of this in zip lock bag and let soak at least 24 hours 48-72 hours is better. Then remove pistol from ziplock bag.get a piece of BURLAP and scrub all surfaces with the BURLAP NOTHING STRONGER no steel wool and with a First Gen single action not even BRONZE wool . I use a pot scrubber that goes by the name CHORE BOY for modern guns BUT NEVER on antique colt single actions.
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  • 22hipower
    I'll defer to the experts on how best to clean a 1st gen SAA but, for removing rust from more modern guns RB17 is great. I've used it for 15 years or so; removes light rust without affecting the blue at all. Nothing can fix pitting but if it is just light surface rust RB17 with a light application of 0000 steel wool brings it back as close to "new" as I've been able to get with any product.
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  • stubbydunc
    Awesome - thanks!!!

    quote:Originally posted by 22hipower
    I'll defer to the experts on how best to clean a 1st gen SAA but, for removing rust from more modern guns RB17 is great. I've used it for 15 years or so; removes light rust without affecting the blue at all. Nothing can fix pitting but if it is just light surface rust RB17 with a light application of 0000 steel wool brings it back as close to "new" as I've been able to get with any product.
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  • steg
    quote:Originally posted by stubbydunc
    Thanks - I appreciate the good help.

    BTW - also trying to find an antique base pin for this gun as the one on it has either been broken (the grip tip) or sawed/filed off. Anyone know where one can be purchased? Thanks again for all the good help!

    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    STEG gives great advice.Only clean off LOOSE rust. The strongest thing you should use is get a zip lock bag and a can of KROIL this can be bought at a number of places as well as direct from KANO KROIL.Wet entire gun if it does not have wooden grips"if wood grips remove those first". Then wrap entire gun in paper towel. now wet paper towel all over with more Kroil put all of this in zip lock bag and let soak at least 24 hours 48-72 hours is better. Then remove pistol from ziplock bag.get a piece of BURLAP and scrub all surfaces with the BURLAP NOTHING STRONGER no steel wool and with a First Gen single action not even BRONZE wool . I use a pot scrubber that goes by the name CHORE BOY for modern guns BUT NEVER on antique colt single actions.

    Why not try an outfit called Colt Parts on the internet. I believe they are located in Arizona or elsewhere in the South West.
    Just enter Original Colt Parts or Antique Colt Parts on your search engine.
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  • TRAP55
    quote:BTW - also trying to find an antique base pin for this gun as the one on it has either been broken (the grip tip) or sawed/filed off. Anyone know where one can be purchased? Thanks again for all the good help!
    For a new one to tighten things up:
    http://www.peacemakerspecialists.com/parts.html

    For a vintage one that may loosen things up:
    http://www.coltparts.com/parts1.html
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