Polishing my Colt Government? - The Firearms Forum

.Bear. · 02-29-2012, 12:25 PM

Hello All,

I have a completely stripped & disassembled Colt Government.

The bluing was in bad shape. I was wondering if I could just polish the frame, slide & barrel? I know it doesn't offer any corrosion resistance once I polish it but I can keep it cleaned & oiled up. Has anyone done this or am I just wasting my time? I bought some Wonder Black & did the frame & slide but I wasn't happy with the outcome. (It looked WAY better in the pics)

Right now its all back down to raw again. The reason I'm not looking into having it professionally re-blued is that the previous owner had a rail mounted to the top of the slide & ypu can still see where it was filled in. I don't think its worth the $$$ to have a pro job done to it.

Thanks for any info you can throw my way...

-Bear

Bill DeShivs · 02-29-2012, 01:58 PM

Have the gun plated. It's an upgraded finish over bluing, and this gun is a user, not a collectible. Cold blues and paints are for cheap guns.
If you really want blue, use rust blue. It's a very durable bluing-and can be done at home.

.Bear. · 03-01-2012, 10:27 AM

What is the average cost of plating? Any recommendation for a shop to use? As for the rust bluing.... Who makes a good product?

H-D · 03-01-2012, 10:31 AM

plated or cerakoted would get my vote , also look on the auction sites or the buy, sell, trade sections of forums for a new slide I just got a series 70 slide on an auction site

Bill DeShivs · 03-01-2012, 01:44 PM

Ford's refinishing, Armoloy, Metaloy, Metalife.
Brownells sells rust bluing solution.
It appears that you did a good job stripping the parts. If you can find a local plater who will nickel or hard chrome it without doing any surface prep, you may come out cheaper.
Or, you can plate it yourself with electroless nickel from www.caswellplating.com -get the electroless kit-it's much simpler than electroplating.

Helix_FR · 03-01-2012, 09:48 PM

Generally I charge 120 for nickel plating if the prep is done. If additional prep is required then the cost is more. Hard Chrome runs 175.00. Rust bluing is great stuff but takes practice and patients. Herters Belgium is what I use on soldered doubles but it works great on really any carbon steel. Hot salts is cheaper labor wise(if you already have the set up for it)but for a DIY it works great.

muddober · 03-01-2012, 10:55 PM

To answer your question about leaving in the white, if you keep it very lightly lubed and check it now and then you will be fine. Should a little rust appear you can clean it up with some steel wool. That is what I would do with it until you can find another slide.

Another option you may not have thought of, is put another bar on the slide utilizing the holes already in it. I have to think somebody like Brownells makes that bar with both front and rear sights already on it.

Ron

Sorrowful Jones · 03-04-2012, 09:26 PM

Have you thought about electroless nickel? I wouldn't know anyone that does it, but it is a nice finish.

Bill DeShivs · 03-04-2012, 11:58 PM

For about $100.00 (maybe less) you can do electroless nickel yourself.
www.caswellplating.com has the EN kits. It's pretty easy.

http://www.caswellplating.com/electr...ting-kits.html

02-29-2012, 12:25 PM	#1
.Bear. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2	Polishing my Colt Government? Hello All, I have a completely stripped & disassembled Colt Government. The bluing was in bad shape. I was wondering if I could just polish the frame, slide & barrel? I know it doesn't offer any corrosion resistance once I polish it but I can keep it cleaned & oiled up. Has anyone done this or am I just wasting my time? I bought some Wonder Black & did the frame & slide but I wasn't happy with the outcome. (It looked WAY better in the pics) Right now its all back down to raw again. The reason I'm not looking into having it professionally re-blued is that the previous owner had a rail mounted to the top of the slide & ypu can still see where it was filled in. I don't think its worth the $$$ to have a pro job done to it. Thanks for any info you can throw my way... -Bear -->

02-29-2012, 01:58 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,467	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? Have the gun plated. It's an upgraded finish over bluing, and this gun is a user, not a collectible. Cold blues and paints are for cheap guns. If you really want blue, use rust blue. It's a very durable bluing-and can be done at home. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

03-01-2012, 10:27 AM	#3
.Bear. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? What is the average cost of plating? Any recommendation for a shop to use? As for the rust bluing.... Who makes a good product?

03-01-2012, 10:31 AM	#4
H-D Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,334	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? plated or cerakoted would get my vote , also look on the auction sites or the buy, sell, trade sections of forums for a new slide I just got a series 70 slide on an auction site __________________ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. Revelation 19:11

03-01-2012, 01:44 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,467	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? Ford's refinishing, Armoloy, Metaloy, Metalife. Brownells sells rust bluing solution. It appears that you did a good job stripping the parts. If you can find a local plater who will nickel or hard chrome it without doing any surface prep, you may come out cheaper. Or, you can plate it yourself with electroless nickel from www.caswellplating.com -get the electroless kit-it's much simpler than electroplating. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

03-01-2012, 09:48 PM	#6
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,617	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? Generally I charge 120 for nickel plating if the prep is done. If additional prep is required then the cost is more. Hard Chrome runs 175.00. Rust bluing is great stuff but takes practice and patients. Herters Belgium is what I use on soldered doubles but it works great on really any carbon steel. Hot salts is cheaper labor wise(if you already have the set up for it)but for a DIY it works great. __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

03-01-2012, 10:55 PM	#7
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? To answer your question about leaving in the white, if you keep it very lightly lubed and check it now and then you will be fine. Should a little rust appear you can clean it up with some steel wool. That is what I would do with it until you can find another slide. Another option you may not have thought of, is put another bar on the slide utilizing the holes already in it. I have to think somebody like Brownells makes that bar with both front and rear sights already on it. Ron Last edited by muddober; 03-01-2012 at 11:02 PM..

03-04-2012, 09:26 PM	#8
Sorrowful Jones V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 108	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? Have you thought about electroless nickel? I wouldn't know anyone that does it, but it is a nice finish. __________________ ______________________________________________

03-04-2012, 11:58 PM	#9
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,467	Re: Polishing my Colt Government? For about $100.00 (maybe less) you can do electroless nickel yourself. www.caswellplating.com has the EN kits. It's pretty easy. http://www.caswellplating.com/electr...ting-kits.html __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com Last edited by Bill DeShivs; 03-05-2012 at 12:01 AM..