bluing a revolver

[lethal larry]

I want to get more authentic with my revolvers for NCOWS use and the USFA Rodeo's have a great reputation for quality but from what I understand the dull finish on these make them illegal for NCOWS. I was wondering if I could get a Rodeo blued to make it shiney would be worth what it would cost me. I have no idea of what such a thing would run. Same problem with the Rodeo II. It has a dull finish instead of a shiney "nickel" finish so that makes IT NCOWS illegal. Would buffing this finish up be easier or cheaper than bluing the dull finish on the original Rodeo?  Thanks to any to can help.

[St. George]

You might want to give this some thought...

You'd have to have the weapon detail-stripped, polished and prepped.

Then, someone who actually knows what they're doing has to refinish it properly - either by completely re-nickelling, of by bluing and color-casehardening.

Then - it gets reassembled - and they charge for that.

By that time - you could've invested enough in the purchase and subsequent finishing to've bought a Colt Single Action Army or a USFA - and not have had to worry about all of that.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Matt Bastardson]

Or, you can go to the grocery store, go to the toilet-cleaning products aisle, and get a product that contains muriatic acid -- I usually get some of the 'scrubbing bubble' type tablets- (read the ingredients first) and strip the finish from your gun yourself.   When done simply dump the scrubbing bubbles/muriatic acid solution into your toilet and clean your toilet with it as it was meant to do.  (Much faster than using vinegar and cheaper than buying muratic acid in bulk from a pool supply place.  It's actually amazing how many different hazardous and useful chemicals can be found in everyday household products found under your kitchen and/or bathroom sink or at your grocery store.)

Then, nickel plate the gun yourself using the electroless nickel plating kit from Casswell Plating (www.caswellplating.com), using an old Coleman cooler to hold the solution, and an old electric aquarium heater (or two) with the governor removed from them to bring the plating solution up to temperature.  (Both can be readily obtained at garage sales or on eBay.)  It really is quite simple.

Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect, and in fact many of the period pieces were far from perfect.  All that it has to be is 'period correct'.

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/electroless.htm

The electroless nickel kit produces a really nice old nickel look, with just a hint of yellow to it....very nice and 'authentic' looking.  You don't even have to worry about screw holes or inside the barrel or anything, just plate it (screws and all) and put it back together afterward.
The process is a little smelly so you may wish to do it in a garage with the door open and not in the wife's kitchen.

[Ima Sure Shot]

Or you could just buff the matte finish on the rodeo.  Go to USFA below there are even pictures posted.  I buffed mine and used them at the 45 colt championship year before last now.  The NCOWS judge shot on the same posse as me and I put them out on the table before I shot and asked him If they were legal to use.  He said,"I don't see anything wrong with them".  I have had several persons ask me how I got that look. It buffs to look like old blueing and if you are not good at stuff like this( I am not) then it comes out looking like holster wear.  In other words I buffed some places more than others as I just did it by dremel tool held in hand with gun held in hand.Celeste

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

Or you could just buff the matte finish on the rodeo.  Go to USFA below there are even pictures posted. 

Where are the pictures posted? Do you have a link? I checked Longhunter's site, if that's what you meant, but couldn't find them. (I'm real interested in this because I'm about to buff my rodeos).

Thanks!

[Ima Sure Shot]

I think you have already seen  the pictures.  J. D. Goodguy and I go together.  He posted on the USFA site.  He said he used a drill I think, but I think it was a dremel tool. We had a theft from our tool shed about this time and the dremel was one of the things that went missing, but I think it was done before the theft. Celeste

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

I think you have already seen  the pictures.  J. D. Goodguy and I go together.  He posted on the USFA site.  He said he used a drill I think, but I think it was a dremel tool. We had a theft from our tool shed about this time and the dremel was one of the things that went missing, but I think it was done before the theft. Celeste

Thanks, Celeste, those are good lookin' guns.  Sorry about the theft!  That's one of my pet fears--that someone'll get into my shed.

[lethal larry]

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I appreciate it.