Is the finish OK on this Ruger SP101?

Rich Miranda · June 1, 2008, 04:56 PM

Hi folks:

I am seriously considering buying a Ruger SP101. I found this one that is reasonably priced but the pictures make the gun's finish look all scratched up.

I just saw one at the gun show today that didn't look nearly as scratched up.

Do you think it is just the pictures? Or is the gun pretty scratchy-looking?

Thanks for the help.

kristop64089 · June 1, 2008, 05:20 PM

the first pic, of the right side appears rough.
But the rest look ok.
If it's just a carry gun, I wouldn't sweat it to much. Alot of that stuff can polish/buff out.

ActivShootr · June 1, 2008, 06:00 PM

Buy it and have it glass-bead blasted. It'll look pretty cool.

GP100man · June 1, 2008, 06:12 PM

thats purty much the average on a brushed satin finish Ruger.
my last GP is a tad (rougher) than the sp101 in the pic.
wanted to add though the first 12 shots ,7 were in the bullseye at 20yds!!!!

GP100man

Rich Miranda · June 1, 2008, 06:22 PM

Thanks guys. And don't bid against me!

cdnbacon · June 1, 2008, 06:48 PM

buy it, it's a great gun and you can always polish it up or have it bead blasted. Mine looks the same.

kristop64089 · June 1, 2008, 07:11 PM

Your lucky I'm cashed out

Seriously, it's a Ruger...even if the finish was crap, it would still be stone cold reliable.

Rich Miranda · June 1, 2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Your lucky I'm cashed out

Seriously, it's a Ruger...even if the finish was crap, it would still be stone cold reliable.

Haha!

I hope you're right! I won!

This is my first revolver. I'll be posting revolver-type questions pretty soon

Beachcomber · June 1, 2008, 08:32 PM

I'll bet you'll be surprised at the finish as I don't think it's as bad as it appears. I'll bet just wiping it with a clean, oiled cloth will make it look as good as new!

Rich Miranda · June 1, 2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Congratulations on your winning bid!

Thanks. I'm looking forward to some hardwood grips

kristop64089 · June 1, 2008, 09:04 PM

congrats on the win.

Master Blaster · June 2, 2008, 07:01 AM

SP101's don't really have a finish they just remove the casting and grinding marks mostly. That one looks just like any NIB SP101, just like the one I have.

You could do some polishing with Blue Flitz, or with mothers mag, or first with red buffing compound and oil, and then one of the polishes listed above.

Huntergirl · June 2, 2008, 11:41 AM

TexeasRich, good Grab! You won't disappointed. Mine has been utterly reliable and accurate for the 7 years I've had it. Its a keeper.

Wuchak · June 2, 2008, 12:39 PM

SP101's have a satin finish. This is really just a nice way of saying they scratch the gun up all over. Contact with hard objects can leave shiny spots on the gun. You can bring the original finish back by taking a piece of green scotchbrite pad and running it over the gun following the original brush lines. I do it when I have the gun broken down as the scotchbrite gets little pieces of green everywhere. I also cut the pad into 1" squares. It only takes a couple to freshen it up.

Congrats on a great gun.

One of the best things about the SP101 is that it breaks down as easy as a semi-auto for cleaning. Once you do it a few times it takes about 30 seconds to break it down and put it back together.

Rich Miranda · June 2, 2008, 01:49 PM

Thanks ALL! I'm psyched!

Wow, a gun finish that you scratch up to return to like new? I like it!

June 1, 2008, 04:56 PM	#1
Rich Miranda Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2008 Location: San Antonio, not San Antone... Posts: 1,203	Is the finish OK on this Ruger SP101? Hi folks: I am seriously considering buying a Ruger SP101. I found this one that is reasonably priced but the pictures make the gun's finish look all scratched up. I just saw one at the gun show today that didn't look nearly as scratched up. Do you think it is just the pictures? Or is the gun pretty scratchy-looking? Thanks for the help.

June 1, 2008, 06:12 PM	#4
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	sp 101 thats purty much the average on a brushed satin finish Ruger. my last GP is a tad (rougher) than the sp101 in the pic. wanted to add though the first 12 shots ,7 were in the bullseye at 20yds!!!! GP100man Last edited by GP100man; June 1, 2008 at 06:13 PM. Reason: add on

June 1, 2008, 06:48 PM	#6
cdnbacon Member Join Date: February 26, 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 53	Just the photos....buy it buy it, it's a great gun and you can always polish it up or have it bead blasted. Mine looks the same.

June 1, 2008, 08:32 PM	#9
Beachcomber Member Join Date: April 2, 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 44	Congratulations on your winning bid! I'll bet you'll be surprised at the finish as I don't think it's as bad as it appears. I'll bet just wiping it with a clean, oiled cloth will make it look as good as new!

June 2, 2008, 01:49 PM	#15
Rich Miranda Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2008 Location: San Antonio, not San Antone... Posts: 1,203	Thanks ALL! I'm psyched! Wow, a gun finish that you scratch up to return to like new? I like it! __________________ Read this!: I collect .38 Special and .357 Mag cartridges and I will PAY CASH for the headstamps I don't already have! Please PM me. Please donate blood, plasma, and platelets - people's lives literally depend on it.

June 1, 2008, 06:00 PM	#3
ActivShootr Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2007 Posts: 1,040	Buy it and have it glass-bead blasted. It'll look pretty cool.

June 1, 2008, 06:22 PM	#5
Rich Miranda Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2008 Location: San Antonio, not San Antone... Posts: 1,203	Thanks guys. And don't bid against me!

June 2, 2008, 07:01 AM	#12
Master Blaster Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1999 Location: One of the original 13 Colonies Posts: 2,281	SP101's don't really have a finish they just remove the casting and grinding marks mostly. That one looks just like any NIB SP101, just like the one I have. You could do some polishing with Blue Flitz, or with mothers mag, or first with red buffing compound and oil, and then one of the polishes listed above.

June 2, 2008, 11:41 AM	#13
Huntergirl Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 907	TexeasRich, good Grab! You won't disappointed. Mine has been utterly reliable and accurate for the 7 years I've had it. Its a keeper.

June 2, 2008, 12:39 PM	#14
Wuchak Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 1,093	SP101's have a satin finish. This is really just a nice way of saying they scratch the gun up all over. Contact with hard objects can leave shiny spots on the gun. You can bring the original finish back by taking a piece of green scotchbrite pad and running it over the gun following the original brush lines. I do it when I have the gun broken down as the scotchbrite gets little pieces of green everywhere. I also cut the pad into 1" squares. It only takes a couple to freshen it up. Congrats on a great gun. One of the best things about the SP101 is that it breaks down as easy as a semi-auto for cleaning. Once you do it a few times it takes about 30 seconds to break it down and put it back together.