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Old May 2, 2019, 07:24 PM   #26
RickB
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You can't "high polish" rust bluing.
The process is to allow the surface to rust, remove the accumulation, rust again, etc., up to ten or fifteen applications, and after the surface has rusted that many times, the polish will have been reduced.
Rust blued guns have a "lustre" rather than a reflective surface.

The finish on early M1911s I've heard described as "glistening oil finish", which was too bright and shiny for a military that had recently stopped wearing blue uniforms, and the finishes became progressively duller over time (not age, but process).

I've handled and shot a 1913 Colt M1911, and it was hard to tell what the finish looked like when new. My 1918 example looks rough, but under the grips the original finish is intact, and it's very heavily grained, and dull, because the amount of polishing was progressively reduced as production rate increased.
In 1918, Colt was making 1000 M1911s a day.
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Old May 2, 2019, 07:49 PM   #27
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I love mine. Its pretty, to me, and I can shoot it. I couldn't own that 1911.

I wish the sights were a little bigger. But I have a small collection of early century pocket autos. None of them have what I would call nice sights. Most with compromised finishes. Savage 1907 in both 32 and 380, Remington 51 in 380, H&R Autoloader in 32 and 25.
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Old August 6, 2019, 08:58 AM   #28
jar
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My Type 1 1903 from 1906 still retains the looks of the high polish blue but has become so thin that it is a mere hint of what it once was.

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Old August 6, 2019, 10:26 AM   #29
martin08
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Colt with nice, sharp lines. Never buffed.


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Old August 7, 2019, 05:48 PM   #30
highpower3006
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^^^^Yep, that is what every original blued 1903 I have ever seen looks like. I have one from 1928 that has a bit of wear, but still retains strong original finish over most of it.

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Old August 25, 2019, 07:57 PM   #31
elsancudo
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My dad's 1903 Colt .380 - Nickel finish after the fact

This was my dad's Colt 1903 in .380. It was nickel-plated after the fact. Still looks pretty good.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg colt - nickle - 380-2_small.jpg (185.3 KB, 63 views)
File Type: jpg colt - nickle - 380-1_small.jpg (147.9 KB, 44 views)
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Old August 26, 2019, 01:49 AM   #32
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No, no-it doesn't.
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Old August 26, 2019, 09:25 PM   #33
elsancudo
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I really like my dad's pistol and it looks better than it would have if not chromed. I put a new stainless barrel in it and it shoots well. I'm okay with it and that's all that matters.
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Old November 14, 2019, 04:00 PM   #34
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The early .32s and .380s were made with the high polish blue that stopped sometime in/around 1912.
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Old November 15, 2019, 02:58 PM   #35
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Thanks Spacecoast!
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