Blue is wearing off.

hammie · November 26, 2022, 11:43 AM

I have a Uberti, (sorta) copy of an 1873 colt single action army. The frame has a faux color case hardened finish and the barrel, cylinder and backstrap are finished in a bright, polished, charcoal blue finish. The finish is almost an electric blue color and pretty. The problem is that the blue rubs off after handling the gun for a few times, leaving an ugly gray metal exposed. Is there anything that can be done, other than "just don't handle the gun".

**Unclenick** · November 26, 2022, 12:18 PM

Weird that it would come off so easily unless it is holster wear marks. Some holsters rub harder than others. You can try protecting the finish with car wax. There are also clear finishes that can be applied over bluing. I believe all the Cerakote clear finishes can be used over it, but you might want to check with them first.

If you want to recover the original blue, you may have to get the factory to do that, and I would do it before applying a clear finish.

Jim Watson · November 26, 2022, 01:01 PM

That "charcoal blue" is famously fragile.
Learn to love the "character."

Hawg · November 26, 2022, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Watson

That "charcoal blue" is famously fragile.
Learn to love the "character."

What he said. Charcoal blue is more for looking at than shooting. It will wear off fast.

hammie · November 26, 2022, 04:54 PM

This is kind of what I suspected. The revolver has a 4 3/4 inch barrel and is chambered for .44-40. It is handy and pleasant to shoot.

I found a bottle of a formulaic copy of the old Herters Belgian Blue. Apparently, it's different from the typical selenium based cold blues, but the result looks to be a deep navy blue, and not the electric charcoal blue, and so won't match.
Guns are meant to be admired but also used, and so I guess I'll just keep shooting the revolver, and let the finish wear.

I may go ahead an order a bottle of the "model perfect" Belgian Blue as an experimental touch up for other guns. I sure do miss George Herter. In the late 1950's and early 60's, the Herters catalogs were more entertaining than the three television channels we had back then.

Dfariswheel · November 27, 2022, 07:25 PM

CAREFUL, many/most cold blues will remove a heat blued finish.

Heat bluing is famously fragile and is not up to much handling.

November 26, 2022, 11:43 AM	#1
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 964	Blue is wearing off. I have a Uberti, (sorta) copy of an 1873 colt single action army. The frame has a faux color case hardened finish and the barrel, cylinder and backstrap are finished in a bright, polished, charcoal blue finish. The finish is almost an electric blue color and pretty. The problem is that the blue rubs off after handling the gun for a few times, leaving an ugly gray metal exposed. Is there anything that can be done, other than "just don't handle the gun".

November 26, 2022, 12:18 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,131	Weird that it would come off so easily unless it is holster wear marks. Some holsters rub harder than others. You can try protecting the finish with car wax. There are also clear finishes that can be applied over bluing. I believe all the Cerakote clear finishes can be used over it, but you might want to check with them first. If you want to recover the original blue, you may have to get the factory to do that, and I would do it before applying a clear finish. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 26, 2022, 04:54 PM	#5
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 964	This is kind of what I suspected. The revolver has a 4 3/4 inch barrel and is chambered for .44-40. It is handy and pleasant to shoot. I found a bottle of a formulaic copy of the old Herters Belgian Blue. Apparently, it's different from the typical selenium based cold blues, but the result looks to be a deep navy blue, and not the electric charcoal blue, and so won't match. Guns are meant to be admired but also used, and so I guess I'll just keep shooting the revolver, and let the finish wear. I may go ahead an order a bottle of the "model perfect" Belgian Blue as an experimental touch up for other guns. I sure do miss George Herter. In the late 1950's and early 60's, the Herters catalogs were more entertaining than the three television channels we had back then. Last edited by hammie; November 26, 2022 at 05:10 PM.

November 26, 2022, 01:01 PM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,626	That "charcoal blue" is famously fragile. Learn to love the "character."

November 27, 2022, 07:25 PM	#6
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,484	CAREFUL, many/most cold blues will remove a heat blued finish. Heat bluing is famously fragile and is not up to much handling.