I just traded into a 3 screw SBH with a 7.5 barrel. It has a lot of honest wear on the finish but very minimal rust or pitting. Grips are in good shape, and it shoots fantastic and accurate. Should I send it to Ruger for a refurbish? I know they will convert it but I believe I can take it apart and keep the parts to convert it back. Not sure of collectors value and how it will be affected? Keep original or refurbish? I also thought about a case colored frame and fire blue screws with new sights and and reblue on everything else? Sort of custom? I need help with my decision please!
OM Ruger SBH refurbish?
- Thread starter babills
- Start date
Help Support Ruger Forum:
The last thing I would do is send it to Ruger..... I just hate that they "convert" even though we can convert back. They do stamp and big scarlet letter under the grip frame to designate it as converted. Just my personal peeve.
Value if refurbished? I believe that there are so many bazzillions of this great model, that "value" is negligible either way. Personally, I like it the way it is.........if you make it too pretty, you may not use it the way you should.... (happens to me all the time).
If you want to make it pretty, (and have LOTS of money), I would send it to one of the many great gunsmiths (Bobby Tyler comes to mind, as do several others) and have it color case finished (Turnbull's is beautiful); then get you some custom ($$$) fancy grips. My estimate for this level of work including bluing (and no other gunsmithing) would be $1000 minimum.....but beautiful.
Net: leave it alone, it's a "super" gun you got there....p.s. you could always throw some after market grips on it.
IMHO,
J
Value if refurbished? I believe that there are so many bazzillions of this great model, that "value" is negligible either way. Personally, I like it the way it is.........if you make it too pretty, you may not use it the way you should.... (happens to me all the time).
If you want to make it pretty, (and have LOTS of money), I would send it to one of the many great gunsmiths (Bobby Tyler comes to mind, as do several others) and have it color case finished (Turnbull's is beautiful); then get you some custom ($$$) fancy grips. My estimate for this level of work including bluing (and no other gunsmithing) would be $1000 minimum.....but beautiful.
Net: leave it alone, it's a "super" gun you got there....p.s. you could always throw some after market grips on it.
IMHO,
J
BULL'S-EYE
Blackhawk
Keep it as is and enjoy it. I have several OM Rugers with honest wear, which I prefer to think of as "character"...And the last thing I'd ever do, is send them back just so Ruger's legal department can check yet another box. Besides, they're not doing the high polish blue anymore anyway, so you'll likely be disappointed with the results.
cowboydave
Single-Sixer
Keep it like it is and buy ammo with the money you would spend on it.
BTW it looks great .
BTW it looks great .
Please, leave It Alone
welcome to the forum, and from what we see of your picture no good reason to have it ""redone",, we've done hundreds over the years and they were ALL worse than yours looks,,,just needs a bit of tlc and touch up,,,, enjoy it, save the money for ammo as noted above...........just my .02 cents 
My first thought
That's a neat looking gun. Don't let them monkey with it.
contender
Ruger Guru
I have to agree with the good folks above,, leave it as is & enjoy it. Or if you must redo the finish,, go ahead & let a custom place do the work.
Hankus
Blackhawk
Unfortunately, Tyler Gun Works isn't currently accepting any one-off custom work … I need to find someone else to do some work on my Vaquero Bisley.
Actnbill
Single-Sixer
I would strip it down....clean and oil it properly.... and buy a set of Rosewood grips with the Ruger Medallion in them..... and that's it....
It's amazing what a good cleaning and a new set of grips will do for a revolver....
It's amazing what a good cleaning and a new set of grips will do for a revolver....
Collectors and enthusiasts often grade guns in percentage of original finish remaining - remember that a refinished gun has 0% original finish remaining.
bykerhd
Single-Sixer
I like it as is.
The Preacher
Single-Sixer
Just shows character. As others have said, keep it as it is and enjoy it.
welcome from Arizona, I
would also use it as is.
would also use it as is.
Your gun. Do as you please. Myself, I would leave it as is and shoot it. Never have to worry about scratching or marring the new finish. You said it yourself, it shoots great. What more could you want from the old girl?
woodperson
Single-Sixer
I like your gun the way it is. I bought a OM .41 mag that was in really rough shape once. I sent it in to Ruger and had a steel grip frame put on the gun and the gun refinished. I liked it at the time. But over time I now know I would be happy to have the gun original and rough now. And to have put the refinish money into another gun.
T.A. WORKMAN
Hunter
I agree with the "let her be crowd"
Everyone should have at least one shooter with character in their line up.
My "old Girl"....1960 BKH 34, Type IV , Scarce 8 groove, ser,# 31461, 2450 made. Micro target frt. sight with FITZ Stag grips.
Terry
Everyone should have at least one shooter with character in their line up.
My "old Girl"
....1960 BKH 34, Type IV , Scarce 8 groove, ser,# 31461, 2450 made. Micro target frt. sight with FITZ Stag grips.
Terry
Last edited:
Similar threads
