Montado

Here’s some pics, I just want it to look presentable, not too shiney
 

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It's supposed to have a bright polish. When I bought mine new, it had spots of uneven polishing in the curves needed fixing and polishing.
This is my final result.
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Somebody tried to spruce it up but used too rough of a grit! Now it'll take twice the amount of work.

You can try Mother's, Flitz or Semi-Chrome polish but I think the added scratches are too deep.

You can start with a grey Scotchbrite pad but you can get 'dishing and wallows in the surface, that will really show up when you do the final polish.

I much prefer 2000 grit "wet or dry" sandpaper. Wrapped around a small hard flat sanding block, this will keep the flat surfaces FLAT. Then polish.
Do not use a power buffer!
 
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Wow! Someone put some serious scratches in the finish. Both my Montados, 357 and 45 Colt, came with a high polish finish and grooves on the inner grip frame and black plastic grips.
If that was mine, I would buff it with the Scotchbrite pad and go for a dull finish and then make it one of my favorite shooters.
 
Ya, I’m thinking that’ll be the plan. Maybe see what a local jeweler thinks. It’s really a nice gun I feel Blessed to find. Doesn’t look abused or anything, just used. Thank you all for Replying-Dave
 
Hondo44 said:
Before you change the finish just an FYI.

Yours is a .357. Only 500 were made as a Distributer exclusive model for Davidson's in that caliber.
Click to expand...
Only 500 made in 357? That's kind of a semi-scarce example I guess.
My 357 Montado, serial 510-657XX, had it's sample cartridge fired in the factory in August 2006 according to the info on the envelope, which was a legal requirement back in the day.
My 45 Colt example, serial 510-56XXX, had it's cartridge case sample fired in June of 2006. I guess many more of that chambering were made.
 
I do have some ren wax. Possibly the previous owner wiped it down with something abrasive? Wonder if it would be worth it to ask Ruger if they can do something with it? No biggee, still a cool shooter. Thanks for responding Folks-Dave
 
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azleite said:
I do have some ren wax. Possibly the previous owner wiped it down with something abrasive? Wonder if it would be worth it to ask Ruger if they can do something with it? No biggee, still a cool shooter. Thanks for responding Folks-Dave
Click to expand...
If the scratches really bug maybe ask ruger probably if they are willing to it might worth a shot . I like with the wear and tear show’s character it has stories behind them
 
I’m with the sandpaper on a sanding block. Disassemble completely, and sand with the pins out. The ends of the pins can be dressed, or the pins replaced later. Reinstall the grip frame before any sanding.

If the scratches are deep, a scotch brite will wallow them out. You might want to start with a bit coarser grit than 2000- although if you are making progress with the 2000 then stay there. Then finish with SimiChrome or Autosol.
 
I agree with Randy! If 2000 doesn't remove the scratches easily, drop down to 1500 and then 1000 if you have to remove those scratches. Then back to1500, then 2000, then it'll be ready for the polish.
But the most important is using flat surface sanding block technique. Or the surface will be wallowed by sanding with just sandpaper.

I've heard of sending a stainless gun back to Ruger for a re-polish. If it's not too expensive and it probably isn't, that may be your best bet.
 
I would use it the way it is.

Once it is re polished you will be afraid to scratch it again. So shooting and enjoying it will be difficult.
 
I’m sitting on the fence, I got off my duff this morning and cleaned it. Wasn’t very dirty, the gun came from a bass pro in Saginaw Michigan. I gotta wonder if it saw some CAS. I’m 67 & kinda ocd about my stuff. But I agree with you that every little nick would show. I need to shoot it before I do anything else. Pretty hot & humid down here right now
 
Assuming it's a shooter I would send it to Bobby Tyler for his rear sight mod and a dovetail front, along with a satin finish.
 
eveled said:
I would use it the way it is.

Once it is re polished you will be afraid to scratch it again. So shooting and enjoying it will be difficult.
Click to expand...
In reality, there's no easier finish to maintain like new than a stainless high polish. Properly polishing out scratches, nicks, etc., can only result in a perfect match to the original finish!

You can't do that on any other finish:
A brushed stainless finish is much more difficult to match. The gun of this thread is a classic example.
A blued finish is the most difficult, they will always look touched up from mild to wild. You have to match both polish level a blue color.

Of course it's certainly possible to mess up a stainless high polish by any idiot with a Dremel tool that doesn't know how to use it. Although he can do worse on other finishes.
 
Interesting history:
The Montado was designed for SASS Cowboy shooting. The 5 grooves on the front grip strap are nice but unfortunately, they disqualified the guns for SASS competition because they aren't an historical modification!

The first production runs of 2887 made in .45 and 500 .357 all have the grip strap grooves.

The later production of SASS special distributor models in matched pairs #KNV-34-SASS .357, 4 5/8' with Montado hammers does not have the grooved front straps BUT, they have the wider .140" rear sight notch.
 
Well that shows how much the rulemakers at SASS know, you could order a SAA from Colt with a "Milled" (grooved) grip frame. McGivern had one.
 
Well, after cleaning it yesterday I felt it looked worse. All that character is somebody else’s. I sent it back to Ruger this morning for repolishing. Snap decision based on my concern of trying to do it myself and really messing it up. Any bobo’s it gets going forward will be mine. Can’t wait! Thanks Folks for all the input-Dave
 
Yeah much better. And I'm glad you're happy with it. But to be perfectly honest it's a half axxed job not befitting Ruger.
But it was done for free except for shipping, and the abuse wasn't even Ruger's fault!

You could shoot and carry that gun for the next ten years and it wouldn't show as much abuse and scratches as it still does right now. The cylinder flutes weren't even attempted to be polished.

A couple of hours in front of the TV following instructions in above post while watching a movie could get it to the point of looking like normal wear, or like new, your choice.
 
Well, it was $72 for shipping & supposed to be another $130 for the work. So when they didn’t charge me I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ll enjoy it for now & think on it some 👍
 
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