Case Color finish ?

[GRAMPS 51]

Is there anything to look for to see if a gun left from the factory with a case color finish I read in RENE a while back about a single six with that finish serial #1xx and I have one serial #188 that is case colored that i sent for a factory letter that said there was no mention of case coloring I have looked this gun over for any sign of a refinish and can not find anything so my question is there anything to look for that is a giveaway to a refinish

Gramps

 

[G2]

Post a picture

 

[rugerguy]

if only it can talk, unless they ( the factory) can or will document its original finish, you may never know, as there have been so many over the years "refinished" ,by whom ever, some successfully, some not.......in the case of Ruger , being a 4140 chrome-moly casting, thus a "complex metal" does NOT take to case-color HARDENING, so the big boys like Turnbull, Tyler , etc., use a "case color" process, basically done at a lower temp, get the "colors" not the surface fubar......( becomes brittle, and can crumble) yes we've seen it , many years ago back in the late 60s, early 70's....and it's NOT good.

 

[GRAMPS 51]

I will post a picture when my son comes over in a few days im not techy the gun looks good

Gramps

 

[chet15]

Is there anything to look for to see if a gun left from the factory with a case color finish I read in RENE a while back about a single six with that finish serial #1xx and I have one serial #188 that is case colored that i sent for a factory letter that said there was no mention of case coloring I have looked this gun over for any sign of a refinish and can not find anything so my question is there anything to look for that is a giveaway to a refinish

Gramps

Not sure where that would have been in RENE. The only actual case color hardened Single-Six known to me was done to one of the three prototype cylinder frames originally made for the Single-Six circa 1952. One of these prototypes was never completed. The 2nd has a true "flattop" frame with maybe a blue finish on it, and the 3rd was completed into a regular Single-Six looking prototype with machine cuts on the topstrap just like the Old Model fixed sight gun. That gun was case color hardened. It is pictured on the front of a 1977 era GunWeek as well as as a 1977 era GUNS magazine. I'm sure John Dougan probably has a pic in one of his books as well.
Chet15

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Chet you are correct I dont know where I remember it being serial #1xx so I started digging thru the old news letters and found the info I remembered from Volume 39 number 2 there was no mention of a serial number im getting old and the gears are slipping a little

Gramps

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

I have a type 1 flatgate with a case colored frame. No history on it, but it sure looks nice! Serial number 1783. I'll try to remember to take a pic of it sometime, maybe today if I can find it. I saw it not too long ago, so I have a good idea which safe it's in.

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Here are the pictures

 

[JAYDAWG]

Wow.....that looks very nice!!
I'm wondering if whoever had it back in the day didn't like the any of the purple or gold from the metal mixture situation Ruger was having and had it done. Or maybe they wanted it to look like a Colt. A long shot but, perhaps an employee gun?
A letter would tell us when built, and when & where shipped, that is always fun to know, and possibly hold a clue.
Regardless, a nice looking gun and my favorite, a type 1 RSS!!!

Cheers,
JaydaWg

 

[GRAMPS 51]

I have the letter will dig it out later
Gramps

 

[GRAMPS 51]

I received the letter Oct 3 2022 it was produced in Feb 1954 and shipped to Kirtland Brothers in New York NY in March1954 When i called Ruger back then i was told there was no mention of Case Coloring i thought they put it in the letter but they didnt but do remember the call

Gramps

 

[G2]

Thanks for the pictures,
Pictures definitely display an early flatgate that whom ever did the Case Color did a nice job.
ALL the dust in the screws ???.

And the Stag Grips look very period, they look killer.
The gun has definitely been enjoyed and presents very nice patina.

Very neat gun.

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

I looked for mine before cocktail hour and struck out, but I think I will go down there again with a glass of bourbon. Who knows what I'll find.

 

[JAYDAWG]

I looked for mine before cocktail hour and struck out, but I think I will go down there again with a glass of bourbon. Who knows what I'll find.

Bourbon always helps me......
Looking forward to more pics.

JAYDAWG

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

Yes, it helped me. the gun was hiding under a Great Western in .357 Atomic. Never know what you'll find with a little perspective adjustment.

Plus, my gestalt was off earlier since it was in a black dress sock instead of the usual gray gym sock.

 

[JAYDAWG]

Very nice!!
Thanks for the pics.
Now I'm thirsty, and still a couple hours short of happy hour here on the west coast

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

Now I'm thirsty, and still a couple hours short of happy hour here on the west coast

meh... It's Saturday.

But I'm retired, so every day is Saturday.

 

[hittman]

Retired and still wearing black dress socks?
Dude ….. relax

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

Not sure where the black dress sock came from. I think maybe SteveRuger sent me an RSSE in it 20 years ago.

 

[JAYDAWG]

Retired and still wearing black dress socks?
Dude ….. relax

I took it as the GUN was in the black sock......

 

[hittman]

I misunderstood that to say YOU were looking for it in your black dress socks, not your “usual gray gym sock” …. My mistake LOL

My speed readin’ ain’t what it used to be

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

I took it as the GUN was in the black sock......

That's correct, but where exactly the black sock came from is the mystery. All four of mine are accounted for (2 pairs total, for weddings and funerals). 40 years ago I gave a s**t enough to dress up for work if a customer was coming in, but that ended about 25 years ago when even the customers started showing up in sneakers and polo shirts. And then during the pandemic, even pants became optional, as long as I remembered not to stand up during a Zoom call.

I'm certain I never wore out a black dress sock to the point where it would be relegated to gun storage. But all my gray gym socks make it down there eventually. I stopped trying to get my wife to darn my socks long ago. Lesson learnt.

 

[twriggen]

It must be something about socks as this Hawkeye came out of Vermont to me in a sock. I'm wondering if the next gun I purchase will come with its pair.

 

[twriggen]

Back to the topic at hand. Here is a Ruger CCH from the late 50's. Brittle around the edges. Gramps looks much better.

 

[JAYDAWG]

Back to the topic at hand. Here is a Ruger CCH from the late 50's. Brittle around the edges. Gramps looks much better.

View attachment 64254

TROY,

Good thought.
The factory CCH looks different than what Gramps & WMG posted.
The six 357's CCH by Ruger convinced them it was not worth the effort.

That BKH is a rare bird!!!

Cheers,
JaydaWg

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

I have a CCH Vaquero that looks way better than factory work and it is documented to have been sent by Ruger to Turnbull for experimental coloring. I think they only did two and decided it was too expensive. Oh, wait, I think I have a pic...

It has the asterisk (or crow's foot) stamp ahead of the SN to denote it as Used.

Then I have a NM .45 Blackhawk that was similarly done, its shipper is marked "Vaq Prototype".

My understanding is that there were more of those, maybe even 25 total.

 

[DGW1949]

Is there anything to look for to see if a gun left from the factory with a case color finish I read in RENE a while back about a single six with that finish serial #1xx and I have one serial #188 that is case colored that i sent for a factory letter that said there was no mention of case coloring I have looked this gun over for any sign of a refinish and can not find anything so my question is there anything to look for that is a giveaway to a refinish

Gramps

I'm certainly not qualified to even guess one way or the other. What I do know though, is that is a very nice revolver.....Well that, and that it looks to me like the little cross pin which retains the firing pin cup been removed and reinstalled for some reason in the past. I've sat in on "original finish" discussions where-in that aspect was brought up as being "a clue"....I don't know if it matters all that much, just thought I'd mention it is all.

DGW

 

[Chief]

There just something alluring about a SA revolver that is CCH. I think they all look much better than just one finish. I wish Ruger would do more of them. CCH makes just about any pistol or revolver look as they should although I truly think that the SA benefits the most.

 

[GRAMPS 51]

I'm certainly not qualified to even guess one way or the other. What I do know though, is that is a very nice revolver.....Well that, and that it looks to me like the little cross pin which retains the firing pin cup been removed and reinstalled for some reason in the past. I've sat in on "original finish" discussions where-in that aspect was brought up as being "a clue"....I don't know if it matters all that much, just thought I'd mention it is all.

DGW

I went in and compared the pin with a few other type ones and it is recessed a little compared to the others that are pretty close to being flush on both sides maybe you got something there
Thanks Gramps