deadshot
Bearcat
I was looking to pick up a Ruger Vaquero 44 mag. I was told the the case colored ones are not really hard cased because of the cast frames. Is this true?
Fake Case Colored Frames?
- Thread starter deadshot
- Start date
Flash
Buckeye
I bought an old large framed Vaquero that someone put brake cleaner on and it stripped the finish right off the frame. Yes, it's painted on.
All the large frame Vaquero and the early to mid New Vaqueros (before going all blued) were faux case colors chemically applied. The price you pay for the combination of being a Ruger (the good parts) and the old west look. Some are "better" than others in how authentic the colors look.
EDK
Single-Sixer
The faux case hardening on VAQUEROS isn't very durable, although some will wear better than others. My 5.5 inch 44s are showing "a lot of character" compared to the 7.5 inch guns...which didn't get a lot of holster and shooting time. You can get REAL case hardening applied by various vendors...with varying quality and price. I'd like to get one pack hardened like my SHILOH SHARPS, but it would be a safe queen.
I'd grab the 44 magnum VAQUERO quick. They don't make them anymore and the price is going up as they vanish from the market. I buy any 44 and 357 magnums I can at a reasonable price.
I'd grab the 44 magnum VAQUERO quick. They don't make them anymore and the price is going up as they vanish from the market. I buy any 44 and 357 magnums I can at a reasonable price.
Driftwood Johnson
Blackhawk
Howdy
Just so you know, the colors of real Case Hardening are relatively fragile too. They fade over time. The colors can be wiped right off with Naval Jelly. Even prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade the colors of real Case Hardening. The hardened surface will remain, but the colors will be gone.
Ruger stopped putting their 'case colored' finish on Vaqueros a few years ago. There were complaints about rust on the surface. I have a few Vaqueros with the color case finish and I have had no problems with rust, but there were a lot of complaints. So Ruger finally discontinued it.
Just so you know, the colors of real Case Hardening are relatively fragile too. They fade over time. The colors can be wiped right off with Naval Jelly. Even prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade the colors of real Case Hardening. The hardened surface will remain, but the colors will be gone.
Ruger stopped putting their 'case colored' finish on Vaqueros a few years ago. There were complaints about rust on the surface. I have a few Vaqueros with the color case finish and I have had no problems with rust, but there were a lot of complaints. So Ruger finally discontinued it.
Meeteetse
Bearcat
I have six old Vaqueros that have all seen normal wear and tear in the field in a holster. The color case on all of them is holding up as well as my all blue guns from S&W and others that have been subjected to the same use. I have no problem with the finish Ruger used on these guns. If it wears, so be it, so does the real case hardening and it still looks better than some of the black painted finishes some manufacturers are using.
Just curious, but why would someone use break fluid on a gun? Is it an accepted cleaning fluid for guns? New to me if it is.
Just curious, but why would someone use break fluid on a gun? Is it an accepted cleaning fluid for guns? New to me if it is.
flatgate
Hawkeye
Meeteetse said:
Break fluid? No, they use Brake Clean, a strong solvent. It REMOVES grease and oil and sometimes the finish....... :D
flatgate
CraigC
Hawkeye
You can always go for the real thing!
Ruger's cast frames cannot be case "hardened" but Turnbull pioneered the process by which authentic case colors are applied to Ruger frames through a pseudo-original process without actually getting hot enough to harden the part. The result is spectacular!
Ruger's cast frames cannot be case "hardened" but Turnbull pioneered the process by which authentic case colors are applied to Ruger frames through a pseudo-original process without actually getting hot enough to harden the part. The result is spectacular!
OP
deadshot
Bearcat
CraigC said:You can always go for the real thing!
Ruger's cast frames cannot be case "hardened" but Turnbull pioneered the process by which authentic case colors are applied to Ruger frames through a pseudo-original process without actually getting hot enough to harden the part. The result is spectacular!
Very Nice!
I remember when Turnbull was a known only to locals and advertised with a small ad in shotgun news. His work is outstanding and is one of the very few restorers that add value to a gun. I am very familiar with case hardening process and its durability. Sunlight, solvents and finger prints are its enemy. I appreciate your picture and it is a reasonable alternative. I can pick up any blued Vaquero at a good price and have his magic done to it and it would be a Turnbull. It does not get any better than that. I know Rugers are a good value and a quality product but I wonder if they even advertised that model as being fake case coloring?
Driftwood Johnson
Blackhawk
Howdy
It is a moot issue now, since Ruger is no longer offering the color case finish.
When they were offering it, Ruger did not call it Case Hardening. If I recall correctly, they called their Color Case Finish, or something similar. They never said it was real Case Hardening. No, they did not use the work 'fake' in their description. It was common knowledge at the time that the frames were not Case Hardened, that the colors were chemically applied. No, they were not 'painted on'.
Ruger stopped using that finish on the New Vaquero just a couple of years ago and went to the all blued finish. They made the change because there had been so many complaints about rusting with the Color Case Finish. So they simply discontinued it.
I have one Vaquero and two New Vaqueros with the Color Case Finish. I have never had any problems with any of them rusting.
OP
deadshot
Bearcat
Maybe fake is too hasrh of a description. Those are fine looking pieces. If I was not knowledgeable in the case hardening process I guess it would no biggie if was advertised as a "Color Case Finish" The appearance it still nice. As far a wear, one process may be as good as the other. I would assume that Ruger after the chemical process would put a hard clear coat on it.Driftwood Johnson said:
Howdy
It is a moot issue now, since Ruger is no longer offering the color case finish.
When they were offering it, Ruger did not call it Case Hardening. If I recall correctly, they called their Color Case Finish, or something similar. They never said it was real Case Hardening. No, they did not use the work 'fake' in their description. It was common knowledge at the time that the frames were not Case Hardened, that the colors were chemically applied. No, they were not 'painted on'.
Ruger stopped using that finish on the New Vaquero just a couple of years ago and went to the all blued finish. They made the change because there had been so many complaints about rusting with the Color Case Finish. So they simply discontinued it.
I have one Vaquero and two New Vaqueros with the Color Case Finish. I have never had any problems with any of them rusting.
Driftwood Johnson
Blackhawk
No, there is no hard clear coat on them. Just bare metal. There is no hard clear coat on the Case Hardening on my Colts either. But I understand Turnbull does clear coat his finish to protect it.
Flash
Buckeye
When ya pay $230 for a large framed Vaquero in 45 Colt, it doesn't matter if the finish was painted on or chemically applied but brake cleaner took it off. It's a deep high polished blue now with faux ivory grips
Driftwood Johnson
Blackhawk
I'm not about to try it, but I suspect that brake cleaner would probably remove the colors of real Case Hardening too.
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