Might This be Patina?

[Cholo]

Yes, the hammer looks great! How did you do it, chemical and/or buffing?

 

[Tip]

Yes, the hammer looks great! How did you do it, chemical and/or buffing?

Wet sanding: 400, 600, & 800 grit, being careful not to remove the factory bluing on the top and back.
A felt buffing wheel with compound would be even better, I suspect.
(I need to buy a dremel, w/accessory wheels.)

 

[19ontheslide]

I realize I'm a bit late to the party, but I disagree with those who have speculated a previous attempt at cold bluing your hammer. I recognize that blackish discoloration as identical to that which has colored the sides of my SR1911 hammer and my early Bisley Vaquero. I'm the original owner of both of those guns and can assure everyone that their hammers have not been cold blued, they just get that way from exposure to something in my body's chemistry. Obviously some have never seen the phenomenon (lucky them), but it can and does happen on its own for some of us. FYI.

 

[Salmoneye]

Salmoneye, nice Gonçalo Alves grips!
(Does the other panel look that nice?)

Yes, but in no way 'matching...

The grain is tighter, and goes across the grip...

 

[SAJohn]

Tip, You did good. Whenever I get my hands on one of these Old Models, I do a complete disassembly, clean and re-oil every last piece to within an inch of its life. Importantly, I also remove the hammer plunger and clean out the hammer plunger hole with pipe cleaners. I also do a bit of polishing on the action sear surfaces. I prefer to wax all of the outside surfaces rather than oil them.



John

 

[Cholo]

Importantly, I also remove the hammer plunger and clean out the hammer plunger hole with pipe cleaners.

Quoted for truth! About 2 years ago I bought a mint OM SBH, no turn line or anything. I took the cylinder out and cleaned the gun proper. I cocked it and noticed the bolt wasn't rising as it should. The hammer plunger was sticking. A good cleaning with some jeweler's rouge and all was well. If I hadn't have noticed it, it would have caused a turn line.

 

[Tip]

Importantly, I also remove the hammer plunger and clean out the hammer plunger hole with pipe cleaners.

Quoted for truth! About 2 years ago I bought a mint OM SBH, no turn line or anything. I took the cylinder out and cleaned the gun proper. I cocked it and noticed the bolt wasn't rising as it should. The hammer plunger was sticking. A good cleaning with some jeweler's rouge and all was well. If I hadn't have noticed it, it would have caused a turn line.

That's good to know! Thank you, both.

 

[eveled]

looks so much better now

 

[Tip]

looks so much better now

Thanks, eveled. I think I'll do the more thorough cleaning this weekend, as others have done, and clean up the sides with a small buffing wheel on a dremel tool.

Light Pitting on Sides of Hammer May Be Buffed Out