Mule Head
Bearcat
I am not a "faker", but to the collector is it considered kosher to re-black the grip medallions.
Re-blacking the eagle in grips.....
- Thread starter Mule Head
- Start date
I have some collectables, but I'm not a collector. I leave the medallions as they are. Put it this way: If I'm wanting some original grips for an OM FT .44., I'd pass if they'd been messed with. It's your gun/grips to do with as you choose.
This coming from some fool who thought it would look better to cold blue a mint Colt Diamondback's hammer. It's my gun and I still like it! :mrgreen:
This coming from some fool who thought it would look better to cold blue a mint Colt Diamondback's hammer. It's my gun and I still like it! :mrgreen:
Chuck 100 yd
Hunter
If the repair is to clean up a gun you plan to keep,why not? My idea of faking is changing it to something is never was to cause a buyer to think it is something it is not. Does they jiberish make any sense? LOL.
you will not be the first person in history to have repainted the original grip medallion color...........to fake something ,one has to change, alter it to something else of higher value , with the intent to screw the next person, then that can be construed as perpetrating a fraud.............restorations, clean ups , tlc,,,,, etc., are what they are ,and a true collector knows the difference.......
Properly done, it would be unnoticeable to 99 out of a hundred folks, even if examined closely.
Knowing this, I wouldn't pay more for "perfect, original" panels than those with a little missing paint. Of course, I'm not selling any for a profit, either.
JMHO
Knowing this, I wouldn't pay more for "perfect, original" panels than those with a little missing paint. Of course, I'm not selling any for a profit, either.
JMHO
Awhile back, Hamilton Bowen did an article for a gun magazine in which he described the process he uses to clean up and repaint the inner color on Ruger emblems. In his usual humorous way he describes the process of chasing little quantities of black paint into the small places with the end of a toothpick. 
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Mule Head said:
Not IMHO, I agree with all posters above. Within ethical bounds.
Yeah, those ethical bounds will getcha every time.
To some it's 100% un-messed-with, right down to the ORIGINAL paint in the eagles or it isn't "right". I can appreciate that. Where would you draw the line?
Touching up the paint in the eagles?
Carefully refinishing the wood to "as shipped" condition?
Touching up with a little cold blue?
Replacing a marred ejector rod housing with a "perfect" one?
Replacing a marred grip frame with a "perfect" one?
Polishing the sides of a hammer?
Polishing out the "line" on a cylinder and re-bluing it?
Retrofitting a missing convertible cylinder?
Reaming cylinder throats to proper specs?
Complete refinishing/rebluing?
Complete refinishing/rebluing with special attention given to not over-polishing and making sure the appropriate areas are NOT reblued?
Slippery slope, sez me. And more to the point, what's the motive for the work? If there's no intent to fake a 100% collectible for profit, who cares? As Cholo says, it's my gun and I just want it to be nice. But it won't always be my gun, and the next person to have "temporary custody" might not know what he has . . . or the person after him. This is why it's important to know what "original" looks like, if it matters to ya.
And it's all part of the game.
To some it's 100% un-messed-with, right down to the ORIGINAL paint in the eagles or it isn't "right". I can appreciate that. Where would you draw the line?
Touching up the paint in the eagles?
Carefully refinishing the wood to "as shipped" condition?
Touching up with a little cold blue?
Replacing a marred ejector rod housing with a "perfect" one?
Replacing a marred grip frame with a "perfect" one?
Polishing the sides of a hammer?
Polishing out the "line" on a cylinder and re-bluing it?
Retrofitting a missing convertible cylinder?
Reaming cylinder throats to proper specs?
Complete refinishing/rebluing?
Complete refinishing/rebluing with special attention given to not over-polishing and making sure the appropriate areas are NOT reblued?
Slippery slope, sez me. And more to the point, what's the motive for the work? If there's no intent to fake a 100% collectible for profit, who cares? As Cholo says, it's my gun and I just want it to be nice. But it won't always be my gun, and the next person to have "temporary custody" might not know what he has . . . or the person after him. This is why it's important to know what "original" looks like, if it matters to ya.
And it's all part of the game.
......repaint it, nothing wrong with having something "nice", heck if you switched grips or put on a set from another 'like' model ,no one would ever know or could tell the difference, as 'ale-8' pointed out above this is what goes on every day, ever since they ( firearms) came out in ......... :roll:
( and there are a LOT of shops out there making BIG money doing it for customers) 8)
( and there are a LOT of shops out there making BIG money doing it for customers) 8)
Heck, let's go a little further . . .
Say you come across an Old Model (three-screw) for a good price. Say it has essentially good bluing, but some of the "screwdriver parts" are less than wonderful, and perhaps it is wearing the safety conversion bits.
So, you spend the time, effort, and money to round up all the necessary ORIGINAL PERIOD CORRECT parts in better condition, and a set of original action parts, and swap 'em all out. No refinishing to the frame, barrel, and cylinder, just a good cleanup. What you now have is a "nicer" gun with all factory-correct parts and original factory finish. The only thing that would indicate it's not "as shipped" is the little stamp on the frame, hidden under the grip frame, that indicates it was safety-converted at some point. You keep the conversion parts for future reference.
Assuming you inform a prospective buyer what you have done, have you sinned greatly???
:mrgreen:
Say you come across an Old Model (three-screw) for a good price. Say it has essentially good bluing, but some of the "screwdriver parts" are less than wonderful, and perhaps it is wearing the safety conversion bits.
So, you spend the time, effort, and money to round up all the necessary ORIGINAL PERIOD CORRECT parts in better condition, and a set of original action parts, and swap 'em all out. No refinishing to the frame, barrel, and cylinder, just a good cleanup. What you now have is a "nicer" gun with all factory-correct parts and original factory finish. The only thing that would indicate it's not "as shipped" is the little stamp on the frame, hidden under the grip frame, that indicates it was safety-converted at some point. You keep the conversion parts for future reference.
Assuming you inform a prospective buyer what you have done, have you sinned greatly???
:mrgreen:
UmpquaCharlie
Buckeye
Repaint using black nail polish....and don't sell your Rugers.
pete44ru
Hunter
.
I always use "jeweler's black" (aka: "Silver black"), usually used by (class) ring makers (Like Josten's) to highlight the school or organization's name.
.
I always use "jeweler's black" (aka: "Silver black"), usually used by (class) ring makers (Like Josten's) to highlight the school or organization's name.
.
Busterswoodshop
Hunter
I personally like all my guns to be 100% original.
I have no problem with someone that wants to refinish , re-blue , rework or whatever their gun.
What I do have a problem with is someone that does it to deceive a buyer.
If you do then everything should be out in the open if you are selling something.
I have no problem with someone that wants to refinish , re-blue , rework or whatever their gun.
What I do have a problem with is someone that does it to deceive a buyer.
If you do then everything should be out in the open if you are selling something.
