Really ugly SS blackhawk 357

[beemermark]

Saw the ugliest SS gun ever in a pawn shop today. Looks like it was shot a lot and never, ever cleaned. Plus (I'm guesing) put away for years in a wet holster. The stainless is, for want of a better word, freckled. Not peeling, blistered or rusted but mottled with dark spots like a leopard. Anyway it has me intriqued for a project gun, I'm just not sure if the spots will polish out. They look like they are under the surface.

What'ya think?

Also, do the current Ruger NMBH blued still have the aluminum frame? On the website the same model in blued and SS have the same weight. I find that strange

 

[contender]

Welcome to the forum!
It could have been a SASS Cowboy gun that someone used black powder loads in,, and didn't clean it properly.
I'd check the bore,, feel the action,, ask to remove the grip panels etc & really look it over. If all the ugliness is cosmetic & on the exterior,, go for it if the price is right. It can be polished out.

 

[beemermark]

Welcome to the forum!
It could have been a SASS Cowboy gun that someone used black powder loads in,, and didn't clean it properly.
I'd check the bore,, feel the action,, ask to remove the grip panels etc & really look it over. If all the ugliness is cosmetic & on the exterior,, go for it if the price is right. It can be polished out.

It locks up good and there is no backwards / forward play in the cylinder. The starting price is what I would pay for a clean one so they need to come down at least a $100. Most of it will clean up with some elbow grease but I've never seen SS look like this. Black powder (and I've shot a far amount of that in blued guns) sounds like a good explanation.

If it doesn't polish out I guess I good have it painted. At $100 for a paint job the price would have to drop about $150.

 

[EDK]

If you can get it at a reasonable price, you could have it bead blasted to a matte finish. I've been toying with that idea on several stainless VAQUEROS...the bright polish don't appeal to me much.

If it was cleaned off with a wire brush to remove powder fouling, there might be rust in small pieces of the wire brush that embedded in the stainless steel. I made that mistake cleaning the checkered top of a S&W in stainless steel.

 

[rugerguy]

Welcome to the Forum, yessir if you can get it "right" priced, go for it, we've polished LOTS of them over the years and they all come out NICE< as good as new........( then again, thats what we were in business for) :wink:

 

[beemermark]

If you can get it at a reasonable price, you could have it bead blasted to a matte finish. ...the bright polish don't appeal to me much.

I did that to a S&W 625 for the same reason. It does look very nice. I have a local gunsmith that will do it for a reasonable sum.

BTW, I feel like I should apologize. I'm not new here, guess I just never posted. Usually have nothing to say or even add. I do enjoy reading the posts though.

 

[rugerguy]

well we certainly like to "welcome" folks for their "imput" as the forums are only as good as what any of us can contribute, and any help and shortcuts or savings, we like to try and pass along.........always have and always will..................
you'll do just fine as to the refinish, nice thing about 'stainless' it is the same color all the way through.....its the "final" finish, wether you want glossy or matted...........gotta get 'er cleaned up first.....good luck

 

[gramps]

Pics please--before and after. So we can live vicariously. Thanks.
gramps

 

[recumbent]

Don't polish it bead blast it for a matte look and you won't see any spots.

 

[ray1970]

Here is an example of glass beaded stainless. Sorry it is not a Ruger or a revolver. I have a GP100 that I have been contemplating doing the same thing to. There is nothing wrong with my finish just wanting to be a little different. But if I change my mind it is far more difficult to re-polish it once it has been blasted.