OP
I WILL NOT complain if it turns plum!! I have a couple with plum gates, a couple showing signs of the main frame going plum. Randyzzz has one of the best looking plums I have seen. Thanks for the info, Tyrone.
Single Six rescues
- Thread starter Joey
- Start date
Bring on the plum!
Hey Joey- which one?
Hey Joey- which one?
OP
ALL THREE!!!
contender
Ruger Guru
Yep,, many of us really like the plum color. Yet, Ruger may not reblue one for fear of it turning. I haven't heard them use this as an excuse,, but when they contact you,, stress that you would NOT mind that happening, AND even offer to put that in writing as a waiver.
OP
Excellent advice! Thanks much, contender!
Hondo44
Hawkeye
Contender explained it perfectly.
Consider this: If the remaining bluing on your gun does not have areas turning to a purplish plum color, it's highly unlikely that it will with a factory re-blue.
If your gun has the bad metal mix, and if you get it re-blued, it won't look any worse or any different than if it was in 100% original condition.
Consider this: If the remaining bluing on your gun does not have areas turning to a purplish plum color, it's highly unlikely that it will with a factory re-blue.
If your gun has the bad metal mix, and if you get it re-blued, it won't look any worse or any different than if it was in 100% original condition.
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OP
It is not showing any signs of plum, but that's ok. It is the one below, I affectionately call it Rust Bucket. Just want it to look proud again. Some one stored it in a holster. I put a flat gate on it, everything else is original to the gun, except the grips. I put an original pair hard rubber on it.
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contender
Ruger Guru
They should be able to re-do that gun.
Gunny268
Bearcat
Joey..."Rust Bucket" huh? That gun would be the perfect candidate for an experiment I've wanted to try for a while now.
A complete disassembly, thorough degreasing, and a (perhaps couple of) 40-minute boils in distilled water. Curious just to see how much of the surface ferrous oxide is converted back into ferro-ferric oxide.
The end of this barrel was exposed to heat which had a surprising effect. I'm timid to do the experiment on this gun because it shoots so well.
A complete disassembly, thorough degreasing, and a (perhaps couple of) 40-minute boils in distilled water. Curious just to see how much of the surface ferrous oxide is converted back into ferro-ferric oxide.
The end of this barrel was exposed to heat which had a surprising effect. I'm timid to do the experiment on this gun because it shoots so well.
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OP
The mad scientist!!! I have a couple that have the loss of blue on the barrel. Not gonna have anything done to them but
OP
You are a half a day late. Got it off to Ruger today. I would have let it be used for an experiment. A bit above my head!! Dissecting a frog was as far as I got in science. It had a light sprinkle of surface rust on it when I got it, Knocked it off with 0000 steel wool and CLP, then soaked it overnight in a baggie with CLP. No real rust. It just looks bad from living in a holster.
The end of the barrel looks like it was heat blued. Have seen it done on small parts, but never on a barrel. Interesting.
Gunny268
Bearcat
The gun had been mostly disassembled and left carelessly lying on the bench beneath the window. Apparently only the muzzle end of the barrel had experienced an all-day exposure to direct sunlight. I started picking up all the parts to stow them away at the end of the day and only then noticed the color change to the end of the barrel's gray "patina." I am Intrigued by what had happened to it and I've been "researching" the alleged "restoration process" that may have likely occurred. Anyway, I curiously intend to conduct the "boil the gun" experiment. And as a worst-case scenario, the gun should/would/could still look like a 69-year-old shooter.
OP
That's really interesting, Gunny. Here's one of them I was talking about. The erh has the same loss. I wonder if that would work for your experiment?
Gunny268
Bearcat
As Orville once said to his brother Wilbur, "We'll never know until we give it a try."
OP
Well, I am going to have to find something different to do with the single six shorty. The 'smith fell about a month and a half ago in the Lodge parking lot and broke his leg. They just released him from therapy Tuesday, Wednesday he fell and broke it again. So he is down for probably another 2 months. Prayers, please. And rather than me do a Bubba butcher job on it with a hacksaw and a battery drill, I am going to have to find another local 'smith or someone I can send it to. I still plan on doing the bluing myself, but this is going to put a stop to the project for an unknown amount of time. I will keep you informed.
On a positive note. I got Rust Bucket heading to Ruger for a bath. I had to send them several pics of the gun showing it was converted, and close-ups so they could read the serial #. I couldn't read it off the gun! Bad enough getting old, but half blind to go along with it? Oh well, I have so much more in life to be thankful for. I will post pics when I get'er back. Guess I will also have to come up with another name !!
On a positive note. I got Rust Bucket heading to Ruger for a bath. I had to send them several pics of the gun showing it was converted, and close-ups so they could read the serial #. I couldn't read it off the gun! Bad enough getting old, but half blind to go along with it? Oh well, I have so much more in life to be thankful for. I will post pics when I get'er back. Guess I will also have to come up with another name !!
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bisleyfan41
Blackhawk
Eager to see 'ol Rust Bucket spiffied up.
OP
Yeah, me too. Last time I sent a gun in for a barrel change, they had it back to me in a bit over a week. Re-blued and grip frame re-finished. They have an excellent customer service dept.
Wow! Sorry to hear about your ‘smith. Praying he heals quickly.
So- did a Ruger ask for pics of the conversion? That’s odd.
As far as cutting down the barrel- Brownells sells the tools to square and chamfer the end, but they probably cost more than a ‘smith would charge to do it. Now, drilling and tapping for the sight… that seems like all kinds of opportunity for failure…
So- did a Ruger ask for pics of the conversion? That’s odd.
As far as cutting down the barrel- Brownells sells the tools to square and chamfer the end, but they probably cost more than a ‘smith would charge to do it. Now, drilling and tapping for the sight… that seems like all kinds of opportunity for failure…
OP
Thanks much, Randy. He is 77, and a fall can be not good. First time was on a slick parking lot, second time he was trying to get a pound of coffee from a shelf, and what he was standing on slipped. A great guy.
They asked for pics of another I sent in, because they had no record of the conversion. Apparently standard procedure.
In a barrel swap, the forcing cone may need to be trimmed, squared and reamed. Or the shoulder may need to be cut a bit. And you are right, drilling the holes for the sight and the erh can go south in a hurry. I don't have a drill press. The reason I wanted to use this 'smith, I assist him in a lot of things, and he has taught me a lot, and also taught me my limitations for working at home. So I could have gotten a pictural record of the work in progress. There is another 'smith I can take it to, they have a well- equipped shop, but are a drop off and pick up when complete operation. And I don't know their lead time. Decisions, decisions.
They asked for pics of another I sent in, because they had no record of the conversion. Apparently standard procedure.
In a barrel swap, the forcing cone may need to be trimmed, squared and reamed. Or the shoulder may need to be cut a bit. And you are right, drilling the holes for the sight and the erh can go south in a hurry. I don't have a drill press. The reason I wanted to use this 'smith, I assist him in a lot of things, and he has taught me a lot, and also taught me my limitations for working at home. So I could have gotten a pictural record of the work in progress. There is another 'smith I can take it to, they have a well- equipped shop, but are a drop off and pick up when complete operation. And I don't know their lead time. Decisions, decisions.
Gunny268
Bearcat
Very sorry to hear about your 'smiths broken bones. Hope he heals up well. And doesn't it seem to take longer at our age? 
Smart choice to send Rust Bucket up to mothership for refinish. Looking forward to seeing the results.
Smart choice to send Rust Bucket up to mothership for refinish. Looking forward to seeing the results.
OP
The decision has been made on the shortie. I just dropped it off at the gunsmiths for the work to be done. Should have it back in 2-3 weeks if all goes well. I will post picks when I get it back. I will then have to tear it down and blue it. The barrel is stripped and sanded, will sand it a final time while prepping the cyl frame and cyl.
OP
Thanks much, Gunny. The leg hadn't fully healed for this second mishap. Apparently the first place he went didn't set the bone, just put a cast on it. He went to another place for this one. And yes age does make a difference with healing time.Very sorry to hear about your 'smiths broken bones. Hope he heals up well. And doesn't it seem to take longer at our age?
Smart choice to send Rust Bucket up to mothership for refinish. Looking forward to seeing the results.
I thought it was the best thing to do for a re-blue. I would like to send shortie to them, don't know if they would do it since it left with a 5 5/8" barrel. I don't think they will take anything that has been altered from its original configuration. I guess a call wouldn't hurt.
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Hondo44
Hawkeye
So I guess you had to pay the shipping?
OP
Yes, shipping was 63.00 and change. Return shipping may be figured into the cost, probably is. Shipping is getting expensive. Scheduled for delivery to Ruger Monday.
OP
I appreciate all the help with the erh on the shorty, Hondo. I asked them to get it close to the end of the barrel, which will definitely have to have the forcing cone trimmed, squared and reamed. I screwed the barrel into the frame with the cylinder in place, it touched the cylinder before getting close to torque. I also asked them to time the barrel so the roll mark is to the side. This may require cutting the shoulder back a bit. I thought about filing the roll mark off, but it kinda adds to the looks. Hopefully they will do all that before they cut the barrel to length. Otherwise it will be too short for the erh. I am sure they have done this before. I ordered a NM front sight from Ruger. I liked the look of yours.
OP
Have you finished your om latest endeavor, Gunny? Pics if you have. It was referenced earlier in this thread.Very sorry to hear about your 'smiths broken bones. Hope he heals up well. And doesn't it seem to take longer at our age?
Smart choice to send Rust Bucket up to mothership for refinish. Looking forward to seeing the results.
Gunny268
Bearcat
Because I had used a NM Birdshead grip frame with the return spring adapter, I installed an Old Army trigger in the wider trigger slot/opening. (SPECIAL NOTE: I really dislike that OM skinny and off-centered OM trigger position.) The Old Army trigger worked flawlessly.
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Gunny268
Bearcat
But then Ronnie called about two weeks later. We had some conversation about a SBH spurred hammer for an OM Single Six that I had on order. I gladly agreed to continue to wait in line (per time and opportunity). But, as a consolation, he sent me his version of the Single Six Bisley hammer and sweetened that by including one of his redesigned OM triggers. Shortly after the hammer and trigger arrived and I got going once more into another disassembly, fitting, and reassembly. Needless to say, Ronnie is a da Vinci in design and engineering. Geometry and dimensions were flawless.
Shooting with the new hammer/trigger setup was about the best I've ever experienced in a single action revolver. My only downside to this is my improperly healed "Game Keeper's Thumb" on both hands. I don't have the complete range of motion in cocking that Bisley Spurred hammer with my gun hand. I'm limited to using my offhand thumb to properly (read SAFELY) cock this hammer.
Shooting with the new hammer/trigger setup was about the best I've ever experienced in a single action revolver. My only downside to this is my improperly healed "Game Keeper's Thumb" on both hands. I don't have the complete range of motion in cocking that Bisley Spurred hammer with my gun hand. I'm limited to using my offhand thumb to properly (read SAFELY) cock this hammer.
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OP
Wow, Gunny! that is a beautiful hammer! And a good looking gun! I like the birdshead gf. I have admired Ronnie's work for a while, One of these days I will order a gf or 2 from him. in the meantime, I may have to get a hammer/trigger combo from him! That ss is the one with the heat/sun treatment on the barrel! Here is an erh, if it will work.
Hondo44
Hawkeye
I used to make the OM trigger spring adapter. .
But I put so many NM grip frames on OMs I discovered a simpler adapter, a .22 LR case.
Install the forward NM trigger spring pin in the front hole in the grip frame. Then as you install the grip frame, drop the 22 case with the trigger spring and plunger inside of it, into the trough in the grip frame at the rear of the trigger guard. Install the grip frame. The 22 case is captured in place by the spring tension in front, the pin at the rear, and the bottom of the hammer base on top. It's not even visible once assembled.
Then I wanted Bisley triggers in some of my OMs with NM grip frames.
So I spliced an OM trigger sear to a NM trigger. The 1st one I did was tig welded, the rest I silver soldered.
But I put so many NM grip frames on OMs I discovered a simpler adapter, a .22 LR case.
Install the forward NM trigger spring pin in the front hole in the grip frame. Then as you install the grip frame, drop the 22 case with the trigger spring and plunger inside of it, into the trough in the grip frame at the rear of the trigger guard. Install the grip frame. The 22 case is captured in place by the spring tension in front, the pin at the rear, and the bottom of the hammer base on top. It's not even visible once assembled.
Then I wanted Bisley triggers in some of my OMs with NM grip frames.
So I spliced an OM trigger sear to a NM trigger. The 1st one I did was tig welded, the rest I silver soldered.
