Super Redhawk .454- Does Not Have Target Grey Finish? *PICS*

[Captains1911]

Hello,
I just purchased a Super Redhawk in .454. The previous owner said the gun had never been fired and that he had purchased it new one year ago. All the pics I see of this model, including the ones on Ruger's website, show a target grey finish, however this one looks shiny just like all my other stainless steel Rugers. The sticker on the case says it's target grey, and matches the serial number of the gun.

I'm confused. The gun had all the typical signs of being factory test fired with a small amount of fouling in the bore and on the breach, so I doubt somebody polished it after it was purchased. Did Ruger recently stop producing these with the target grey finish?

Here are some pics of it next to my other stainless steel rugers:

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[Quarterbore]

I am posting via my phone so searching is tough but I asked the same thing at least 6 months ago when I first saw one of these. In the thread I had got confirmation that Ruger is making these.

I will try to post a link but bit easy with my phone.

 

[Quarterbore]

Link: http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=55276

 

[Captains1911]

Thanks for clarifying that. I had read that the target grey finish was result of a tumbling process. Is that true, and if so, was it done purely for aesthetics, or for some other purpose?

 

[k22fan]

It looks better without the finish to my eye. Let us know how it shoots.

Gil

 

[tacklebury]

I'd heard the finish was to reduce reflections during hunting, but don't know for sure. ;)

 

[mohavesam]

The target grey finish was the invention of Stan Terhune.

Through a combination of chemical and mechanical passivation (with controlled media), free ferritics are removed from the surface of the steel. It has corrosion-resistance superior to bare stainless.