Effects of neglect on my Colt Python

[DMCA]

I have a 6" blued Python which I bought new almost 30 years ago. In the time since it's purchase, I have no more than 50 rounds through it. About a year ago, I decided I had to have a safe to store my guns and put the Python in there along with some others.

I didn't pay much attention after that until one day, I took all 6 pistols out that I had stored in the safe. The Python had considerable rust and pitting at various places. I worked with steel wool and oil, but the rust penetrated the bluing. The effects on other pistols was very superficial and cleaned up easily. After the fact, I got some silicon bags from Kleen-Bore and am a lot more diligent about taking these guns out regularly and wiping them down.

My carelessness caused me to lose a cosmetically perfect Python. Has anyone had any experience of sending this type of gun back to Colt to be completely re-blued?

Thanks.

[5hundo]

I always keep those silica packs they put in electronics or appliances for just this reason. You'll find that if you put maybe a half-dozen (or so) of those in your safe that your weapons will be far less prone to rusting...

Very sorry about your Python, though...

[JDay]

My carelessness caused me to lose a cosmetically perfect Python. Has anyone had any experience of sending this type of gun back to Colt to be completely re-blued?

Thanks.

There's plenty of places you can send it to that will do a good job on the bluing, that will not fix the pitting though.

[redcliff]

Interestingly, I never have rust problems in my safe, and don't have silica (although I think I'll get some). I do however always religiously whipe down my firearms with a silicone gun cleaning cloth after every handling; fingerprints will eat the blueing given enough time.

Do you live near the coast and have the windows open a lot? Up in Redding we have a very low amount of humidity (it's a dry heat) and in the winter when it starts raining we usually have our heaters on a bit which tends to dry out the air.

[jazman]

I would only have Colt do a re-finish on a Python.

[gunrun45]

I have a 2 golden rods in my safe and one large silica gell canister. No issues here.

[Scout106]

Have Colt do it, and no one else!! I sent my 6" Python to them around 1983, after carrying it in uniform since 1971. It had extensive holster wear and had hit the pavement when wrestling with a druggie. Colt will polish and Royal Blue your Python and it will look like new - assuming the pitting is not excessively deep. The market value of Pythons is too high to have anyone else work on it.

I began using Bore-Stor fabric cases on all my guns a number of years ago. The all wear one when in the safe and have also gone to Africa for nightly storage after a day in the bush. I swear these are one of the least known and yet best firearms protection products on the market. Check Midway for prices - about $10-$15 ea.

[darkest2000]

Send it to Colt, people have had great results and it'll still be considered factory (although not original) finish since Colt did it, so your gun will still retain it's value.

[JDay]

Have Colt do it, and no one else!! I sent my 6" Python to them around 1983, after carrying it in uniform since 1971. It had extensive holster wear and had hit the pavement when wrestling with a druggie. Colt will polish and Royal Blue your Python and it will look like new - assuming the pitting is not excessively deep. The market value of Pythons is too high to have anyone else work on it.

I began using Bore-Stor fabric cases on all my guns a number of years ago. The all wear one when in the safe and have also gone to Africa for nightly storage after a day in the bush. I swear these are one of the least known and yet best firearms protection products on the market. Check Midway for prices - about $10-$15 ea.

+10000 on the Bore-Store, I keep all my long guns in these.

[sorensen440]

Interestingly, I never have rust problems in my safe, and don't have silica (although I think I'll get some). I do however always religiously whipe down my firearms with a silicone gun cleaning cloth after every handling; fingerprints will eat the blueing given enough time.

Do you live near the coast and have the windows open a lot? Up in Redding we have a very low amount of humidity (it's a dry heat) and in the winter when it starts raining we usually have our heaters on a bit which tends to dry out the air.

I think a lot of the rust problems have to do with how long the safe remains closed
Mine is opened up almost every day

[JDay]

I think a lot of the rust problems have to do with how long the safe remains closed
Mine is opened up almost every day

Stick one of these in there. Golden Rod

[Josh]

I think a lot of the rust problems have to do with how long the safe remains closed
Mine is opened up almost every day

Changes in temperature cause condensation on the firearms.

If your safe in out in the uninsulated garage where it can swing from 55deg at night to 75-80 in the day the water vapor in the air will condense on the firearms as the temp drops.

Also where you live plays a large part.

The silica packs can only do so much since the safe is not sealed and they must be replaced or refreshed every so often as they are used up.

If you can, have the safe indoors and use one of those dehumidifiers that keeps the inside of the safe above the saturation temp.

[DMCA]

Thanks for all of the comments. I keep the safe opened for prolonged periods now and as mentioned, take the guns out and wipe them down regularly. The pitting on the gun is relatively superficial so I think re-bluing would cover that up. I'll probably send it to Colt, just to preserve any heirloom value for the family member that gets it.

Thanks again!

[DMCA]

Interestingly, I never have rust problems in my safe, and don't have silica (although I think I'll get some). I do however always religiously whipe down my firearms with a silicone gun cleaning cloth after every handling; fingerprints will eat the blueing given enough time.

Do you live near the coast and have the windows open a lot? Up in Redding we have a very low amount of humidity (it's a dry heat) and in the winter when it starts raining we usually have our heaters on a bit which tends to dry out the air.

I live in the SFV, (LA) and there is not much humidity, except in the winter. That and the condensation from temp swings are probably enough to trap some moisture. But I'm wiping them down every other week now!