Help save my dads Python. WARNING graphic images

[bombadillo]

Are these 2 different guns? Ejection port looks different.

No it is the same gun. Looks like it was raised and possibly flared for reliability. According to Turnbull it is a before and after pic, otherwise they are straight up liars.

[bombadillo]

Nevermind, look at the angle of the photo. The top one was taken a bit more downward and the bottom one looks to be taken from more of a direct sideways shot. I had to do a double take.

[nickel plate]

At the front of that Colt .38 auto, is that a common bent-up framing nail subbing for a missing factory pin?

[mike415stone]

Bubba fix, you gotta love that

[bounty1]

Send it to Turnbull MFG and have them do it if you really want to. They will do bar none the best job out there. They can probably even make it better than it was originally. How is the bore on it now?

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/

[IMG]http://www.turnbullmfg.com/wp-

content/uploads/2014/09/colt1900-before.jpg[/IMG]

truth.....

[Rottentofu]

Okay, I am officially scared. Scared s***less.

Any advice on how to properly store a nickel python for long term?

[BradeRunner]

Two different guns.

Or the second has so many replaced parts it might as well be.

The angle is the same, even if it were not the hammers are not the same.

[sully007]

Send it to Turnbull MFG and have them do it if you really want to. They will do bar none the best job out there. They can probably even make it better than it was originally. How is the bore on it now?

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/

Is that a nail head in the front?

[BradeRunner]

That Python has the tell tale signs that it was sprayed with WD40 and put into a cold moist place for 6 months.

WD40 removes rust because it is a solvent. Someone here stated it was aerosolized kerosene, probably so. It dissolves the oil that's protecting the gun from rust, then evaporates.

Every Python, I see, brings a pang of regret for me. I once owned a Bill Davis Smolt, I had to sell it in my lean years to get the electricity turned back on. Can never get that back. Even with the New York trigger it could sink nails.

Hopefully, the inside of the barrel is salvageable, the outside pitting is only cosmetic. If you find a way to replace that lost metal, post some resurrection images.

I just cleaned and oiled my safe crowd, makes me anxious to systematically lube and oil them all again. I have almost a gallon of desiccant in there, still don't think that's enough.

[Swampcrip]

Looks like turnbull won't touch it. I'll give colt a call today and see what they can do.

[Swampcrip]

That Python has the tell tale signs that it was sprayed with WD40 and put into a cold moist place for 6 months.

WD40 removes rust because it is a solvent. Someone here stated it was aerosolized kerosene, probably so. It dissolves the oil that's protecting the gun from rust, then evaporates.

Every Python brings a pang of regret for me. I once owned a Bill Davis Smolt, I had to sell it in my lean years to get the electricity turned back on. Can never get that back. Even with the New York trigger it could sink nails.

WD was only used in the moment to wipe off the surface rust.

[Dano3467]

WTH happened ? yeh rust but WHY ?

[nickel plate]

Swampcrimp,
Colt made two stainless steel models of the Python, one of which is designated "BSTS" for bright (factory polished) stainless steel and the other is plain stainless steel. Whichever you have and if you want to keep it as authentic as possible, refinishing techniques for each will be different.
The BSTS models are fetching more resale money and because of that, there are many once plain and now buffed out SS Pythons for sale claiming to be BSTS guns. The giveaways are buffed eased edges that were once sharp to the eye and rollmarks that were once deep and crisp, now dulled and shallow and of course the obtainable for a fee proof letter from Colt.
I recently read of a similar rusted out but blued Python. The gun was kept between the mattress and box springs for YEARS in humid South Carolina. It was at some point inherited and sent back to Colt for refinishing. Six months and $375.00 later, the Python got back home and the new owner said the difference was so dramatic he had to check the serial number to make sure it was his gun!
Call Colt yesterday and get the process started.

[damngato]

I would pose this question to the Colt Collectors Club on facebook. Very knowledgeable people with lots of experience. I think Fords is a good suggestion, from what I understand Colt will be more expensive and a long wait time for the same outcome. Good luck

[Cody]

Okay, I am officially scared. Scared s***less.

Any advice on how to properly store a nickel python for long term?

Yes, the long term storage is a complicated process that would be too long to explain here. It would be best just to send it to me for safe keeping.