Help save my dads Python. WARNING graphic images

[omni420916]

were you shooting corrosive rounds before your father stored it? spend the extra money and send it to colt to have them refinish it and look over the internals for rust as well. colt revolvers need to be handled with care because of there precision internals, or with someone who really knows there pythons.

[Wordupmybrotha]

Group hug fellas...
The tip of the barrel looks like it caught a venereal disease...man, that was painful to see. Ok, I'm taking out all my babies out of the safe tonight and give them all a nice wipe down.

[RobRed]

Flitz and 0000 steel whool. Did it to mine, looks like new.

2nd this

[splithoof]

Have you seen what $$$$$$$ Pythons (and all Colt snakes) are going for these days??????......That is nothing but sad. Very sad.

[bounty1]

Have you seen what $$$$$$$ Pythons (and all Colt snakes) are going for these days??????......That is nothing but sad. Very sad.

that is unless you own 4 or 5.....

[wandern]

Light Sand blast, fine sanding, then polish.

Don't under any circumstances do this.

You may bead blast it with a high quality pristine glass media (extremely important that's the media's never been used on any type of carbon steel). Depending on the grit, air pressure, and method you use, you might give it a very light matte finish but you will not damage the gun or embed grit into the metal.

[fonzy]

Soak it in vinegar the rust falls right off. Just check on it periodically, you don't want to leave it in there too long.

Here are some links that I have used.

http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=351132

[DRoberts12345]

Not as bad as it looks. It should clean up easily. My concern would be any rusted internal springs.

Take it apart, clean and polish all parts, replace any springs and you should be good to go.

As for cleaning it will be a multi step process starting with a good cleaning, and oiling. Then onto some light sanding or polishing depending on condition after cleaning and oiling.

Some Mothers polish and you will have a mirror shine.

Good Luck...Save that snake gun...

This is good advice.


Stainless does not rust. There won't be any pitting on the stainless. As for the blued steel parts 0000 steel wool will work fine (not 000 or 00).

NO SANDPAPER! NO BEAD BLASTING !AND NO SANDBLASTING!
Whoever said that needs to be hung by their private parts.

[Swampcrip]

Is there more inheritance in the safe? You should probably take a look now, before all you are left with is rust.

The rest of the colts and kimbers are fine. After further conversation the only variable making this the only gun to rust is a leather zip up gun case my mom bought him. This was the only gun that showed signs of rust. My mom is into horses and bought him a leather gun bag at a show. I'm assuming this was more of a novelty and didn't offer protection. Not to mention my mk25 and s&w 66-1 showed no sigs of rust and have been in that safe while I was out of country over 6 months ago. The last time I saw the Python was when I gave him my personal prized possessions to look after while I traveled and it was mint.

[Satex]

This is the most painful thing I think ive ever seen.

I just cried inside.

Dear Mother Of God. I can't watch this.

Madre de Dios!

My heart hurts.....

Noooooooooooooooo!

dear god. my heart just stopped for a second when I saw the pictures.

Take that to the emergency room stat!

What's this place, drama queen central???
Do we need to start a support group???

Light Sand blast, fine sanding, then polish.

At least someone got it right!
It's a gun, clean it, shoot it, enjoy!

[pacrat]

Droberts12345 said

Stainless does not rust. There won't be any pitting on the stainless. As for the blued steel parts 0000 steel wool will work fine (not 000 or 00).

Which is incorrect. The stainless steel used in making firearms does "rust". Just as many different types of stainless rust. The stainless alloys that are actually 'rust proof" are far too soft for making firearms.

And the likely culprit as to cause is the leather pistol case. Unless it was "brain tanned" leather. [very rare and expensive]

Especially if it was made in Mexico. They do a p!ss poor job of blanching the salts out of their commercial leather after processing down there.

Another culprit for assuring that guns rust. Are real "sheepskin" pouches and gun cases. Synthetics are a guns best friend.

Light hand rubbing with [0000] steel wool doused with Automatic Transmission Fluid aka ATF will remove the light rust speckling. If there is pitting under the rust [unlikely from the pics] it will have to be re-polished. And should be done by a professional.

JM2c

[Walky Talky]

I have no attachment to the piece myself but it's painful to look at. I have a Civil War antique relic that's in slightly better shape than that. Do you know what happened? Was it stored in water?

Or perhaps in a leather holster?

Don't store guns in leather holsters

[tinman1975]

I recommend bronze wool over steel. Steel leaves tiny pieces embedded in the surface which in turn like to rust themselves.

[bombadillo]

Amazing! Their polishing even changes slide ejection port size and position!

Look again one photo was taken from an above angle and one photo was taken straight on. No dice try again

[Aircraftman]

A prime example to prove stainless guns can rust and need the same care that blue guns need. Sorry to see your Python in this condition 😪

As noted what ever you do DONT use steel wool on the gun!

Colt custom shop can fix it - but it will take them the better part of a year and it will run u about $500 plus 2and day shipping

You can use a scotch pad on the stainless to remove the rust and a brass gun cleaning brush to work on the sights yourself

Or

There is a guy on the Colt Forum and Facebook who does nice polishing work on SST guns - look up Keystone Arms - Marc - and get his opinion (he can even make it Bright SST finish)

Good news is since its SST it can be restored

Best of luck with your snake...