need your advice

[Broad Arrow]

I have a GC series 80 National Match. It was some rust spots along the serrations and idiot marks. My gs can do it but warned that he will not be able to replicate the original finish. I am bothered with the blemishes but at the same time, hoping to keep the original finish. Since I cannot have both, I am seeking your collective advices. Should I refinish? Thanks.

[PaleRider187]

Well just my opinion is that there is nothing collectible about it, other than its a colt. So unless you plan on putting it in safe and ,say in, 25 years and onward you plan on selling it for a positive return, refinishing wouldnt be a bad thing. I would send it to colt though if it was mine, they can do a lot of different traditional finishes. Because if someone says something about refinishing you can at least bring out the colt paperwork and show the factory did it. My buddy sent his 1903 back to colt for refinishing and man does it look really nice.

[WhoaCowboy]

I agree. Send it to Colt's

[Broad Arrow]

PaleRider187, WhoaCowboy, thanks for your advices. Promblem is, I am not from the States :(

[PaleRider187]

what country do you live in?

[Broad Arrow]

Philippines

[PaleRider187]

hmmm, well someone else with better knowledge will have to join in here to help you on this one. My best advice though would be to call colt and ask them what you can do, such as send it by some service to the US, they have a foreign office that can do the work or whatever. good luck

[Broad Arrow]

Thanks. I will try to email Colt and see what they advise but I'm sure sending it to the US and back will be very expensive :(

[PaleRider187]

yeah you are probably right, its expensive enough in the US

[Broad Arrow]

Thanks for your advice. Really appreciate it :)

[kenhwind]

How bad is the gun can you post a picture? I understand that some blemishes can be annoying, but sometimes the facts override wishes. I would not have it done by a local guy unless he was really good. More older guns were ruined by over zealous polishing than good judgement.

[Broad Arrow]

I will try to take some pictures and post it here. Thanks :)

[Broad Arrow]

Pls. see attached pics. You will notice the idiot scratch in the first pic and the blemishes along the serrations on the second. Is it advisable to buff/refinish? Thanks.

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp332/joelixng/05072009147b.jpg

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp332/joelixng/05072009148b.jpg

[G. Freeman]

Broadarrow,
You are living in a foreign country and as such it may be next to impossible to get your gun across the sea. Just too many laws, restrictions, and mishaps that can happen with an overseas firearm shipment. And even if the gun is shipped back to you from Colt, there's a high possibility it will get stolen during shipment. I know...I used to live in the PI.

My best advise for you, is to leave it alone. Maybe some hoppe's may do the trick plus other rust-removal tricks that you can usually find in this forum. Or if there is a very competetent finisher locally, have him do it although I agree, it will never equal the finish of royal blue. Colt fininishes their guns in a specialy way.

Also, ammo prices in the PI are very expensive. I'd spend the money shooting the gun instead. Peace man.

[dakota1911]

1. Courious what you want to do with the pistol. Shoot it? Sell it?
2. Pictures would be good.
3. If you have any local gunsmith who knows these, then I would take it to him.

[1saxman]

It's stainless steel? If so, any blemish can be buffed out and the original 'grain' or 'tooth' (in the case of a matte finish) can be duplicated. However, since the damage is very minor, I would just make sure to keep the gun oiled (particularly in your hot, humid environment) inside and out. If it's just the picture and it is blued, I recommend the use of 'Eezox' on it. If you can't get that, just rub the finish down with a good gun oil on a piece of toweling, and do it frequently.

[Broad Arrow]

Sorry for the bad pictures. My GC is stainless. I think I'm gonna hang on to this until I totally cannot stand the imperfections.

@G. Freeman - you are correct. Bullets are very expensive here. In fact, everything related to firearms are very expensive. From holsters, parts, accesssories, etc it cost about 1.5 to twice the price. I just put up a deposit for a Kimber Warrior and it would cost the same as a Wilson Combat there! And of course, the Wilson Combat here cost twice the price there! BTW, how long were you here and in what city? I hope you enojoyed it here :)

@dakota1911 - with the prices of firearms here, I would like to have mine in pristine condition.

@1saxman - I will try and put oil frequently and see how it goes.

Thanks :)

[Hunter]

I would try to polish out the idiot scratch going with the grain. It should polish out with some time, go slow.

As far as the rust, how about some Hopps #9 and a hard bristle tooth brush? Again with a little time and elbow grease that should come out as well.

[Broad Arrow]

I would try to polish out the idiot scratch going with the grain. It should polish out with some time, go slow.

As far as the rust, how about some Hopps #9 and a hard bristle tooth brush? Again with a little time and elbow grease that should come out as well.

Thanks. I will try to do as advised. BTW, what do I use to polish the scratch? Thanks.

[dogdollar]

Thanks. I will try to do as advised. BTW, what do I use to polish the scratch? Thanks.

If you polish it you will wind up with a shiny spot, which is just as irritating as a blemish.
Since it is a stainless gun, you may be very lucky......find someone who can do a fine grit bead blast on the whole thing and the gun will have a satin finish and look brand new. I had this done to a SS Ed Brown and it looks perfect. It's cheap and takes about 30 minutes.
If you must use a polish, I would recommend Flitz, but even Brasso would work in a pinch.
DD

[nitetrane98]

Hard to tell from the pics but it looks to me like a satin finish stainless, maybe brushed slide flat. A satin finish is just the opposite of a bright finish, a mar on satin looks bright. I think the plan would be to have it re-glass beaded. If you do the whole gun you don't have to worry about matching anything. You'll soon forget what the original finish looked like as long as everything is uniform and reasonably close to the original. If the slide flat is brushed you can redo it with about 400-600 grit wet/dry sandpaper on a piece of glass. Then you tape off the flats and glass bead the top of the slide. Again, you don't have to worry about it matching because you're doing the whole thing.

The eye is drawn to imperfections, even more so if you're the type that lets mars drive you crazy. It becomes all you can see on the gun.

[Broad Arrow]

@ dogcollar and nitetrane98 - thanks for a very detailed explanation. My plan right now is to try and "accept" my gun the way it is. If I really can't stand the imperfections, I will have it refinished.

@nitetrane98 - you are very accurate. I am the type that lets mars drive me crazy especially if the idiot scratch is my own doing because of my carelessness. I can't seem to forgive myself for it that's why I really want to have it refinish :(

[dogdollar]

I can't seem to forgive myself for it that's why I really want to have it refinish :(

Well, young fellow, don't go leaping out the window just yet. After all, God forgives you, and I'm sure your gun does, too.
A nice, fine grit bead blast will make it like new again, and you don't have to be a rocket surgeon to do it.
Here is the Ed Brown I had it done to. Not bad, huh?
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/DSC013362.jpg
DD

[Broad Arrow]

Thank you very much for your kind words and congrats on a very nice and clean refinish. Very professionally done!