Author Topic: Original Colt 1851 finish?  (Read 2366 times)

Offline Mossyrock

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Original Colt 1851 finish?
« on: October 03, 2016, 03:38:34 PM »
OK...we know the original Colt 1851s had color case hardened frames, and everything else was blued.  But, HOW were they blued?  Were they rust blued?  Furnace blued? Charcoal blued?  Hot tank bluing hadn't come along yet, so I am curious how they did it in any quantity.  Rust bluing/browning was used on most rifles and shotguns then, but it is not very practical for pistols, and rust bluing small parts is a pain in the neck.
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Offline Flint

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Re: Original Colt 1851 finish?
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2016, 03:57:05 PM »
It was Charcoal bluing, and if you can find a revolver that still has the original finish, it is a softer blue, smokey looking.  The triggerguard and backstrap were silver plated.

Military refinishing used rust bluing.
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Offline Mossyrock

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Re: Original Colt 1851 finish?
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2016, 04:29:57 PM »
It was Charcoal bluing, and if you can find a revolver that still has the original finish, it is a softer blue, smokey looking.  The triggerguard and backstrap were silver plated.

Military refinishing used rust bluing.

Good info!  I have never seen an original with enough finish left to tell. 

Were ALL of the brass trigger guards and backstraps silver plated from the factory?
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Re: Original Colt 1851 finish?
« Reply #3 on: Today at 09:12:08 PM »

Offline Fingers McGee

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Re: Original Colt 1851 finish?
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2016, 10:39:33 PM »
Were ALL of the brass trigger guards and backstraps silver plated from the factory?

No.  Colt offered brass, plated or blued mountings on most models.
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