Solvents On your USFA finish?

[imdarren]

Please advise,
See attached photo of the card that came with my Turnbull Cowboy Classic.
It says to use only products like G-96 and Rem-Oil or it could damage the coating on the case colored parts.

See attachment below . . . .

What do you guys use? I would think milder products like Hoppes would be ok.
My favorite is Butches Bore Shine, any opinions?
I just don't want to ruin the finish on my nice new revolver.

Help the new guy out here. 

Darren

[Appalachian Ed]

I have several guns Turnbull has done the case work on and he coats all his case parts with a clear coat of something. I find it will wear off anyway pretty fast if you shoot and clean then, so I have used all manner of commercial solvent/oils. Hoppes, Balistol, etc. You have to show more caution around oiled wood stocks, and that may be the main thing he is referring to.

-Ed

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Gents

     Solvents have been known to be harmfull to case colored metals for a long time and with prolonged use will remove all traces of case coloring from your gun. just like any solvent that says it will remove copper traces from your barrel , if you use this type of copper removing solvent on a NICKLE PLATED gun, it's just a matter of time before the plating starts to chip and peel off. You really need to be careful as to what you use on your guns, ask the firearms maker what they stand behind , or recommend, see if you get an answer? REMEMBER this metal is just colored, it is not case harden.

                                                                tEN wOLVES 

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[Appalachian Ed]

You stated it is just "colored" not "hardend". That is true of MANY of the italian guns, but USFA, and Doug Turnbull guns are case hardend with Bone Charcoal. I am not sure what you mean by that statement.

-Ed

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Ed

          If what you said is true , and that  Doug Toug Turnull does a true case harding not just case coloring , then it wouldn't matter what you use to clean your gun with, not all U. S. guns or foreign guns have true case harding, it would simply cost too much, although thats the way i would like it. And if this is the case then i wonder why they are warning you to watch what you clean your gun with , maybe it's just the clear plastic looking  coating they're worried about , i'd feel better if i had this in writting. real case harding doesn't need a clear top coat on it , it's beautiful just the way it is, and is more authentic ( IMHO )


                                                                   tEN wOLVES 

[Deadeye Don]

I think Mr. Turnbull is being cautious in his recommendations.  He takes pride in his work and doesnt want to see guns come back down the road due to harsh chemicals being used on them.   I use Hoppes # 9 on my USFAs (all case coloring done by Turnbull) and I have had no problems with the finish at all.  They look as bright as they did when I took them out of the box for the first time.   Now I cant say for sure that 40 years down the road the colors might fade a bit,  but they will fade just from use anyways.

[Doc Sunrise]

Just for clarity, USFA's bone case and Turnbull's bone case work is the real deal, and the same thing as Turnbull does USFAs bone case work. I had parts done by Turnbull and had a chance to ask about that very warning.  After the parts are truly bone charcoaled and quenched in water they are case hardened not just case colored like a chemical process, which leaves those beautiful colors that when seen, anyone can tell the difference between the real deal compared to the chemical finishes used by other gun makers.  I have a Cimarron with what they call a USA finish, and it was sent to Turnbull for real bone case hardening.  Afterwards, Turnbull puts on a clear coat to help protect the coloring from fading over time.  Bone case hardening's coloring will fade from use, sunlight, and cleaning because of the direct handling.  That clear coat is an attempt to protect the coloring for as long as possible.  The use of certain strong chemicals will soften that clear coat over time and make the clear coat lose its ability to protect the bone case hardening's coloring, not the hardening.  The hardening process would only be hurt by heat.

With all of that being said, I personally use Break free and shooter's choice because thay are milder cleaners
that will not hurt the finish, but being careful when cleaning is always wise when trying to protect the beautifull finishes these USFA sixguns have.

[sharps50/70]

I use Ballistol on all my USFAs as well as the chemically colored Shiloh Sharps rifles.  Never had a problem but may have had a problem on a real 3rd gen. Colt, not sure.  So on my Colts, I just use an oil (Clenzoil {spelling ??}) now.

Rich

[imdarren]

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm guessing "the harsh chemicals" we are talking about primarily are the stronger ammonia based cleaners?

Doc Sunrise,
When you say you use Shooters Choice, are you refering to the MC#7 formula?
And how long have you been using it on your USFA finish?  Do they still look like new?

Thanks for your help guys!

Darren