LGS visit and Service Six Question

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BlueHeelerFl

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I paid a vist to a lgs after work and got to handle a new Taurus 856 and an used 85 for the first time. Both seemed pretty good, although I liked the stainless and larger 856.

I also got to handle a Ruger Service Six for the first time as well. That was a nice revolver. Its seemed to be in good shape and locked up tight, although I really didn't play with it too much (if I had the funds I think the Ruger and the 856 would have come home with me).

The finish on the Service Six was something I've never seen before. The cylinder and barrel were traditional blue, nut the frame was purplish. Is there a reason for that color difference?
 
BlueHeelerFI

I had an HK P7 that was like that so I wrote to HK asking them about it. They said it could be one of three things or possibly a combination of all three of them. First off there could have been something different about the metal alloy that was used to make that particular gun, enough so that the bluing solution caused it to have a purplish cast to it. Another thought was the heat treatment also affected the bluing process. The third idea put forth was that there was something going on with the bluing solution itself (too weak or a slightly different formula), at the time the bluing was done.
 
Plum .... I have had several revolvers with the plum patina , a couple of Ruger Blackhawks, a Security Six and a older Charter ... And a P95 slide
 
Ruger revolvers had that in the 70's. Different metal, I think. I remember Super Blackhawk frames having it.
 
The one I'm looking at is a bit higher, but I usually don't see too many deals around.

I did see a S&W M65 for $425 awhile back that seemed like a deal, but no way I could afford it at the time
 
The plum color is due to the amount of silica in the metal. The parts were blue but time makes them turn the plum color. The color doesn't bother me a bit and some folks search for the plum guns. The Service, Speed and Security Rugers are fantastic revolvers. As far as Taurus goes, I would stay away from them. The only Taurus firearm that actually worked for was their copy of the Beretta 92. Their warranty is a nightmare and many people have to send their firearm back several times to get them fixed.
 
Yeah the plum color is actually a thing with a lot of firearms made in the late 60’s, 70’s even 80’s. You’ll see it a lot on Ruger rifles and pistols and Remington rifles. It’s funny too because sometimes it’s specific parts like the receiver is plum but the barrel isn’t.
 
One of my P7s has the plum slide; it was usually found on the older guns
 
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