PowderApe
Member
I have recently acquired a Colt DA 1917 .45 revolver of WWI vintage from my brother-in-law. Some at some time in the past, some doofus went out and parkerized it. The parkerization was a pretty decent job and I can easily see the Colt rearing horse logo, serial numbers and other markings well. You can also see the old pits on the frame and cylinder, and it looks like it had minimal prep work prior to the parkerization job. Had I wanted to parkerize it, I would have at least abrasive blasted it to a uniform finish before parkerization!
Certainly, this weapon is not a collector variation and is simply a shooter. It's a blast with .45 ball and half moon/full moon clips- the original speed-loader! But... I do prefer blue and would have liked it better had it been left original.
My question is: Is there a practical way to remove parkerization and refinish it blue?? Can an amateur tinkerer like me do it? Is it a matter of a good bath in some secret "anti-parkerization" solution or is it more of a matter of mechanical buffing, elbow grease and polishing? (Which is what I suspect)
In all probability, I'll just leave it as is and keep it a shooter but it would have been nice to match my old blue Brazilian surplus S&W 1917 .45 !
Certainly, this weapon is not a collector variation and is simply a shooter. It's a blast with .45 ball and half moon/full moon clips- the original speed-loader! But... I do prefer blue and would have liked it better had it been left original.
My question is: Is there a practical way to remove parkerization and refinish it blue?? Can an amateur tinkerer like me do it? Is it a matter of a good bath in some secret "anti-parkerization" solution or is it more of a matter of mechanical buffing, elbow grease and polishing? (Which is what I suspect)
In all probability, I'll just leave it as is and keep it a shooter but it would have been nice to match my old blue Brazilian surplus S&W 1917 .45 !