Rust on Vaquero case coloring

[plnkr1234]

Well, it's finally happened. While going through my gunsafe, I noticed several large rust spots all over the side of the simulated, case-hardened colored frame of my Ruger birdshead Vaquero. Oddly enough, the rest of the blued parts of the pistol were ok. Rust was only on the case colored areas.

I rubbed the rust spots with CLP and they seemed to come off but still left some discoloration. It actually looks like the case coloring came off from the areas where the rust was, leaving silvery/gray bare steel. Luckily, it seems to blend in with the rest of the case coloring. I'm afraid to try Flitz or an abrasive for fear of removing any more of the coloring.

Has anyone else noticed that the Ruger case coloring is prone to rust? Any ideas how to restore the finish?

Thanks.

 

[Kamicosmos]

When I first got my case-colored Vaquero, it rusted a small bit of fingerprint on the case. I rubbed it out with a rag. Never had another problem with rust on it, and none of my other guns have ever rusted.

I wrote it off as some kind of new gun freakiness.

 

[forquidder]

case coloring

As you probably know Rugers case coloring is not actual case hardening but a fake coloring. I had a case colored Vaquero apart once fitting a birds head grip to it and accidentally hit the frame with some sandpaper. It produced a couple light scratches which showed up really shiny. I took a rag with some cold blueing on it and went over the scratches to darken them. I noticed that the blueing was darkening the light colored metal also so I went over the entire frame. The result was a slightly darkened case colored frame which actually looks pretty good. I think the slight blue job probably helps with rust prevention also.
From that experience I have the opinion that Rugers case coloring is almost useless as a rust preventative and that the frame is basically untreated steel.
I would suggest that if anyone trys this to take the gun apart (grip frame off) so that blueing doesn't get into areas where it can't be washed off. It will corrode those areas.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

my birdshead did it so bad that I sent it back. Supposidly then redid it but it started doing it again. So I do like was allready suggested and use cold blue on the rust spots seems to stop it.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Or...
Wipe it down occaisionally with a rust inhibitor, such as R.I.G.

Sam

 

[SouthpawShootr]

My Vaquero did the same type of thing. A couple of rust spots appeared and I used gun oil to clean them off. Finish came off also. Looked like bare metal to me. I've considered sending the gun off to Bowen for real color case work.

Typical Ruger "quality."

 

[Topgun]

Have not tried on a gun....but

I "cold blued" a carbon steel knife by wiping and steel wooling repeatedly and the result came out looking case hardened.

But I started with bare steel. There was no color on it to start with.

The cold blue seems to be somewhat rust preventive.

?????????

 

[Kamicosmos]

Return of the Zombie Thread!!

I originally said:

When I first got my case-colored Vaquero, it rusted a small bit of fingerprint on the case. I rubbed it out with a rag. Never had another problem with rust on it, and none of my other guns have ever rusted. I wrote it off as some kind of new gun freakiness.

But, This past weekend I found several large spots of surface rust, and when I used some CLP to gently wipe the rust off, it took the coloring off too.

Anyone have any new suggestions on how to fix it? I'm thinking of contacting ruger to have it either reapplied, or blue the whole thing.

 

[Majic]

My buddies rusted also. It came off with a oil wipe down. So I tore the frame down for him, blocked all the recesses, taped the barrel up, and sprayed a light coat of clear emron on it. It shines a bit because it's constantly polished when the revolver is wiped down, but it no longer rusts.

 

[Jim March]

A *lot* of people have been wiping off the factory "fake case coloring" and doing a home-blue kit on these guns. That would be what I'd do with one of these. The issue has become so widespread it's affecting the used resale values.

Ruger should have just done them all blue to start with .

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I think I'm going to have mine blued. I was considering having Hamilton Bowen apply his gorgeous genuine color case to my gun. Then I thought, "What the heck are you doing? This is a $300 gun and you're about to have a $250 color case finish applied." I've decided to have the gun redone in a nice good old fashioned blue. My local smith should be able to do it for about $100 or less.

I have a brass gripframe that I'm going to have him fit to the gun while he's at it to replace the cheap aluminum factory one. Then I'm through with this gun and no more Rugers for me. This is the second Vaquero I've had problems with (the first was a stainless one with a different problem and it is long gone).

 

[Werewolf]

Has anyone else noticed that the Ruger case coloring is prone to rust?

I've got two of 'em (Vaqueros). Both developed rust in multiple small areas. Since I always clean my weapons after firing and wipe the exterior metal with a silicone impregnated cloth I was - to say the least - dismayed when the rust showed up. The rust was easily removed with CLP and did not reappear.

Any ideas how to restore the finish?

On mine at least though the rust spots were quite apparent after removing them it is impossible to tell where they were.

Still all in all that's just one more reason - among others - that I'm no big fan of Ruger and will never own another one of them.

 

[J.M.]

I bought a .45 Bisley-Vaquero. The previous owner had tried to Flitz the rust, and it flat ou tremoved the fake CC finish. He did the rest of the frame to give it a uniform "In the white" look.

Didn't matter to me though, I bought it for a project, and eventually had the whole gun polished and reblued. - JM.

 

[popbang]

I had the same problem, and called Ruger. They said they would reapply the finish, but I asked them to blue the frame. Surprisingly they agreed. I now have a Ruger Birds Hea Grip Vaquero that has a factory blued frame and factory installed Super Blackhawk hammer. It is surprising what they will do when you ask.

 

[Jim March]

Well that's VERY interesting indeed.

If Ruger has gotten to the point where they're bluing them for free...hmmm.

You know what you could do? You could strip it to "white" and do a hand high-polish finish. Spend TIME on it yourself, bring it up to a consistent mirror-gloss finish that would be otherwise too expensive for Ruger to do themselves. Then spray it down with a good rust protector and send it in.

The quality of the polish underneath affects the quality of the bluing.

You'd get a REALLY killer finish out of it, for the price of a few hours with 600+ grade metal polish paper in front of the TV.

 

[Mossyrock]

This brings up an interesting question. You can strip factory bluing with good strong vinegar. What do you need to chemically strip off Ruger's "Color Case" finish?

 

[Jim March]

Given the number of people who have *accidentally* wiped off the Ruger "case coloring", that doesn't appear to be a difficult question AT ALL .

Lesse...spit and a rag?

 

[Mossyrock]

Lesse...spit and a rag?

Good point..... Following that line of reasoning, I can't help but think that two shots of Quervo Gold taken just prior to application could do nothing BUT enhance the solvent properties of the afore-mentioned spit. Sound reasonable?