S&W M 37 Question

[heeler]

I recently came upon yet another pretty clean older M 37 snub the other day.
What I would like to know is it common for the frame on this gun to take on a slight purplish violet color?
Barrel and cylinder which are of course steel has nice blueing.
What would cause the color change on the frame?
Does it have something to do with it being aluminum?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes it is normal.

The frame is hard anodized aluminum.

Over time the blue/black die used to color the anodizing fades to a slight purplish color.

rc

 

[Oro]

As rcmodel, said, it's normal. It's called "plumming" - as in turning plum-colored, not the piping. It's not uncommon with older steel guns, too. Once they hit a bout 20 years, if anything was amiss in the blue tank, it will start to show on one part or another.