Would you refinish it?

[AbitNutz]

Ok, I'm a collector of esoteric relatively inexpensive anything that shoots. I've found a French 1935-A pistol that is in good working condition but looks like it was stored in a blender set on frappe. The original finish was goofy to start with, black enamel over parkerized. Really ugly. Now, it's scratched up enamel over parkerized. The only thing that I think that could be done would be to strip it all down, polish out or bead blast it, and blue or parkerize it. That would destroy any collector's value. The collectors value being, what? Maybe $500 to a french loving lunatic on a good day? That's today of course. Tomorrow, who the hell knows? It would likely cost me a few hundred bucks to have it refinished.

 

[Old Man with Gun]

It dosen't sound like an investment, so would refinishing it make you happy?

 

[PDXGS]

I did this to a roached German Police issue Hk P7...Cerakote over Parkerizing....it's awesome.

 

[Jscb1b]

Just shoot it.

 

[...]

Honestly, unless the gun has specific historical significance (ie. Pattons revolver)...or unless you plan on selling it...refinish it and have fun with it.

It's your gun, and at the end of the day, it's a hunk of metal.....I can't stand the people that act like refinishing a pistol is equivalent to burning the dead sea scrolls...

Ide take a look at cerakote...with a gloss or semi gloss finish, it should match the look of the original finish pretty closely.

 

[Ledzep]

If the finish is fucked, a thoughtful restoration is not the end of the world. I see guys on various boards chastise people for mentioning refinishing guns that have like 20-50% original finish remaining and I don't get it. Unless it was something uber rare or special...

As far as "restorations" go... the ones that chap my ass are the guys that go hog wild with buffing wheels and kill every sharp surface/corner on the gun (Lugers, mostly)...

 

[Waorani]

If you can blast it, or get it blasted, parkerizing (esp something small like a pistol) is pretty easy to DIY.

 

[gnochi]

I highly recommend cerakote elite midnight. Super thin, durable, and looks fantastic.

 

[AbitNutz]

I highly recommend cerakote elite midnight. Super thin, durable, and looks fantastic.

I didn't think about Cerekote as an option.

 

[gnochi]

I didn't think about Cerekote as an option.

Elite Midnight basically looks like bluing. It’s not a perfect match, so I’d recommend a complete refinish, but it’s really nice in person. I’m on a plane so sharing photos is a bit unreliable, but I have a pic on my Instagram @lowkeygnochi (look for the Marlin 336 a couple posts down)

 

[AbitNutz]

Where's the place to send a handgun to have it Cerekote'd?

 

[Maurygold]

Where's the place to send a handgun to have it Cerekote'd?

primal finish. hes the man well praised on here

 

[gac700]

Take it apart and try Citri-Strip first. I did this to a painted Mauser and the finish/bluing underneath was pristine. That chipped up paint may have protected the bluing.I was surprised how easy the paint came off.

Boiled linseed oil works wonders on wood as well.
Post pics

 

[...]

Where's the place to send a handgun to have it Cerekote'd?

honestly, google search "cerakote CITY, STATE" and find the nearest place that looks reputable.

ive used Wicked Weaponry a bunch and they do top quality work.....but from the looks of it, there are plenty of places in Ohio that do Cerakote

Wicked Weaponry

 

[BullGear]

Do what you want with it unless it's historic. Without pictures it's tough to say.