How did I do?

[blademasterii]

Picked this up today for 295 out the door. Exterior is a bit rough, but barrel and cylinder inside is clean. Rough spots are only on thick metal portions.
I'm thinking bead blast and maybe a little rubber wheel on the heavy spots, then reblue.http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/blademasterii/IMAG0195.jpghttp://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/blademasterii/IMAG0194.jpg

[Silvercreek Farmer]

I kinda like it rough an' ready. No need to worry about it then. What caliber?

[starmac]

X2 If it is a shooter, it's good to go bashing through the woods, swamp, sagebrush, etc.
My kind of gun. lol

[Silvercreek Farmer]

We'll call it the "battlefield" look and people will pay extra to get one from the factory like it. Kinda like they buy "distressed" furniture brand new.

[rockrat]

Send it back to Ruger to have it refinished. You might be suprised how it will come back

[blademasterii]

It is a .44 mag. The last one I did was a vaquero that was pitted worse than this. Took it apart, glass beaded it. Had a buddy re blue it for 25 bucks. Left with a matte blue/black finish. Looks nice.

[williamwaco]

If you are a hunter, leave it as is.

I am too old now but in the olden days I used to hunt a lot, I would sometimes search years looking for a .44 or .41 Mag that was mechanically perfect but with a rough finish so I could take it hunting without worrying about scratching it.

[runfiverun]

someone stuck that in a holster in damp weather.
hope they caught the inside.

[farmallcrew]

Decent deal, hate to sse someone do that to a Ruger. But life goes on. Have fun with it.

[x101airborne]

With the dot and mount, I think you are good. Blackhawks down here (not Super blackhawks) in well used, not abused condition run about 300.00. Sometimes more depending. That is definately a weapon you can use in bad weather and rough terrain and not worry. What is the worst that could happen? You knock some of the pitting down? I bet it shoots like a gem, though.

[blademasterii]

A brief update. Taken apart, buffed to remove majority of the pitting, then glass beaded. Will be getting reblued in the next day or so. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/blademasterii/IMAG0199.jpg

[454PB]

In case you didn't know, your SBH was made in 1982.

[blademasterii]

No, I didn't know that. That makes it only 2 years newer than me. :D Thanks for the lookup.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Too bad you can't bondo the pits.

[David2011]

Duracoat has a primer and filler that would let you fill in the pitting and sand it smooth. You could finish it as slick as you wanted, in any color including some gunmetal and blue-black colors that look correct on a gun.

I've also Parkerized heavily pitted guns after a fairly coarse aluminum oxide blasting and they looked decent. The heavy blasting blends the pits and the Parkerizing has its own texture. It wouldn't rust again! If you Parkerize, be sure to plug the barrel and cylinders with rubber stoppers from both ends first. Parkerizing can be done safely on a kitchen stove or camp stove. The temp required is only ~160 F. Parkerizing also makes a great base for Duracoat or spray and bake finishes, too.

David

[blademasterii]

I had a buddy that is a gunsmith pick it up tonight and he is going to reblue it. I had him do a vaquero that was worse than this one and it looks awsome. Yes, if you look at it up close you can still see the pits, but it is a fun shooter. Besides, I kind of like taking a well used single action out and showing these semi-auto plastic gun lovers what a real boolit can do. :D

[Awsar]

agree on the duracoat ive used it on many rusted firearms it works great
better protection then blueing also

[blademasterii]

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/blademasterii/IMAG0201.jpghttp://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/blademasterii/IMAG0200.jpg
Re assembled and ready to go. Not too bad for 345 all said and done.