Just got home from the race track [My wife and I bet on the horses]....where we won $327.00 and a free Ribeye dinner at Lone Star Stakehouse today.Life is good<grin>

Anyway, I got the Van Horn barrel today and it looks great. It is a full bull and 20" long to the tee. It's stamped DV Van Horn,358/444 Custom, and has a picture of a bear stamped in the middle of it.
The chamber,throat and bore look to be centered and in perfict alinement. The recessed crown looks to be cut very clean and crisp right to the end of the barrel where you can see each of the grooves. The lug looks neatly welded and the factory hinge pin fits snug. It's drilled and tapped for a mount just like I asked for it to be. The bore looks very shiney and I can't see any tool marks or defects with my glasses on. The loaded rounds I already have fit as snug in it as they do in my 14" barrel done by SSK.
The only thing I don't care for is the dull blue semi gloss kinda finish. I asked for a bead blasted matte blue finish and thought it would be like the ones I have from Mike Bellm and VVCG. But maybe this is his version of matte.
No matter, it still looks great. As soon as I get the scope and mount i'll give it the real test.

Enjoy it in good health Jules.

Let us know how it shoots.

Regards

Hey Jules,

Let us know how it shoots, and get a camara and post some pics!!

Man that was quick Jules, I hope it shoots as good as it looks. Let us know.

Rich Jake

Yes it was Rich. Except i'm just a little disappointed with the finish. I sent him an e-mail about the this cause I specifically stated that I wanted a bead blasted matte black finish. I'm very picky and thats what I ordered.
I'll post on how well it shoots as soon as I can.

Sean, I'm working on gettin a camera.

Interesting Jules. I have never ordered a Matt finish. I wonder if his is just a little different than Mikes? Every maker blue jobs are different and I can tell you that the High Luster Blue I got from Dave is More like the Custom Shop S&W handguns. Very Shiny with more of a blue tint to it...Very Handsome looking barrel...much nicer than the others I have.
Fireball

Thats true Fireball, Mike Bellm's bead blasted matte is more of a charcoal color while VVCG is more of a black. Remingtons SP finish on there shotguns is also very nice, and I like all of them. But when I talked to Dave on the phone he told me he had 2 matte finishes. One was the dull blue and the other was bead blasted matte that would shed no glare from any light. Now if this is his version of bead blasted matte, then so be it, i'll accept it. But if it's a mistake, then that's a different story.
Like I said, his work looks great and the price is to, but if it's not what I ordered it aint worth shit to me. I'm picky as hell when it comes to custom stuff. Know what I mean?

if it's not what I ordered it aint worth shit to me. I'm picky as hell when it comes to custom stuff. Know what I mean?[/QB][/QUOTE]

Sure understand!!
Fireball

Now I feel all alone. Am I the only one on here that likes the matte finish guns?

Jules-
I prefer the matte over anything else. I have other finishes and am OK with them, but it's the matte that I really prefer -- especially since most of my guns are intended for hunting.

You're far from being alone on this one Jules. Although a lot of mine are the standard blued finish. Ever since I got my first matt finish from Mike. That is what I prefer most.

Matte is achieved by glass beading and applying a black oxide coating, (bluing) and is used on most guns for hunting and law enforcement as it gives the firearm a non-reflective finish that is most desirable in the field.

I have others also but all my Contender barrels, mounts, rings and scopes are either matte silver or matte black.

Jules
I have never had a matt barrel or even held one. Since I have SS Frame I have all SS barrels so far. I think if I wasn't getting SS I'd like Matt next. As far as it not being right, Give him a call & see if it is indeed his matt finish. If it is or isn't it is up to you from there. It doesn't hurt to ask.
Rich Jake

Rich, I sent him an e-mail on the matter.
BTW, If your using a TC factory frame in SS. It's a bead blasted matte finish and so are there barrels.

Thanks for Clarifying things for me Jules. So I have a couple of those. I meant Blk matt.
Rich Jake

[ 07-15-2002, 02:33: Message edited by: Rich Jake ]

Oh!

Its matt finish for me too. All my recent scope and ring purchases have been matt. All my factory barrels are regular blue but the VVGC barrel I have on order will be Matt finish.
Regards
Rick

You'll really like the matte finish that VVCG does. It's better then i've seen anywhere.
Mike Bellm also does a very nice matte but I think you'll have to catch him at the time he's doing a batch.
I Think that VV does bluing once a week or once every two weeks. Witch one is it VV Dave?

Well, I now have the Redfield SMP mount in matte on the barrel. I also recieved the Elite 3200 3x9x40 with fast focus eyepiece but am waiting on the 1" reamer from MSC...to line ream the rings before I mount the scope. I've decided to keep the barrel for I have sanded it and spray painted it flat black. Now it looks like the matte finish I want.

Jules,
We blue once a week right now. (give or take a day). Usually it is easy to slip something in unless we are bluing everything including the kitchen sink.
Matte is the way to go. Jeff and Kerry have teh bluing down pat. A nice black finish.
Dave

I must agree Dave, That they do.