http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=385579508

Aside the cambering and all gunsmithing required to eject the cartridge reliably, why do so many 'custom' rifles on GB have a blued barrel while leaving the action in the white, or vice versa? I guess to each their own, but to me its akin to getting all dressed up and forgetting to put your pants on.

A lot of custom rifles are done this way. It has nothing to do with GB. "French Grey", not just un-blued. I think it allows the engraving to pop out at you more, especially game scenes, but all engraving. Different strokes for different folks. I wouldn't want a fine hunting rifle with anything but blue and/or case colors myself, but to each his own.

Maybe they run out of money before its ready to blue? :-)

To each his own. I kind of like the look myself.

That particular rifle appears to have really nice engraving but since I can't get the pics to enlarge, I am not certain of that comment.

The longer I own rifles, and pistols for that matter, the more I like stainless or at least, coated, non-blued surfaces. Rust works 24 hours a day, I prefer not to do so.

Most likely that is French Grey, not unfinished bare steel, very popular on high-end European rifles & shotguns, really sets off the engraving. A very nice early Ruger #1 with old style checkering & nice grain figure. As to "why", I would ask that of the caliber/chambering.

I like the look as well. Kinda like the contrast of the white shirt with a tux in my book.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
Most likely that is French Grey, not unfinished bare steel, very popular on high-end European rifles & shotguns, really sets off the engraving. A very nice early Ruger #1 with old style checkering & nice grain figure. As to "why", I would ask that of the caliber/chambering.

+1

M

I really like the looks of that rifle. If it were mine, I'd put barrel banded sights on it just to finish it up.

And... It's not in the white, it's French Greyed... I think the seller probably doesn't know what he has. If it were in the white, the engraving would be shinny and sharper.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
As to "why", I would ask that of the caliber/chambering.

Completely agree, and the engraving seems out of place for the caliber. Seems like Buff and Rhino would be a better pairing with the 425 W.R.

It was the fashion in the early days of bolt actions to have polished receivers and bolts, and the rest of the rifles blued. All German military rifles and most contract rifles made in Germany until after WW1 were made that way, so it is a natural progression for sporters as well. Although that technique was not used on sporters much if at all. And if the customer likes it, fine. Just looked at the pic; nice rifle. Frame needs bluing. I don't see French Gray, I see white steel. Hell, I like them all.

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
As to "why", I would ask that of the caliber/chambering.

Completely agree, and the engraving seems out of place for the caliber. Seems like Buff and Rhino would be a better pairing with the 425 W.R.

The thing thats most out of place is the Ruger #1 action.
It neither aligns with the period of the British .425wr or the European boar engraving.

The most embarrassing thing I've ever seen is when H&H tried to make a bespoke single shot based on a Ruger #1,... ...

The 'white/silver' action, could be due to Nitriding.

Ralf Martini is no stranger to creating rifles with 'white/silver' action & blued barrel.
...I am sure with complete customer satisfaction.

Probably the most durable oxidation process based treatment, for rifles intended for bad weather use,
whilst creating a high surface hardness layer[more resistance to wear,scuffing,seizure,etc] without the distortion associated with quenching.

I think it boils down to personal preferences. A gun is special to the person who owns it..I don't care for Monte Carlo combs, square or pare shaped forend, thumb hole stocks or stainless steel, but many guns that I don't care for whatever reason show excellent workmanship! and I can appreciate good workmanship in any style of gun.

Choice is just another freedom we all need to protect in these trying times of Govt. takeover.

I don't mind the white steel but the pot bellied pigs, ugh! Would it cost all that much more to engrave a leopard or charging rhino? How about one of those sexy women like you see tattoo'd on the forearm of a mexican? Heck, a black lab flushing quail would look better on that gun.

I think the engraving shows better on unblued metal.

The action needs color case-hardening.

The barrel needs rechambering!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
The action needs color case-hardening
The barrel needs rechambering!

That's about where I stand on this as well. Another thing that is missing is a quarter rib with express sights and a barrel band front sight.

quote:

The longer I own rifles, and pistols for that matter, the more I like stainless or at least, coated, non-blued surfaces. Rust works 24 hours a day, I prefer not to do so

+1

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

The longer I own rifles, and pistols for that matter, the more I like stainless or at least, coated, non-blued surfaces. Rust works 24 hours a day, I prefer not to do so

+1

+1 again