Looking to take a Stainless custom Bisley and make it look old and worn...How is it done and if you did yours would love to see pics too!
Thanks Pardners! :wink:

I would not have started with a SS revolver. Although they can be made to rust, for a true antique look regular steel would be best. Soak it in vinegar and see what happens.

I recently saw a representative of Cimarron Arms speaking on how they distress new SA revolvers to make them look old. He said they are tumbled in a barrel of nuts and bolts.

I have a stainless ruger security 6 that was wore for 8 years every day. Is 40 years old

Has well over 50 thousand rounds through it.
Been carried and handled a lot more years been dropped and generally will used.

Hardly shows it.

I guess you could take a hammer to one.

Hence the term “stainless”. Which the Germsns call Rostfrei.
If you want to make one look 140 years old you will need to start with a plain steel one.

The stainless used in guns will corrode over time but not as near as fast as carbon. Soot it up real good with an acetylene flame and let it sit for a few days. A little humidity seems to help. Don't know what it will do to SS, but I know for a fact it will turn a very presentable blued gun into something that looks like it has been through many injun blanket trades a hundred years back.

Maybe coat the exterior with some rust bluing solution and let it sit until you see a change (or see no change, and then give up)?

Several good ideas guys..when BEARCLAW is complete we shall see what works!

Rugers are passivated, to prevent corrosion. Until and unless you get under that, nothing will happen.