Help Identifying "Youth Pistol", Reduced-Scale Remington Model 1848 New Model Army Reproduction

[John Holland]

Jim Burgess is correct as to the Model of revolver, and it is original. And, yes it has been reblued. The reason for the "Plumb Brown" color of the frame is because of the alloy used for the casting. I have seen several original Civil War arms that came out with that same color when reblued. One was a Wesson Carbine where the frame came out the exact same color as this revolver.

[Muley Gil]

"

The only place that I have ever seen a frame colored like that is on an Italian gun from the early 70's."

A lot of Ruger revolvers turn plum. I had a first year .357 Flattop Blackhawk that was almost completely plum.

[Kevin Tinny]

Hello:

Years ago, an experienced gunsmith taught me to cold-rust blue gun parts and barrels. He shared that different metallurgy/alloys such as castings and hardened parts would resist hot-bluing.
The cast parts usually turned "reddish or plum". Ruger frames were an example.
How RUGER hot blues its investment cast frames/receivers so they are blue is a mystery to me.
Perhaps it involves the chemistry of the HOT blue solution.

Hardened parts often remained "straw" colored.

He said the only way to "blue" or have an EVEN, matching coloration was to cold-rust ALL the parts such as investment castings an hardened parts like Luger safety levers and Mauser bolt release levers.

My curiosity is about ORIGINAL Remington revolvers having a CAST frame. New to me. Live & learn.

Respectfully,
Kevin Tinny,
Tammany Rgt, 42 NY 13667

[Jim Wimbish, 10395]

There is a good thread on The High Road on bluing and how you can get purple coloring. Do a search on 'what causes bluing to have a purple look'. Rugers are specifically mentioned.

[Kevin Tinny]

Bingo, Jim:

Thanks. Searched and lots info.
A common thing in modern guns involving both metallurgy and bluing chemistry.
An additive to hot bluing chemicals eliminates most of it.
Does not appear to indicate inferior metal.

Kevin

[ikesdad]

Hello:

Years ago, an experienced gunsmith taught me to cold-rust blue gun parts and barrels. He shared that different metallurgy/alloys such as castings and hardened parts would resist hot-bluing.
The cast parts usually turned "reddish or plum". Ruger frames were an example.
How RUGER hot blues its investment cast frames/receivers so they are blue is a mystery to me.
Perhaps it involves the chemistry of the HOT blue solution.

Hardened parts often remained "straw" colored.

He said the only way to "blue" or have an EVEN, matching coloration was to cold-rust ALL the parts such as investment castings an hardened parts like Luger safety levers and Mauser bolt release levers.

My curiosity is about ORIGINAL Remington revolvers having a CAST frame. New to me. Live & learn.

Respectfully,
Kevin Tinny,
Tammany Rgt, 42 NY 13667

Yes, rust blue instead of hot blue. It's easier, simpler, and cheaper done at home, and produces a more durable finish than hot blue.