Uberti Old West finish

[BeeMan]

I am thinking about purchasing a Uberti 1873 Cattleman, and have been drawn to the "Old West" finish.  My question is, is it a finish like blueing would be?  How well does it hold up?  Any insight about the finish would be appreciated.

[m-g Willy]

Really there isn't any finnish on them.
Just washed in some kind of  wash to give them the rough look.
Just my opinion , but I would rather wear the finnish of my guns myself.
Sorta like the way you wear out a leather coat.
Every scrape and rub has a story to tell.

[BeeMan]

Yeah, I kind of thought the same thing.  When I looked at those guns, I wasnt sure which finish I liked better. They offer so many different finishes, it is tough to make up your mind.  I guess that is a good reason to get more than one!

[jimster]

I think the antique look is really neat, but I notice they charge more money for it.  So if that's the case I'm thinking you might as well wear it off yourself.
If you want the look right away,  do some searching you will see there are lots of people doing giving their guns the antique look themselves using everything from chemicals to just plain ol steel wool.  If you do it yourself, you can decide how far you want to go with it,  some of the finish off the high spots, or all the finish and make it look real old.   I think the antique look is really neat.

[merkelerk]

The finish is a simulated "Case hardened" look.
Originally, in the 19th century, the steel was case hardened, this is a process where low carbon steel would be machined in it's soft or unhardened state. Once the machining was done, the steel part would be packed in bone meal or another source of carbon and then placed in a heat treating vessel (much like a kiln). Heat would be applied and the carbon from the bone meal would migrate into the interstitial spaces in the steel crystals.
This would harden the outside or "Case" of the steel but leave the inner part ductile and tough. A very effective and simple method of making a steel part hard on the outside (to guard against abrasive wear) yet remain tough and ductile so it wouldn't be brittle and break. Modern firearms are made from much better steel than was available in the 19th century and case hardening is no longer required.

I have this finish on my Vaquero and it has held up beautifully since 1994, no peeling or wearing off anywhere on the gun.
I expect my latest purchase to arrive next week (Chapparral Arms 1873 SAA), it also has the simulated case hardened look.
I hope it is as nice and durable as that of the Rugers.

[shaner]

I am thinking about purchasing a Uberti 1873 Cattleman, and have been drawn to the "Old West" finish.  My question is, is it a finish like blueing would be?  How well does it hold up?  Any insight about the finish would be appreciated.

you talkin like this???

[44 Man]

Yeah!  They get that 'old' look at the factory with an acid wash process.  You can do that same with degreaser and vinegar.  That will take a lot of the finish off and make it look old, but it won't be 'rough' or look like cleaned up rust like the factory finish.  I remember Clayton Miller, and friend of my father who used to always carry this double action Colt.  The finish was all worn off the high spots from carrying and had an honest 'working gun' look to it.  If I were to try to simulate an old finish, that's the direction I would go.  Just polish the finish off all of the 'high spots' as it would look with years of holster wear, not abuse.  44 Man

[NickSS]

I have looked at the so called old west finish and I have seen a couple of original guns that looked like the factory finish except they were really warn out guns with bad timing and they rattled from looseness. Personally I prefer originals that show honest wear on the finish but not abuse.  When I look at the new factory old west finishes I think of warn out guns that belong in a junk bin for parts.  That is my own opinion and that's what makes for so many different finishes being available.  Personally I own a 25 year old Uberti Colt clone that has seen a lot of rounds go through it and the finish is starting to show some bright spots from holster wear and handling.  I prefer its looks to any of the so called frontier finishes available today.   

[big bore dad]

I was told by 3 different gun shops that it is actually stainless steel

[jimster]

This is from USFA who also offers the aged look.

The Gunslinger's aged Patina is a process painstakingly researched here by the engineers at USFA — a process of age old masters involving “browning” and carding off as the British would say — The Gunslinger is a development borne of hours of labor actually aging the metal surface to a correct patina. Each gun is unique. You will begin to recognize your individual gun because of specific wear characteristics as you use it.

The mechanical and internal parts are not affected by the aging process and remain in perfect condition combined with the expert lockwork and timing all USFA guns are known for.

Some gun shops are not the best source of info any more.  I doubt if the aged look is stainless steel unless the manufacturer or specs says it is.
But I'm sure there is a way to find out what each manufacturer does, USFA just happens to advertise theirs.

Jim

[texagun]

USFA makes excellent guns...perhaps the best Colt clone currently being manufactured. 

The aged patina finish is my LEAST favorite finish.  Like many others, I prefer to put the "wear" on the gun myself.

[BigMuddy]

My choice would be to go with the charcoal blue that Uberti offers. That finish IMHO is great looking when new, and it is NOT very durable. What you will get in a very short time of normal use, is a gun that has wear in all the right places that YOU did to it. These guns look great after a little use.