Gun Ugly but shoots great -- What to do??

[Infrequent Shooter]

What do you do with a gun that is really ugly and needs a paint job really bad, but its glued in and shoots so good there is no way I am going to unglue and take chance on having it not shoot. Then there is the mailing issue.

Do like I did. I had an incredibly accurate Series 80 Gold Cup, in mint condition. Matt stainless. I got it in my head that I wanted an extended beavertail safety. I took it to a guy who managed to destroy my Colt, scratched it up, and managed to disable the safety. One of these days I will tell the rest of the story.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Do like I did. I had an incredibly accurate Series 80 Gold Cup, in mint condition. Matt stainless. I got it in my head that I wanted an extended beavertail safety. I took it to a guy who managed to destroy my Colt, scratched it up, and managed to disable the safety. One of these days I will tell the rest of the story.

It takes some grinding to install a beaver tail grip safety in a 1911 but the guy shoul've told ya and done it right. If he had, It'd still be in mint shape. Sounds like he was in over his head.

 

[Bc'z]

Oh, I know what you're saying. Tons of work there. I'm just curious if you think I can get close to matching that shade of green with the two colors I mentioned or if you can share a better idea. I'm not talking about a panel repair kinda match, just getting close to that shade of green, as the guy sent me a pic for that color. Make sense? I'm thinking a coat of organic green and a couple of coats of teal will be close but I don't know and was just wondering how you'd go about getting close to that color. That's all. It does look impressive though...no doubt...and I don't even care much for the color but it's not for me. Lol! In no way am I trying to put you in any kinda spot. Just wondering if my idea is how I should try to get close to that shade of green or if you have any ideas about it that might work better is all. No way in hell I could do that kinda work!

Mike I'd start with 2 parts green and 1 part blue, adding blue to taste to achieve desired color.
If your not pulling tape doing panels and pins you can tint your silver with some of the candy to get to saturation quicker with less film build.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Mike I'd start with 2 parts green and 1 part blue, adding blue to taste to achieve desired color.
If your not pulling tape doing panels and pins you can tint your silver with some of the candy to get to saturation quicker with less film build.

Cool...that's a good point. I'll try a few test pieces of course but kinda a pain doing that over a base plus several possible combinations. Thanks Brett

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

It takes some grinding to install a beaver tail grip safety in a 1911 but the guy shoul've told ya and done it right. If he had, It'd still be in mint shape. Sounds like he was in over his head.

he was about 20' over his head. one of the worst things I ever done. the early series 80s were as nicely finished as the 70s, which were not as nicely done as the 1911 commercials.

 

[ebb]

I thank everyone for their recommendations and responses. I have bended to your wisdom, and I am going to embrace the ugly. I don't think i can do duct tape, if I did I don't think that the gun would slide in the bags if it went on the bottom of the forend and the butt stock. I will paint or have painted when it needs to come out of the stock, but I don't know if that needs to happen to change a barrel. i think that the sticker idea is best and I think i can have fun with it. I think it needs Savage stickers all over it. I want to see how many will look at it and think it is a Savage.

 

[TIMO]

I thank everyone for their recommendations and responses. I have bended to your wisdom, and I am going to embrace the ugly. I don't think i can do duct tape, if I did I don't think that the gun would slide in the bags if it went on the bottom of the forend and the butt stock. I will paint or have painted when it needs to come out of the stock, but I don't know if that needs to happen to change a barrel. i think that the sticker idea is best and I think i can have fun with it. I think it needs Savage stickers all over it. I want to see how many will look at it and think it is a Savage.

Ebb,
I am late to the recommendation side. On the serious side, I would leave the rifle as is and smile when the targets and results are posted.

On the lighter side; Only one recommendation though, (Just for FUN, don't take any offense or anyone else who reads this) I see so many advertisements promoting a rifle or certain shooting product. You should only shoot with tactical gloves on, sunglasses, grow a huge beard, get tattoos from your fingertips to your armpits and some headgear with a velcro patch with some sort of symbol that only you would know what it represents. Oh, and a black t-shirt with some shooting related graphics for some product that makes everyone a sniper if they buy it.

Tim

 

[Dgd6mm]

Even if I put Savage stickers on my Benchrest Hall action rifle I still couldn't mistake it for one of my Savage's.

 

[David Milisock]

Ok I'm posting this so you know I do actually have a high blued handgun. I inherited this revolver and now I'd need a mortgage to get one. Not all my firearms are purely practical but to be honest I didn't buy this.

 

[ebb]

David you certainly don't have to explain yourself, you are certainly entitled to own something that is nice, pretty, expensive and even frivolous. i am so glad someone gave it to you, because like me you would probably never have bought it for yourself. I used to hang out with some thugs i went to high school with. they were getting ready for a trip to Canada to go bear hunting and had some really nice Sako's and Browning's in bigger bear type calibers. I was bored and rode my Honda three-wheeler out to shot with them, but due to limited room the only firearm I could take was a model 28 S&W. After they had confirmed zero they were snap shooting 2 liter plastic coke bottles. Paul was having a tough time hitting them without a rest. I told them i was going to try with the smith but would need a rest on the tail gate of the PU truck. By the time I have shoot the first cylinder I had hit 2. It was pure luck, but I made like I did this kind of thing all the time. The other guy told me Paul sold that rifle the next day. A lot of these type guys take this stuff way too seriously, and you can have fun with it if you put your head to it. And you guys reminded me of this, and I will do it again with the ugly gun. Thanks to you all

 

[BIG D]

I thank everyone for their recommendations and responses. I have bended to your wisdom, and I am going to embrace the ugly. I don't think i can do duct tape, if I did I don't think that the gun would slide in the bags if it went on the bottom of the forend and the butt stock. I will paint or have painted when it needs to come out of the stock, but I don't know if that needs to happen to change a barrel. i think that the sticker idea is best and I think i can have fun with it. I think it needs Savage stickers all over it. I want to see how many will look at it and think it is a Savage.

Go with the good old band aide brand.

 

[Lesloan]

What do you do with a gun that is really ugly and needs a paint job really bad, but its glued in and shoots so good there is no way I am going to unglue and take chance on having it not shoot. Then there is the mailing issue.

I think you answered your own question.