Pietta's Old Silver vs DIY Polish

[gunnpowderr]

I've read Pietta's Old Silver pickling process produces a harder steel, and the team members fitting the guns may possibly be more experienced due to the finish showing flaws so easily.

I'm weighing the value of stripping and polishing a blued gun against the possible better steel of the Old Silver. Not sure which route to take just yet.

Considering the difference in cost, anyone with experience prefer one over the other? Thanks,

 

[45D]

Considering the difference in cost, anyone with experience prefer one over the other? Thanks,

I've worked on a lot of "old silver's" over the years and they are typically very nice revolvers. Much more resilient to rust and I believe it's a surface treatment rather than a true "hardening" process.

If you polish your own, you'll be a "rust monitor" for from then on and possibly "dished" screw holes, rounded corners/ edges . . .
I would probably go with a SS or an Old Silver if I wanted a gun in the "white".

Mike

 

[gunnpowderr]

Thanks. Good advice, I appreciate it.

 

[bpd303]

It's my understanding Pietta used a harder alloy steel on the Old Silver guns. Like 45D said the finish will not harden steel but like case hardening it will make the surface harder but only to a dept of about one thousandth. So surface finishes will not give harder steel. A pretty good discussion about them here.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/1860-army-pietta-in-the-white.896905/