Henry Rifle Forums

Thoughts or comments on stainless steel versus blued for your six shooters? How much less maintenance is SS? There's a Uberti 1873 Cattleman in town here for sale, haven't seen it yet but it's stainless steel with wood grips. Blued is traditional but curious what you guys think. Thks.

I have two stainless Ruger revolvers. In this climate, Florida, I'll take stainless over a blued gun of which I have several.

Makes sense. Do you see any difference in the action or machining at all?

I have blued, stainless and nickel finished guns. I like them all, but the blued is definitely the third place finisher in my opinion. It will show holster wear around the muzzle with enough holster use. It is the most attractive with wood. Deep rich bluing is a rare commodity these days. A few of my fifties S&W's have great bluing.

I'd say stainless is the way to go. It will stay nice. There are metal polishes you can get that will make stainless look like chrome. I got one such polish at the Harley shop years ago. I don't know if it is still made. It is called Simichrome. It didn't take much to do a great job.

I have blued and stainless models of the same gun. I haven't found any difference in the actions.

If I had to choose one, I'd get the stainless.

for a working revolver, I believe stainless is the way to go .... over the years I've had stainless, nickle plated and blued .... I'd rate them in that order

That's great input. I suspect mine would be in and out of the holster a fair bit at the range With the stainless I'd miss out on the beautiful case hardened frame but might be more practical. Likely in the old west stainless would have been popular if it had been around.
Maybe one day HRA will re-invent the old west with a SA revolver...imagine the job they'd do on a 7.5" blued octagonal barrel, their case hardening, and walnut grips? .357 and. 45C?...fun to picture it.

This is the one I keep going back to....Uberti 45 Colt Horseman....sure is pretty...

If you keep going back to it that tells me it needs you.
That is the one with the octagonal barrel isn't it?
It would hard for me to walk away and leave it in the shop. I really like the color case hardening.
Mine is absolutely beautiful, Uberti does great job.
As for durability and wear, I think it is part of the character of the gun. If it polishes a little from holster wear it should.
But I would buy a quality lined holster to give it the respect it deserves.

Except the for the grips, the Horseman looks just like my Uberti SmokeWagon, a gun that I'm so very glad to own and that I love to shoot. You won't be disappointed.

I own some of all ss, nickel, blued, & one case colored.
Like them all, and see no difference in functionality.
I think blued or case colored are more period correct.
The ss will take less effort to care for or show wear.
Can't wait to see what you pick.
Enjoy the search.

I can't see me owning anything other than blued / case hardened. It just says 1873 to me. Thanks for all the input. You folks rock!

Case hardening is the way to go. Stainless steel is second place.

Well I just mailed all my paperwork and once I get my updated permit I'll pick up a revolver.
I did however just order a holster for my cartridge belt. Triple K "Drover". Fits an 1873 Colt with 7.5" barrel so that's a dead giveaway on what pistol I've decided on.

This is the Triple K holster, I really like the period look of it. Will fit my cartridge belt perfectly. Looks like the gun will fit nice and deep in it too when I get it.

Sir Henry wrote:Case hardening is the way to go. Stainless steel is second place.

Yup. Agreed.

Remember the letter written to Colt by Bat Masterson in which he ordered two Colt single action forty fives that were to be nickel plated, the stainless of it's day. Shooting nothing but black powder cartridges the nickel plated revolvers had to be easier to keep clean. Doc Holliday also carried a nickel plated Colt.

The shiny ones look nice too. If a guy had the money he could fill a room with one of everything...

Good luck with your new revolver.

As to finishes for me.




'Nuff said.

How long is that pistol barrel?

10.5" 44 mag

Top pic it has target grips. Bottom is the stock ones.

10.5"...wow...I've not seen that before. Does that help with the recoil? The one I want is 7.5".