Blued revolvers & holster wear

[TraderVic]

I'm considering a Ruger SP101 (357 mag/38Spl) revolver for concealed carry. Two exclusive models, both are 3" : one is stainless, full lug, Novak fixed sights ; one is blued, short lug, adj sights. I would pair either one with a Simply Rugged pancake holster.
I'm wrestling with the eventual "holster wear" on the blued model, if I would go this route.
Am I overthinking this ?

[Pisgah]

Well, both blued and stainless guns will suffer the same wear; it will just be more visible at a glance on the blued one. The slight finish wear that eventually occurs does not harm the functionality of either. That, plus the fact of being more rust-resistant (NOT rust-proof) are the only advantages of a stainless gun.

[Steve in MO]

I'm considering a Ruger SP101 (357 mag/38Spl) revolver for concealed carry. Two exclusive models, both are 3" : one is stainless, full lug, Novak fixed sights ; one is blued, short lug, adj sights. I would pair either one with a Simply Rugged pancake holster.
I'm wrestling with the eventual "holster wear" on the blued model, if I would go this route.
Am I overthinking this ?

Get whichever one you want; or, get both!

[JimT]

Honest wear on a blue sixgun is beautiful. If you see an old sixgun that isn't worn it means the person owned it was not a shooter. Honest wear is not like neglectful or abusive wear.

[TraderVic]

I'm considering a Ruger SP101 (357 mag/38Spl) revolver for concealed carry. Two exclusive models, both are 3" : one is stainless, full lug, Novak fixed sights ; one is blued, short lug, adj sights. I would pair either one with a Simply Rugged pancake holster.
I'm wrestling with the eventual "holster wear" on the blued model, if I would go this route.
Am I overthinking this ?

Get whichever one you want; or, get both!

There are enablers in every crowd

[Scott Tschirhart]

However, to tell the truth, I’m carrying a stainless revolver as my daily carry option.

[LeverGunner]

I have been carrying a Ruger Blackhawk in a Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake holster for about 3-4 years now. The gun was almost pristine when I got it and started carrying it. It has some significant wear now. Not to mention a few specks rust from sweat season.

[Keith D]

Before I lost all of my guns in 2021 in a canoe tragedy trying to cross Lake Michigan, I had a Ruger Blackhawk .44 Special with 5.5" barrel. It had some holster wear on one side of the muzzle and I liked it. Showed it was used in a good way. However, I sent it to Ruger to get the recoil shield replaced. I got the gun back and looked at the service report in the box. Last line stated something like "Reblued some worn spots". I looked at the muzzle and sure enough it looked new! Sons-a-b!$%*es!!!!! The whole gun looked brand new. Excellent customer service by Ruger, but ruined all of my battle scars.

[Malamute]

It seems to bother some people if theres any wear on their stuff. That was me at one time, when I bought the 4" 29 in 82 I tried keeping the edge wear at bay with cold blue for a while, then just gave up. It was carried mostly daily other than then I was having brief affairs or flirtations with other pistols, but it was the one that was carried the most, and in those days it was often on a motorycle in an open or half flap holster, all sorts of weather, living semi-nomadic for several years camping out, living in a tipi, sometimes not cleaned beyond a toothbrushing off of the abrasive dust that accumulates on everything in Arizona. I think at least once it wasnt formally cleaned for about a year, and 6 months wasnt that unusual, the most was perhaps a brushing under the extractor star in the mean time. It hasnt seemed to hurt it, it still works fine.

4 inch 29.jpg

[Griff]

Am I overthinking this ?

Yes.

[Sixgun]

My guess is you’re concerned about a future sale and a loss of money…..it’s not a loss, it’s paying pennies for use of something, no different than a car…….does one buy a new Ford pickup and lock it in a controlled environment to retain its value which is going to drop anyway? Unless it a rare variation of a Corvette your wasting your time and intelligence.

Having lots of blue on a gun is only important for high dollar guns that are old and collectible such as pre war SAA Colts and antique Winchesters…..I see it all the time, some guy has a modern gun with a tad of muzzle wear and like Elvis, he’s all shook up.

Let’s pretend you buy a modern standard lots-of-made non collectible gun that’s blued and you keep it in a box. Let’s pretend you paid $500 for it….in 20 years you might get your money back. Let’s pretend you took off 25% of the blue from honest wear….you will still get near what you paid for it…..now, look at your real estate taxes or taxes out of your pay which you get nothing for..many many thousands compared to a hundred dollar loss on using a gun and wearing off some blue?

People put way too much emphasis on gun wear for a regular gun……rusting and pitting is a sign of abuse or neglect but you’ll still half of what you paid for it……

Put it into perspective for items that naturally decline in value…cars, etc. Try to sell that $2,000 TV….youll have to take it to the dump. Go buy some Ethan Allen furniture for 20K and keep it like new…you’ll have to sell it for $500 2 years later……My carry guns which are quality guns but easily replaceable show more nicks, blue wear and general neglect as to finish…..

[LeverGunner]

It seems to bother some people if theres any wear on their stuff. That was me at one time, when I bought the 4" 29 in 82 I tried keeping the edge wear at bay with cold blue for a while, then just gave up. It was carried mostly daily other than then I was having brief affairs or flirtations with other pistols, but it was the one that was carried the most, and in those days it was often on a motorycle in an open or half flap holster, all sorts of weather, living semi-nomadic for several years camping out, living in a tipi, sometimes not cleaned beyond a toothbrushing off of the abrasive dust that accumulates on everything in Arizona. I think at least once it wasnt formally cleaned for about a year, and 6 months wasnt that unusual, the most was perhaps a brushing under the extractor star in the mean time. It hasnt seemed to hurt it, it still works fine.

4 inch 29.jpg

Awesome story and gun, thanks for sharing.

[6pt-sika]

I like blued steel and leather ! I’m also okay with stainless steel and leather . I am NOT okay with that Kydex stuff they make holsters out of , but we have a guy at the shop that makes them at the shop and sells the heck out of them .

[marlinman93]

I'm with JimT on this one. I think some honest wear on a blued sixgun is great. I'm not a SS or nickel handgun guy, as just not my thing.

[TraderVic]

Thanks for your comments and wisdom, all are appreciated.
Regards, Vic