Colt Cobra Classic: Polishing Bead Blasted Stainless Steel

[@ditch7471]

Nice job! I Used Mothers polish on my new Colt Cobra Model SM2FO. I just didn't like the original dull finish. I polished by hand, just enough to get a nice shine, and like yours, more noticeable on the barrel, but yet doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. I am very satisfied with the results, and have no regrets doing it.

[@festushaggen2563]

I don’t mean this in a bad way at all but I think the moral of this story is to get the gun you really want. You’re obviously unhappy with the finish on the one you bought and spent much time thinking about how to make it more to your liking. Add to the that the time spent polishing to get it closer which may have helped some but didn’t achieve the desired result. I’d rather pay more and get what I want than save some money, be unsatisfied with it and have to devote more time and effort to change it. Just my 2 cents. I also have that high polish on my Colt King Cobra and it’s gorgeous. It leaves me satisfied and wanting for nothing. It was worth the extra dollars for me.

[@frankbutta9344]

Late to the video, but... I’ve taken a few stainless 1991’s from bead blasted to mirror finish. I used a 1000 and 2000 grit wet/dry, Mag polish, and a 6,000 grit compound on a leather strop. The Colt’s nonslip texture makes this job difficult, because it’s probably impossible to knock down the thousands of high spots. If you feel the need for more shine later, you could try to be more aggressive under the grips. Thanks for Sharing!

[@leoramirez8507]

@frank I purchased a Kimber 1911 and i hate the bead blasted finish. I really want a mirror polish. Ive searched google and KZbin for "how to's" with no luck except for this video and your comment. What procedure should i use to obtain a mirror finish on my bead blasted gun?

[@WEREWOLFUSMC]

I have the standard affordable version and man those corners and edges have enough burrs to destroy any kydex sheath. I used a small piece of 1500 grit sandpaper and now it slide in and out without the cheese grater effect. Looks like they skipped this step before bead-blasting. Very happy with it now😁

[@trgarrett1]

I used mother’s polish on my 44 magnum and got a really high luster shine.. took abt a week of hand rubbing clp hrs at a time while watching tv but looks freaking awesome wish I could post pics of it

[@steverugerguy9606]

Looks much better...great job.

[@silverhorder1969]

I have a 2017 Cobra and I absolutely hate the bead blasted finish! I checked on getting it polished professionally and it is going to cost $475.00. Which I would pay but shipping it out of state and waiting 6/8 weeks is the draw back for me. I am a perfectionist at everything I do or at least try to be, and to see the shabby workmanship gun manufacturers are putting out today compared to 30/40 years ago is very disappointing. Especially when technology has increased so much! You think it would be the other way around?

[@hurt1704]

silverhorder1969 I'm curious how much polish a professional could put on one? I wonder if they could get the frame to shine like the cylinder? I saw the other day colt just released a new cobra with the same finish as the king cobra and those king cobras will look like a damn mirrior after polishing

[@danielwatters1203]

Altamont cranks out those stocks on CNC mills. Odds are that every single one of that pattern shares the same problem.

[@jamesburns2232]

The silver medallion Colt grips, $74.00, I ordered from Altamont, Rantoul, Illinois, were too loose. I didn't send them back. I used JB Weld to make them fit tight. I can now clonk the perp on the head should I choose to do so. Should I ever need to remove them, I can use a Dremel to cut them off.

[@Robnord1]

That looks great to me DR! I'll have to try some Flitz. 5 years ago I bought a 3" S&W mod 66 on GunBroker (never again!). Some fool bead blasted it to a *very* coarse finish, but in photos it looked like the S&W performance satin finish. : ( Maybe Flitz will help. My plan has been to use 800 grit wetted with gun oil, but that may be too aggressive.

[@drdrake63]

Robnord1 let me know how that turns out

[@Robnord1]

@@drdrake63 I will, but it'll have to wait. I just got a PSA KS-47 'pistol' (my first in 7.62x39) and it's got my full attention.

[@isaacguerrero155]

Will this work on a ar15 lower that has some water damage to remove the slight corrosion

[@heavydutyreviews1303]

Great video. All of your videos are awesome! I love your channel, great gun channel with lots of really good information! I use Mother's mag and aluminum polish but I also use flitz sometimes too. I am wondering about using Flitz on my Smith & Wesson model 19-2 from 1963. It has a great polished blueing look but some wear and places where the blueing is gone like the end of the barrel and the front of the cylinder. It was carried in a leather holster by an Ohio police officer for many years but I am very impressed with the high polish blueing shine on most of the firearm, and would like to protect it. How do you feel about using Flitz on it just to shine it up some more and protect the blueing? Thank you! -Chris

[@drdrake63]

Heavy Duty Reviews I really appreciate you watching. I have not tried mothers yet but plan to do so at some point.

[@drdrake63]

Heavy Duty Reviews Also I’m real careful where I use Flitz. Newer Smith and Wesson’s use of bluing that Flitz will absolutely take off. I have had very good luck using it on stainless stuff though

[@heavydutyreviews1303]

Got it! Yeah I don't have any newer Smiths at this time but My old S&W model 19-2 from 1963 should do well with the flitz, it's a very high polish shiny blueing but like your Colt Trooper it has some wear from holster carry and could use some TLC! I haven't come across any other model 19-2 on KZbin with this high polish shiny finish. I don't know if it came from the factory like this or someone did it themselves. If so it was a Professional.

[@heavydutyreviews1303]

@@drdrake63 also like your Colt Trooper my 19-2 is a shooter and one of two carry guns. I alternate between the S&W 19-2 and my Beretta PX4 Storm compact 40S&W

[@heavydutyreviews1303]

@@drdrake63 I just found out the finish on my 19-2 is called a bright blue finish. It's different than any other model I've seen. Very interesting!

[@minerblue9641]

Using a toothbrush might get into the bead blasting a little better, maybe.

[@markstengel7680]

A little more shine. However i learned many decades ago, using a gun that shines is not a good thing. That's why combat weapons are dark or copy environment but never ever to be seen easily bye who you are shooting at, more so at nighttime. Nickel or polished stainless steel are sales tools, they look nice but i want every advantage in a combat situation to protect yourself and kin. got a Det Spl 1975 in Royal Blue very similar to your sidearm. Colts have the highest resale value of any handgun period. Enjoy your Great Colt Cobra 🔫🇺🇸👍

[@jeff6989]

Boy i liked the two tone gloss and dull look. You did a great job with the grips! But I would have left the bead blasting dull if it was my gun.

[@drdrake63]

Jeff K it still has plenty of contrast between the high shine cylinder and the rest of the gun. I get your point tho.