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February 18, 2010
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I've seen both. It doesn't seem to matter how old the gun is. Some older ones are still blue, some newer ones relatively speaking are turning plum.
I understand it is the continued oxidation, but why do some continue to oxidize and others do not or do so much more slowly?
Is it a different process, different solution, different metals? Curious.
"Life does not have to be perfect, just lived".
"Deserves got nothin' to do with it".
August 28, 2009
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There are theories that it all has to do with the alloy used in the investment casting of the frame. You'll notice that it only happens in the frame - never in the barrel shroud or side plate, because the frame is the only part that is investment cast.
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February 18, 2010
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So the alloy was changed at some point?
"Life does not have to be perfect, just lived".
"Deserves got nothin' to do with it".
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I am not an expert, just passing on what I have read and observed. Some say that the silicon in the mold used to cast the frame interacts with the alloy. I'm speculating that different molds might have different amounts of silica in the ceramic or over repeated use leaches it out. Old Rugers and other firearms also turm plum. Trigger groups on lg. frames also barney. It is very common on 357 max. frames, especially early ones. Even guns that look very blue show a little different hue in sunlight.
March 25, 2008
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If you go over to the ruger forum they have some back ground on the subject as to why the old rugers turned plumb colored.
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June 25, 2013
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pops2 said
If you go over to the ruger forum they have some back ground on the subject as to why the old rugers turned plumb colored.
Post a link Pops 
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Press on regardless.
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Using the Search feature on the DWF yields 126 posts for "Barney" and 64 for "Purple".
Here are a few to get you started:
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/general-messages/why-do-frames-turn-purple/
https://www.danwessonforum.com/forum/revolvers/purple-blueing/
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
May 24, 2013
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There were a couple possible explanations depending on the methods and/or solutions on the Ruger forum. I've seen some of this in a couple of my guns.
http://rugerforum.net/ruger-single-action/82713-plum-colored-bluing.html
November 14, 2014
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I have a "Porkchop" DW, and the frame is blue, and the barrel shroud is purple. Looks odd, but it is what it is ...
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Alonzo, that is very unusual.It is almost always the other way around. Plum frame and blue shroud and sideplate. Some folks love what we call " Barney ie; the purple dinosaur." I am sure that any number of members would swap with you in a heartbeat. You could have an all blue gun and they would have a mostly plum one. If you have a plum sideplate too you could write your own ticket.
May 3, 2011
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That plum color kind of hints toward its age. I have DW pistols that have been stored in their original boxes that or 30 yrs old and have never been shot or exposed to sun light but for a moment [stored in a safe]. And you can see a little Barney color to the frame. I said this to say, "I don't think sun light causes this to much." It must be a chemical/alloy break down.
December 28, 2014
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The reason is really simple........and then not........for those without metallurgy degrees or in the injection mold industry.........
Investment castings are very porous. When done well, and then heat treated properly and (more importantly) timely before bluing or plating, exhibit these traits. Note: S&W forge their frames, and rust is a CONSTANT problem, even on the "stainless" weapons.
Personally, I LIKE the patina/purple traits of an aged weapon. It's built with a purpose and not rusted away meaning the owner DID take care of it, although the MFR did not understand what time/use would do to that kind of steel and/or treatment of it. The blueing salts, etc, are doing their job under the surface, in other words.
I have a few "Liberty" model Rugers from my Pops that exhibit the same trait, that, before his death I had given him one of every Xmas, before his death. Now I have them.
The "purple" color is simply rust, trying to win, under the blue. It's nothing to worry about, however, keep it oiled and wiped down. A badge of honor for age, kinda like my white hair...........
Ray
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April 18, 2014
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An explanation I've never heard, but very logical to an old rude dawg like myself.
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January 24, 2009
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I'd buy into that theory. 
DW's are definitely not the only manufacturer to have this happen, I have seen plenty of Rugers & other brands afflicted. It's interesting to me that it's so "hit-n-miss" in each brand, no matter which brand you look at.
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I have a model 12 that is a black as night and I have a NIB never fired Norwich 44 that has a Barney cylinder so age doesn't seem to be that big of a factor.
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January 24, 2015
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Both of my 15-2's show slight plumb color just under the crane in front of the trigger guard. Both made in 77-78. 
February 20, 2008
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I know I have posted the before, but, here it is again.
Mom's (now mine) 1953 Ruger gate gate .22lr
If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
February 23, 2015
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WD40 is the culprit ....... guys would store blued guns with WD40 , long term it would react with some or all parts of the gun, rifles included
December 19, 2014
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Welcome sideoiler. Your reference to WD40 would only make sense if the whole gun was subject to Barney-ing. That's not the case with DW's.
Dans Club
April 18, 2014
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I have never put WD-40 on any gun accept an old 10 ga. I found of my grandfathers in his garage...
BTW, I haven't seen you on til now. Welcome to DWF.
Cecil
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Member AAGSR Member AGA #83120600233
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
Richard Henry Lee
American Statesman, 1788
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