Gary Reeder
The plum color often comes when the gun is
Monday, June 05, 2023, 16:58

several years old. It has to do with the steel make up. It seldom shows up until the gun is years old. I have been told it has to do with the nickel steel in the steel make up. There is a half million dollar custom handgun made up for somebody special years ago and after about 15 years the gripframe turned a bright plum color. It is on the cover of an expensive hardback book of custom guns.
Winchester used to mark the barrels of their model 94s with a note saying "made of nickel steel". Don't know if that was bragging as nickel steel was and is a very good steel or a warning that the gun might turn a plum color. Either way it is still a very good steel and most folks like that plum color.