Could be. I didn't include a photo of the holster (maybe I should do that as a follow-up the next time I'm doing a photo session), but you can pretty clearly see that all the oxide from those areas is in there now. I'm not storing it in the holster any more, but the damage is done. Beyond the cosmetics, I'm worried about the parts that are now unwittingly in the white rusting. It's beyond me why they haven't already, really.

>Oh, sorry, that started turning into a rant.

Indeed, although it's one with which I agree, for the most part. It is akin, though not identical, to the eternal drive-them-or-just-look-at-them debate over classic cars, or people who don't see why machines on exhibit in museum should be kept in working order. To memory-paraphrase Mark the gunsmith from C&Rsenal's Anvil series, "Somebody tell me when neglect becomes patina, God help us."

Anyway, I've decided to have it professionally cleaned up and hot-salt blued; it's just a question of finding the right provider and making the arrangements. That decision may annoy whoever ends up having to liquidate my estate, but by that point I really won't give a shit. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.