Llama IIIa Dilemma

[Ironhippie]

So, I got this 3a that I like a lot. I bought some new grips for it a few weeks ago and they make the gun look bad (Not cool bad, just ugly) when I put em on. So I thought hey Ill just have it reblued and all will be good., but then I found out that it was going to be around 400 bones to get it done. So I don't know. Is it worth putting more into a gun than its worth if you really like it. In this case there's no sentimental value I just like it, and its the most beat up piece I own. Maybe it would be better to sell it and try to find a nicer original one. What's the verdict? Leave it alone, It runs great or maybe sell it and find a nicer one or just spend the money on it and make it llok new? A few pics of what it looks like now.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I'd leave it as is. Doesn't look that bad to me!

 

[Ironhippie]

I'd leave it as is. Doesn't look that bad to me!

Ya the pics make it look better than it does in person, what really bugs me is the area on top of the slide, if it wasnt for that I probably would just leave it alone but that pitting really bugs me.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Ya the pics make it look better than it does in person, what really bugs me is the area on top of the slide, if it wasnt for that I probably would just leave it alone but that pitting really bugs me.

I once had a CZ82 that had chips and dings in the phosphate finish that they use, and I got some of the rattle can "cerakote" or "durakote", whatever and did it myself. Wasn't perfect but it looked a lot better than it did.

 

[churchmouse]

Leave it alone and enjoy the Patina. Its a LAMA my friend. If it runs good and you like it don't change anything.

I never met a Lama I liked.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Leave it alone and enjoy the Patina. Its a LAMA my friend. If it runs good and you like it don't change anything.

I never met a Lama I liked.

The older ones were decent guns. I like my Extra in 9mm Largo.

 

[churchmouse]

The older ones were decent guns. I like my Extra in 9mm Largo.

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I have had maybe 2 of these back in the day. They were not reliable. Nor really accurate as I would like.
Also had a few on the bench that friends owned.
Like I said, if it runs good and you like it keep it and enjoy the patina.....

 

[Ironhippie]

I have had maybe 2 of these back in the day. They were not reliable. Nor really accurate as I would like.
Also had a few on the bench that friends owned.
Like I said, if it runs good and you like it keep it and enjoy the patina.....

Well, guess im lucky or your unlucky, I own 3 Spanish pistols, 2 Stars an F and an A and this Llama, and all of them function great.

 

[DadSmith]

So, I got this 3a that I like a lot. I bought some new grips for it a few weeks ago and they make the gun look bad (Not cool bad, just ugly) when I put em on. So I thought hey Ill just have it reblued and all will be good., but then I found out that it was going to be around 400 bones to get it done. So I don't know. Is it worth putting more into a gun than its worth if you really like it. In this case there's no sentimental value I just like it, and its the most beat up piece I own. Maybe it would be better to sell it and try to find a nicer original one. What's the verdict? Leave it alone, It runs great or maybe sell it and find a nicer one or just spend the money on it and make it llok new? A few pics of what it looks like now.

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OXPHO-BLUE® | Brownells

Originally developed for the occasional bluer who is not equipped to completely polish a gun prior to bluing, Oxpho Blue - because of its ease of application and remarkably superior results - has become a favorite of the professional gunsmith as w...

www.brownells.com

Use that and steel wool and blue it until you like what you see.

 

[Ironhippie]

OXPHO-BLUE® | Brownells

Originally developed for the occasional bluer who is not equipped to completely polish a gun prior to bluing, Oxpho Blue - because of its ease of application and remarkably superior results - has become a favorite of the professional gunsmith as w...

www.brownells.com

Use that and steel wool and blue it until you like what you see.

I am considering this option also, but I dont know. Thanks

 

[BigRed]

I never met a Lama I liked.

Have you met Dolly?

 

[MrSmitty]

Have you met Dolly?

Boo....just boo........

 

[BigRed]

Boo....just boo........

Hey, slow ball right over the plate....wth do you expect?

 

[MrSmitty]

I want to see pictures with the new grips....I've owned 2 Llamas over the years first from the 80's ran pretty good after I polished the feed ramp, and the other was close to an original 1911, used 1911 mags, not proprietary Llama mags, liked it alot....

 

[BigRed]

I want to see pictures with the new grips....I've owned 2 Llamas over the years first from the 80's ran pretty good after I polished the feed ramp, and the other was close to an original 1911, used 1911 mags, not proprietary Llama mags, liked it alot....

I have an uncle that owned llamas, but he eventually got rid of them. He found the market was better for alpaca fleece.










There.

 

[92FSTech]

It's a llama. I definitely wouldn't spend $400 to have it refinished. But if it works and you like it, I definitely wouldn't sell it, either...more than likely if you sold it to buy a prettier one, you'd end up with a pretty gun that doesn't work!

I'm not a fan of spray on finishes like cerakote, especially on older guns like this...they basically ammount to gun paint, and guns from this era just look wrong with that sort of finish on them, IMO. Save the cerakote for the Glocks and XDs and stuff like that....it works well on them.

Were it mine, I'd probably consider turning it into a project and rust bluing it myself. Rust blue is more durable than cold blue, and IMO yields better results. It's more time consuming that cold blue, but still doesn't require special tanks or huge vats of chemicals. There was a recent thread in the gunsmithing section here about it, and lots of videos and tutorials online. I still haven't perfected the process for myself, but I did an S&W 31 and it ended up as a big improvement over what I started with, so I'll call that a win.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

It's a llama. I definitely wouldn't spend $400 to have it refinished. But if it works and you like it, I definitely wouldn't sell it, either...more than likely if you sold it to buy a prettier one, you'd end up with a pretty gun that doesn't work!

I'm not a fan of spray on finishes like cerakote, especially on older guns like this...they basically ammount to gun paint, and guns from this era just look wrong with that sort of finish on them, IMO. Save the cerakote for the Glocks and XDs and stuff like that....it works well on them.

Were it mine, I'd probably consider turning it into a project and rust bluing it myself. Rust blue is more durable than cold blue, and IMO yields better results. It's more time consuming that cold blue, but still doesn't require special tanks or huge vats of chemicals. There was a recent thread in the gunsmithing section here about it, and lots of videos and tutorials online. I still haven't perfected the process for myself, but I did an S&W 31 and it ended up as a big improvement over what I started with, so I'll call that a win.

@Mongo59 I think had a thread about rust bluing IIRC. He might be a good source of info. He's always willing to help out with his knowledge of restoring older guns.

 

[Jaybird1980]

I am considering this option also, but I dont know. Thanks

I would probably contact @AllenM and ask him about coating it.
It won't be blued, but it will be more uniform than the Oxpho-Blue.

That stuff works good for small spots, but is hard to do a whole piece and it be uniform and nice. In my experience at least.

I love the Llamas and Stars. Remind me of back in the day, we all had a few. Should have kept one. My buddy has a couple he held on to and I always try to get the BM off of him.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I would probably contact @AllenM and ask him about coating it.
It won't be blued, but it will be more uniform than the Oxpho-Blue.

That stuff works good for small spots, but is hard to do a whole piece and it be uniform and nice. In my experience at least.

I love the Llamas and Stars. Remind me of back in the day, we all had a few. Should have kept one. My buddy has a couple he held on to and I always try to get the BM off of him.

I had a BM and wound up selling it. Still have my my Super B though.

 

[Jaybird1980]

I had a BM and wound up selling it. Still have my my Super B though.

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He has a Super B, an A and a BM. I think he's the only person I know that held onto all the stars he bought.