Letter 29058

Old-time blueing/browning of firearms [India] 

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I 've come across a copy of Gun Digest 29th Anniversary 1975 Deluxe Edition. In chapter 38: Forgotten Firearm Formulae, there is a formula for blueing of firearm, it runs; The principle of 'browning' a firearm is simply the even rusting of a barrel with the use of certain chemicals. One of the best of these oldtime processes is to make a solution of three quarter ounce of spirits of nitrate; an equal amount of tincture of steel; one quarter ounce of black brimstone (crude sulpher), one half ounce of blue vitriol, one quarter ounce of nitric acid and a quarter ounce of corrosive sublime, one drachm of nitric acid and a quarter ounce of copperas. Mix these with a pint of distilled water in a glass bottle (keeping it away from your good tools) and it is then ready to use.

The terminology used in this formula is oldtime and the chemicals required are having different current names. I shall be grateful for the current names for;

1. Spirits of nitre
2. Tincture of Steel
3. Blue Vitriol
4. Corrosive sublime.

If these above chemicals are mixture of some basic chemicals then how these can be prepared at home. Please help me in preparing the solution for blueing of firearms.

Thanks.

Rajnikant Singh
hobbyist - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Blue vitriol=cooper sulphate,corrosive ssublimate=mercuric chloride,spirits of nitre=ether,tincture of steel=iron chloride solution.

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

Sir,

I am really grateful for the answer to my question. Please tell me how I can prepare IRON CHLORIDE SOLUTION. I am a hobbyist and have an antique rusty air rifle, which I would like to restore. So I shall be thankful for the guidance regarding blueing of firearms. I can take care of the mechanical part of my air rifle.

Once again I thank you.

Rajnikant Singh
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Preparing iron chloride solution: dissolve 15 gms iron chloride in 1 lit water(or pure alcohol) Hot bluing process heat your object to 315 C(preferably in kiln)

Chemical bluing

sodium tiosulphate.....125 gms
lead acetate..........45 gms
water..........1 lit
Hot immersion(82 C,5 min.)

You must lacquer or wax it!

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

Iron chloride is ferric chloride got by dissolving cast iron chips in hcl.

Muralikrishnan
- Kerala, India

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