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Q&As since 1989


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Chemicals for Grey-Bluing (Not Blacking) Early Winchester and Marlin Barrels.

October 3, 2008

I am a retired 77 year old collector. for the past 30 or so years I have bought up a few Stevens, Winchester and Marlin rifles,all pre 1900 models.
I rejuvenate each fire arm as I get it, making & fitting new woodwork, boring out, sleeving & rechambering the barrels.
I have finishing belts, polishing buffs, hot & cold bluing tanks & have done one rust bluing job, although poorly.
The only caustic salts I can buy here are blackening salts which look nice but modern.
It's very involved, getting parts from the USA to here now & we could never get chemicals posted, so, is there any formula for bluing that matches the original Winchester grey-blue
that I've read was done at pretty high temperature with smoke?

I am seeking the name & proportions of chemicals that may be used, hot or cold,to achieve this (grey-blue) on steel. If it's possible.

ALEX TURLEY
Collector - Adelaide, Sth.Aust. Australia.

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October 10, 2008

Try to find Angier's book Firearm Blueing and Browning [on eBay , Amazon, AbeBooks] (20 USD).Try internet archive website-there you can find very good and download free book on metal colouring by Arthur Hiorns.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

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October 20, 2008

I have not been able to find answers to the question posted at 50190
I do have the Angier's book

Alex Turley
hobbyist - Adelaide, Sth. Aust. Australia

Try lead acetate/sodium thiosulphate [on eBay or Amazon] solutions, arsenic based solutions(grauglanz oxid in German) can be helpful too-both solutions are very poisonous. Test it on some scrap iron and if that is ok you can use it on your guns. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
October 23, 2008

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Thank you Zagreb,
I'll try and get these chemicals.

Alex Turley
- Adelaide, Sth. Aust. Australia
October 27, 2008

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lead acetate based flemish gray for iron:sodium thiosulphate [on eBay or Amazon] 6 oz./lead acetate 3 oz/water 1 gal( 20 °C temp.). According to T.Rodgers Professional manual of electroplating(1959.)

Antimony compounds based solutions can be used too (poisonous but harmless if compared with arsenic). Be careful. Try to avoid any form of contact with solutions. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
October 28, 2008

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Thank you for your answers people. I can get the colour with cold acid etching but no gloss & a bit streaky. I haven't tried the dangerous chems yet. One has suggested that I hot caustic blue then wipe the black with a 10% solution of water & Hydrochloric acid. I have hot blued with caustic & the following, Sodium Nitrate [affil links], sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, all at about 290 deg.F and they all come out black & as shiny as you put them in.
Alex

Alex Turley
retired - Sth. Australia
July 2, 2009