rust

[jacketed only]

My model 19 seems to be developing a pattern of growing rust in one spot near the hammer . It pitted the blue and metal and I have cleaned , waxed and used Kroil oil to stop this problem, but it seems to crop up again and again in one spot . Any one have any thoughts?

 

[Pine_Worker]

Picture would help.

 

[rct269]

The only thing that comes to imagination is a an attack by a foreign substance which remains within the metal----a corrosive agent of some sort. Note this is a product of my imagination----my mind having checked out.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Brownell's Oxpho Blue is a good touch up, and is more rust resistant than bare metal.

 

[stansdds]

Could be some steel wool particles are embedded and that can be a source of rust.

 

[Hawg Rider]

This may be a similar problem to the one seen on numerous first year (1954) and other early Highway Patrolman (aka pre-Model 28s). I understand that there was some type of issue at S&W during the bluing process that affected the front sight bases near the welds and caused them to "rust". Although the problem is not getting worse, it cannot be corrected without removing metal and rebluing. It's not that bad so I just live with it. It may be some type of process issue that's affecting your Model 19, especially if it's an early model.

 

[captaint]

Well, after all the treatment you have given it, the rust must be coming from within. Especially the wax, at least if it's Ren Wax. One outstanding product. Have you tried a little heat ?? I don't think it could hurt. Just don't get it too hot !!

 

[Hondo44]

It is coming from within as Ralph posted. The bluing salts were not completely neutralized.

This is not uncommon. We've even seen it on stainless guns, not bluing salts but some corrosive agent used in the steel production and cleaning.

The only thing to cure it that I know of that works is to submerse it in a heavy solution of baking soda in boiling water.

Then spot blue it with Brownell's Oxpho Blue paste and then oil.

 

[Narragansett]

It is coming from within as Ralph posted. The bluing salts were not completely neutralized.

This is not uncommon. We've even seen it on stainless guns, not bluing salts but some corrosive agent used in the steel production and cleaning.

The only thing to cure it that I know of that works is to submerse it in a heavy solution of baking soda in boiling water.

Then spot blue it with Brownell's Oxpho Blue paste and then oil.

Can this be done with another medium like diesel fuel or ATF?

If you do use water, clean the gun good and put in an oven to bake any moisture out of it. 200 degrees or lower. I used to do that after cleaning my black powder revolver, and it never hurt the gun

 

[Hondo44]

I would not recommend diesel fuel or ATF, and acetone doesn't work either.
It's not a cleaning problem, it's a neutralizing of corrosive/acidic agents problem.

 

[chief38]

Try Hondo44's boiling water and baking soda procedure first. Dry in oven, reblue with Oxpho Blue and oil. If that doesn't do it, then a new finish or rebluing might be the way to go for a permanent solution. A constantly rusting gun is very upsetting. Been there-done that!

I've faced finish issues three separate times and after trying every "fix" available to preserve the original finish and failing, my choice for a permanent fix was to get them reblued. For two Colts I used Colt. For a long gun I used MGW's. In all 3 cased the results were and still are stellar!! Since I'll never sell them while I'm still on planet Earth, it did not matter that the original finish was no more and in fact the reblued guns are now better than they were when brand new!