19th Century blue
- Thread starter iby
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Hi There,
This is a fascinating topic for me. I like to know how the big
Firearms Makers blued their guns. If you are interested in
bluing formulas and processes, I suggest you get a copy of
Angier's Firearm Bluing and Browning.
I don't know what process Colt used at that time.
I read that the Springfield Armory originally used molten
saltpeter heated until "a pinch of sawdust would flash when
thrown onto the surface" (which would be around 700°F). I
understand Winchester used the same process originally.
Of course, the processes manufacturers used changed as new
and more reliable systems were develop. The only info I know
of was S&W's process they used starting around 1900. I
believe it was called "Carbona" and used special drums with
fixtures to hold the parts and the drums were tumbled with a
combination of carbon rich materials inside. While tumbling,
the drums were heated to a predetermined temperature and
kept there for a specified period of time.
Winchester later adopted the DULUX bluing system (which is an
aqueous solution containing various Nitrate, Nitrite and Hydroxide
salts that are heated to around 270°F to 300°F).
When I was 16 years old, got my first book on gunsmithing.
It was written by James Virgil Howe (who was a prolific writer)
and there was a couple of formulas for bluing in it. The one
that intrigued me was his "Quick Method or Hot Solution
Process" (which is similar to the Belgian Bluing Process).
What caught my attention was the description:
"This is one of the finest bluing formulas to use when the old
Smith & Wesson revolver finish is desired on a firearm."
This book was first published in 1938 so "old S&W revolver
finish" may refer to the 19th Century made guns.
Cheers!
Webb
This is a fascinating topic for me. I like to know how the big
Firearms Makers blued their guns. If you are interested in
bluing formulas and processes, I suggest you get a copy of
Angier's Firearm Bluing and Browning.
I don't know what process Colt used at that time.
I read that the Springfield Armory originally used molten
saltpeter heated until "a pinch of sawdust would flash when
thrown onto the surface" (which would be around 700°F). I
understand Winchester used the same process originally.
Of course, the processes manufacturers used changed as new
and more reliable systems were develop. The only info I know
of was S&W's process they used starting around 1900. I
believe it was called "Carbona" and used special drums with
fixtures to hold the parts and the drums were tumbled with a
combination of carbon rich materials inside. While tumbling,
the drums were heated to a predetermined temperature and
kept there for a specified period of time.
Winchester later adopted the DULUX bluing system (which is an
aqueous solution containing various Nitrate, Nitrite and Hydroxide
salts that are heated to around 270°F to 300°F).
When I was 16 years old, got my first book on gunsmithing.
It was written by James Virgil Howe (who was a prolific writer)
and there was a couple of formulas for bluing in it. The one
that intrigued me was his "Quick Method or Hot Solution
Process" (which is similar to the Belgian Bluing Process).
What caught my attention was the description:
"This is one of the finest bluing formulas to use when the old
Smith & Wesson revolver finish is desired on a firearm."
This book was first published in 1938 so "old S&W revolver
finish" may refer to the 19th Century made guns.
Cheers!
Webb
Not sure when the first Carbona blue was used in the manufacture of S&Ws, but the notes I have stated a couple different dates when the process was ended.
Carbona Blue: S&W authorized the change from the hot oven bluing process (carbona blue) to the liquid penetrating bluing process on November 19, 1980. The memorandum announcing the change indicated it would take approximately six months to implement for all models. Roy Jinks stated that the process ended in 1970.
Carbona Blue: S&W authorized the change from the hot oven bluing process (carbona blue) to the liquid penetrating bluing process on November 19, 1980. The memorandum announcing the change indicated it would take approximately six months to implement for all models. Roy Jinks stated that the process ended in 1970.
Model19man
Member
No one is alive today who could say that Colt and S&W used the same process back in the 1800's. In any case the finish back then involved a lot more work. The results were extraordinary. A time of quality lost.
We should be happy if we can afford to own these items and thankful if any are found.
We should be happy if we can afford to own these items and thankful if any are found.
