Bluing Match

[racoonbeast]

Does anyone know of a service who can blue parts of an old Smith (1927) so that they absolutely match the rest of the gun?

Turnbull does not do this anymore. Just talked with them. I am aware of Ford's. Have used them for other jobs before and was happy. I have actually been to their shop and met them. Real nice folks. I will be talking with them about this, but I don't think that they do this particular thing.

Does anyone know of anyone else?

 

[Fishinfool]

Exactly matching a 95 year old blue finish applied with a process no longer used is going to be very difficult, I would think. Depending on the parts - I wonder if a home done rust blue might come close? You can vary the look of that finish somewhat depending on polish and number of rusting/carding cycles you do.

Larry

 

[Modified]

Ford's doesn't actually match it absolutely, plus they over-polish and round edges that should be sharp. This would be pretty much guaranteed if they were doing it to just one part based on examples of their current work post here and elsewhere.

A lot of people are polite about Ford's current quality, but frankly they have been providing a service lately that results in the type of reblue that most collectors will consider a 0% finish gun, and that many of us will never touch again due to incorrect polishing.

 

[racoonbeast]

Ford's doesn't actually match it absolutely, plus they over-polish and round edges that should be sharp. This would be pretty much guaranteed if they were doing it to just one part based on examples of their current work post here and elsewhere.

A lot of people are polite about Ford's current quality, but frankly they have been providing a service lately that results in the type of reblue that most collectors will consider a 0% finish gun, and that many of us will never touch again due to incorrect polishing.

I was not aware of this concerning their current quality. I used them six or seven years ago. Thanks for the heads up.

Yes, I am aware of the difficulty involved in what I ask, and the fact that there probably isn't any process today that can duplicate this. But, if there is one place or person out there doing this, I would like to know who they or he is. I will never know about it if I don't ask, and this is the best place in the world that I can think of to ask.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I recall an old thread where this topic was discussed. My recollection was experts at finishing stated it was not possible to match old blue. I have two guns that had severely corroded barrels. I just wanted the barrels refinished but had to settle for the entire gun because the original finish could not be matched.

 

[mrcvs]

Can you post a photograph of the firearm and components needing rebluing? Usually it's best just to let sleeping dogs lie.

 

[Elroy]

Rust Blue

I can only assume that you're making inquire about the plumb color currently on your 44 cylinder referenced in this post:
Reblue?

To help guide you in your decision path, I would call to your attention the rust blue I applied to the cylinder of this 1953 Chief special year ago,

The Chief Gets a New Uniform

This "home applied" rust blue has proven to be very durable and has not adjusted its shade over the years. More recent photos' were posted several weeks ago/

The Chief and His Little Brother

I would simply advise that this rust blue yields a matt finish. The .22 LR model 34- shown for comparison in the attachment above, is a factory "gloss" or as some refer to as "high polish". It's my humble opinion this rust blue (as applied to my Chief cylinder) would match your frame much better than the plumb finish currently on your .44 cylinder. The decision on how to proceed is solely yours.

 

[Pisgah]

I'd love to shake the hand of the man who'd claim to be able to precisely match an old blue job. It's rare to meet that bold of a liar, outside of politics.

 

[handejector]

I can only assume that you're making inquire about the plumb color currently on your 44 cylinder referenced in this post:
Reblue?

I hope not! That old 6-1/2 44-3rd is a rather rare gun, and the plumb cyl just makes it an unusual Factory variant.

 

[paplinker]

Taking great interest in this discussion. I own a few prewar Outdoorsman that are in great shape but have some buggered side plate screws.

 

[rct269]

"Bluing is a living thing----it reacts to its environment. I can refinish your cylinder, and it will look exactly like it did when it left the factory. That said, it will not look like the rest of the gun with its 50 year old finish. Now, I can mess with the several variables, and MAYBE match the 50 year old finish two times out of fifty tries----how do you like those odds?" I allowed as how I didn't much care for those odds, thanked him for his time and knowledge, and sent the whole gun back to the factory----who did their usual exquisite refinish.

So, assuming you have the option of returning your gun to the factory, which (again) assuming it falls within their current will do/won't do policy, that's your best bet. Once more, assuming facts not in evidence, I'm guessing your gun doesn't even come close to their current will do/ won't do policy.

The opening quotation above comes from Turnbull's man in charge of bluing----back when they would do anything anybody was willing to pay for------and I was willing to pay for it. It's a good thing I didn't choose that option.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Mbrgr1]

"Bluing is a living thing----it reacts to its environment. I can refinish your cylinder, and it will look exactly like it did when it left the factory. That said, it will not look like the rest of the gun with its 50 year old finish. Now, I can mess with the several variables, and MAYBE match the 50 year old finish two times out of fifty tries----how do you like those odds?" I allowed as how I didn't much care for those odds, thanked him for his time and knowledge, and sent the whole gun back to the factory----who did their usual exquisite refinish.

So, assuming you have the option of returning your gun to the factory, which (again) assuming it falls within their current will do/won't do policy, that's your best bet. Once more, assuming facts not in evidence, I'm guessing your gun doesn't even come close to their current will do/ won't do policy.

The opening quotation above comes from Turnbull's man in charge of bluing----back when they would do anything anybody was willing to pay for------and I was willing to pay for it. It's a good thing I didn't choose that option.

Ralph Tremaine

I have to agree with my friend Ralph, the hues and tints are endless and they change over time. What parts are we talking about anyway?



If the gun is that rare, I have to agree "Let sleeping dogs be"

 

[Modified]

Taking great interest in this discussion. I own a few prewar Outdoorsman that are in great shape but have some buggered side plate screws.

Well that's a different issue, you may want to hit the SWCA forum and post a want to buy. You may be able to just acquire new (old) screws to solve the problem.

 

[rct269]

Taking great interest in this discussion. I own a few prewar Outdoorsman that are in great shape but have some buggered side plate screws.

There's a very recent thread (perhaps in the gunsmithing section) about how to deal with boogered screws---repair/replace. I've brought some near dead or dying screws back to life with a drill press (in lieu of a lathe) with a file and some emery paper----and a dab of cold blue. They ended up looking like brand new screws---if I do say so myself------and I do. I didn't have to mess with boogered screw slots, but they treat with that too.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[racoonbeast]

I hope not! That old 6-1/2 44-3rd is a rather rare gun, and the plumb cyl just makes it an unusual Factory variant.

The cylinder on that gun was the inspiration for me asking the question. But I have no intention of doing anything with the bluing on that gun. I am kind of getting used to the plum color and answering the question "what happened there?".

It made me curious about what is out there for reproducing old bluing. If it can be done it would be good to know. I was pretty sure that it couldn't be done, and this thread has convinced me that my instincts were right. But, I felt that it was worth asking. You never know.

 

[rct269]

"what happened there?"

I can't say for sure and certain, but I've heard tell-------------------

The cylinders were subject to different heat treat---different than whatever (the rest of the gun)-----and as such, they reacted differently to the bluing procedure employed. It makes sense to me---never mind I can't even come close to explaining the why of it all.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[DWalt]

Slight differences in the solution chemistry in the bluing tank and the bath temperature used can change the "color" of the bluing. So can the steel alloy. If you can live with that, then go ahead. Were it mine, I wouldn't do anything to it.

 

[racoonbeast]

I have to be honest and say that if the mythological someone came along and could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he could match the rest of the gun perfectly and there would be no signs of polishing, I would have to give it some serious thought. Don't mean that I would do it. But I would think about it.

But that is not going to happen so it is a non issue.

Thanks for your interest and your input folks. There will be no bluing on the gun.