Can you blue stainless steel?

[Daniel Howe]

Local auction has a 66-1 and a 66-2 snubbies listed. I would like to get one of them but they are both stainless steel and I don't like "shiny guns". Is is possible to blue or blacken a stainless gun?

 

[THEmodelof1989]

If you don't like shiny guns don't buy them.

If you absolutely must ruin a stainless steel revolver, black oxide would be the finish you are looking for.

I suggest just buying a blue model 19. They are a dime a dozen. You won't have to spend an extra $200-$300 on refinishing, and those stainless steel guns that you don't like will still be available for the guys that do appreciate stainless guns.

 

[03hemi]

Why would you wanna ruin a stainless finish? smh

 

[diyj98]

I can see black oxide over stainless for military or tactical applications, but not for me. Plain stainless is just fine for my uses.

 

[glowe]

Hot bluing is the only method that seems to work on standard types of stainless steel. Not sure how durable the finish is, but it is not something that an amatuer (like me) should tackle. The gun can be taken to a gunsmith who does hot bluing. The link below details how it can be done. You can, of course, apply one of the coating processes avaliable out there.

How to blue stainless steel for beginners - easy & affordable

 

[mike campbell]

I notice the OP didn't ask for opinions on his taste in guns. There are many ways to blacken a stainless steel gun... none of which "ruins" it.

If I had a stainless gun I loved and wanted it blackened, I wouldn't hesitate. The Ruger Red Label O/U I had in the 1990's was only made in stainless. I had one blackened in a satin finish (gloss was not an option), custom-stocked it and eventually sold it for a healthy profit as a one-of-a-kind "Black Label."

Since the guns in question are 66's not in possession, it certainly makes more snse to buy a blue model 19.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I don't know if this is the OP's reasoning, but one reason to want a blackened stainless gun is lower maintenance with regard to rust prevention. I prefer stainless steel revolvers for this reason, but I would also prefer a black finish. I have considered having my stainless revolvers refinished, but decided the cost wouldn't be worth it.

It's also possible the guns in question are at a very good price, maybe lower than a 19. However, being an auction, the prices could go up. Plus one would have to factor in the cost of having the guns refinished.

Aside from black oxide, you could check out CCR and see if any of the finishes they offer meet your needs/wants.

Now, if neither of those reasons apply, then it may be better to seek out a 19 instead.

Or, you could just do what you want.

 

[colt_saa]

All of the "bluing" that I have seen of stainless steel looks like a very very dark grey finish, almost black but not quite

Over the decades, Smith & Wesson has done various different finishes on Stainless gun

In recent years Smith & Wesson's finish on stainless steel has appeared to be a very black looking black

I know that ION-Bond is one of the finishes used on the Performance Center guns. Here is my semi Pinto Model 627. Ion-Bond is VERY durable

There are others finishes used on black, line the tenifer that is used on the M&P stainless slides

Now the ION-Bond can be made to look different depending on how the metal is prepped.

Additionally, you could have the revolver Cerecoated. This can be done in ANY color that you want

Here is an image from Cummings Custom Refinishing's website of their Cera-Hide

Image courtesy of ccrrefinishing.com​

I have one of my carry P220s done by them and it is exceptional work and right now they are having a 25% off sale for the Holidays

I wish I had something that needed refinishing

 

[CH4]

Black Nitriding works great on stainless guns. Here’s my 627-5 with black nitrided cylinder, ejector and cylinder release. Although not stainless, here’s my 15-2 that was recently black nitrided. One of the toughest/durable finishes available. It’s not paint like Ceracote or Duracote.

H&M Blacknitride+™ | The New Standard in Steel Hardening

 

[Hondo44]

If you want to blue stainless, blackening isn't going to cut it.

For bluing stainless steel and for Color Case Hardening I used:

RUN-N-IRON Customizing
Run-N-Iron - General Gunsmithing
10116 - 744 Road
Bertrand, Nebraska 68927
308-472-1445
[email protected]

 

[jringo8769]

To answer the question asked
Bluing is No
Blackening is a Yes
God Bless,John
I love Blackened Stainless guns

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

 

[mike campbell]

"I noticed the op didn't ask for opinions on his taste in guns, [but here's mine]..."

Pot, meet kettle.

Don't put words in my mouth.

i neither criticized nor applauded the OP's dislike of "shiny" guns.

I did, however try to offer some insight into his options for avoiding one.

I can't seem to find any of your helpful comments.

 

[dfariswheel]

"CAN" you blue stainless steel....Yes. Brownell's sell a special hot salts bluing chemical that will blue the type of stainless steel used to make guns.

Of the several companies who offered stainless bluing, most quit because of difficulties getting a good color, and customer complaints about lack of durability of the finish.

A better way to color stainless is to have it Nitrided.
This not only gives it a deep Black color, it actually gives the metal a very hard surface that will resist wear.
This is the same process used to Nitride rifle barrels to increase barrel life, but without the possible loss of accuracy when hard chrome plating a bore.
I believe that you can do it in either a flat Black or by polishing the metal it will be shiny Black.

 

[Hondo44]

To answer the question asked
Bluing is No
Blackening is a Yes
God Bless,John
I love Blackened Stainless guns

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

Bluing is YES! Read the thread.

 

[viceunit]

I suggest just buying a blue model 19. They are a dime a dozen.

I'll take a dozen, please!

 

[ken158]

Buy the 66’s, sell them here and make enough $ to buy a 19. Local (and online) auctions get a little crazy sometimes but you may get lucky.

 

[GerSan69]

Paint it. Cerakote, Gunkote, or Krylon.
OK, maybe not Krylon. The others seem to have big following.

 

[Drm50]

I had a custom 98 rifle with a stainless barrel. Smith sent it to be iron plated and then blued it. Equal or better blue job on anything I've seen.
The down side is it is possible to chip plating right down to stainless. Never happened to me but might be more probable on handgun if it was dropped. There was another process called Black Crome another plating type finish. The expense may make it impractical. This was in the day you could get into a custom BA for $500, now a premium barrel installed will cost that.

 

[glenwolde]

I like Teflon, but it's more of a matte finish.

 

[Daniel Howe]

From what I'm reading the black nitride seems to be a good tough finish/coating for a carry gun.

The only model 19's I'm finding for sale are north of $700, add shipping and fees and I could probably do better at auction.

Thanks for all the responses.