What causes bluing to turn " Plum "??

[OLDSTER]

Interesting old thread. I happen to like a nice "plum" on firearms; knowing it's not a harmful defect, I'm OK with it. This Detonics Combat Master I purchased a few years ago has a nice "plum" on the slide; common on the early Detonics.

 

[Retired W4]

And this thread died nearly 9 years ago. Just sayin'.

I'm baaack.
Great chemistry lesson by kenpofan.

 

[ogso]

Ask this question on an M1Garand forum and you will get further speculation. Lots of guys prefer the plum to black or grey park. Garands hare hard steel, some with lead dipped heals and most all were immersed in cosmoline. The thought is the cosmo does something to the park to make it plum. My 2 cents. And Luke I am your father!

 

[clang444]

Hey a good zombie thread...

Some of the Ruger guys find the plum guns collectable. Here is my Super Bearcat with a frame and hammer that turned plum (actually more of a brown):

 

[Chuck24]

Social pressure

 

[hemiram]

My first 28-2 that I bought in 1978 had a slightly plum cylinder. The other one the pawnshop had was plum too. Neither were refinished. Mine was the slightly cheaper of the two, due to more holster wear. I couldn't really care less about it..