"restoring" a SxS

[H Wally]

I'd like to sound an idea off the more competent smiths here, as I have never tried bluing.

I've come into possession of a relatively low value SxS 12 ga with hammers that I've grown quite fond of. Mechanically it's sound, but the wood has been scorched in places from leaning too close to stoves and the bluing is completely absent, leaving a fine powdering of surface rust.

I'm planning to hand make the stock parts, and refinish the metal by first cleaning to bare metal, then zinc phostphating the parts and then cold bluing them. This seem like a legitimate plan?

I've settled on Oxpho-Blue as my bluing agent as it seems the most reliable.. unless anyone has alternate suggestions.

 

[Epps Enfield]

Oxpho Blue is my pick too. If you come across a stubborn area of the metal that just will not take the blue, try applying the blue gently with some fine steel wool.
Good Luck!

 

[Pudelpointer]

All good soldered SxS's are rust blacked, do a search on here as there have been some really good threads. I have done a couple of guns, Mauser98 has done a bunch.

it is really easy, safe, and looks great. It just takes a bit of time and work. Oxpho and the rest of the cold blues suck crap, and have almost no effect on corrosion resistance.

Ian