shortening barrels and reblueing old guns

[bashkev]

I plan on shortening and crowning the barrels on my old martini enfield and savage 99. They both have wear and the enfield some rust so i am going to try to reblue, and redo stocks. Are their any new fabulous products out their that would make my reblueing job alot easier and is hot or cold blueing recomended

 

[trevj]

Cold bluing usually comes out looking kind of cheap and nasty, and usually does not hold up to wear very well. Results vary a lot depending on the steel, and the bluing used, too.

Take a look at the rust bluing process. Most complicated pieces of kit required are a pot big enough to boil the larges part in, and a container large enough to keep the parts in a humid environment for a few hours at a time.

Birchwood Casey Plum Brown has gotten good reports as a rusting agent. Lot's of info on the web.

If you want to go the hot blue route, I suggest doing all the prep work (sanding and cleaning) and find someone set up already to do the bluing. A couple pounds of 650 or do degree melted salts is, to say the least, a safety issue, and there are a few guys around that are already set up.

Cheers
Trev

 

[Def90]

do you want these rifles blued? If they are working guns a bake on finish is more durable & easier to reapply. Look at the discussion about duracoat 7 look at their website, it is an easy to use fantastic product that is up to military wear & tear.

 

[sunray]

Depending on the current condition and the chambering of the 99, both are collector's pieces. Do anything to either and you'll drop their value by half. Don't even think about Duracoat for either.
"...as a rusting agent..." It doesn't 'rust'. It's just like cold bluing, but with different chemicals.