Restoring barrel color

[ryandomingos27]

Sooo my brother decided to take an old collectible 12 gauge I have on a hunting trip. He left it in a place with some water when he got home and the action rusted. I got all the rust off but now the steel is left a different color. Anyone have any ideas on how to restore it to its original condition? Anything helps

 

[dtrkyman]

That is called bluing, there are touch up kits you can get, it will not look new but may hide some of it. Getting it blued professionally is a bit pricey and may even reduce value more.

Too bad, that is a classic gun!

 

[Mk44]

You lent him your Browning A5?

To have it done right... send it out to get reblued.
Or DIY- cold blue it yourself.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Cold blueing is mostly for looks and offers little protection. That would be fine if you plan on making it a wall hanger, but if you are going to hunt with it, have it done professionally. It will cost, but worth it. I Echo, Mak335, you lent him a A5???????????? For shame.

 

[def90]

It's hosed as far as trying to make it all match without doing a full finish redo.. Just oil it up, it is what it is, and don't borrow anything out that you care about.

How did you remove the rust? Please don't say you used a wire wheel..

 

[GSPHUNTER]

How long did he have it? that is some major rust damage, not something that would happen in a few days.

 

[Azone]

No good deed goes unpunished.
Since its value is diminished now, I would opt for a professional to restore it. I would also direct all associated cost to your brothers billing address.

 

[dieselchessy]

It's hosed as far as trying to make it all match without doing a full finish redo.. Just oil it up, it is what it is, and don't borrow anything out that you care about.

How did you remove the rust? Please don't say you used a wire wheel..

You can see steel wool in the picture.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

You are not looking at a REAL expensive weapon, I would think between $1200 and $3000. Thats before rust. I had one my dad gave me and my Ahole brother sold it while I was in the Navy. They are classic shotguns. Have it professionally blued.

 

[dtrkyman]

A poorly done bluing job will make the engravings look faded, takes away the crisp lines!

I would keep it oiled and use it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[def90]

You can see steel wool in the picture.

Well, steel wool would still be the wrong technique. If he had boiled the parts in water it would have converted the red rust oxide to black oxide (a form of rust bluing) at which point he could have used a carding brush to remove the black oxide. If done right the original finish could have been mostly saved.

Too many people instantly go at things with steel wool, a steel brush or I’ve even seen sand paper used when there are known methods to do things in the gunsmithing world.

 

[robtattoo]

I have zero affiliation, other than he did some finish work for me:

Google Search

Gareth West at GTS Customizing in Casper, WY. Very reasonable rates & quick turnaround. Give him a call & he'll set you right.
I had a rusted, beaten & neglected M70. He took it from this:



To this:




Total cost, including all the case color hardening was a hair over $300