bluing being intentionally removed

[Nick Sparks]

ok, I was wondering is there any documentation of officers ordering their men to remove the bluing from their guns.

Thanks,
Nick sparks

[Dbackfed]

Re: bluing being intentionally removed

Give the ol' search function a try:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?880-Unblueing-an-enfield-rifle&highlight=blueing+removed

[dixieflyer]

Re: bluing being intentionally removed

Thanks for posting that thread. One poster remarked about the sapphire blue, and was soundly trounced upon. However, I have an original Enfield bayonet locking ring that I purchased from S&S Firearms back in the late 80's/early 90's that is a beautiful sapphire blue. Now, why would an original locking ring be re-blued?

[markj]

Re: bluing being intentionally removed

You might find this article helpful:

http://www.factasy.com/civil_war/comment/reply/5253

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: bluing being intentionally removed

Hallo!

Not bad, but, to lift this section form the web site:

"A brief discussion of the processes used during the Civil War-era to blue the barrel of the P-53 Enfield is probably in order. First of all, current Enfield reproduction barrels are blued with a modern chemical bath process. It may look somewhat similar but it is nothing at all like the original period finish. In the 1860s, the barrel was treated through an entirely different process called (by the British) “browning” or what we would term “cold rust bluing.” It was a built up finish which reached the dark blue-black color with heat combined with the oxidation of an acidic compound which created a form of dense rust on the iron barrel (21). More heat followed by additional applications of the acidic bluing compound to the barrel (over time) changed it from a reddish-brown color (ferrous oxide) to blue/black (ferric oxide). The rust was then arrested using a drying oil and leaving a deep blue/black finish. The modern reproduction barrel finish is a machine applied surface coloration rather than an actual controlled rust build-up blue/black finish."

The author misunderstands the rust-blueing process. It is a "cold" process, unlike the hot chemical salt bath process in use at that time (a solution of potassium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, and water heated to boiling).

The other version, a bit mor emodern is nitre blueing where potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate is used.

Although, to split hairs, sometimes the rust-blueing process is accelerated through the use of a closed "sweat box" ratehr than just having it out in the "air." A sweat box is an enclosed box, with a low heat source (toiday some lads use a light bulb).

At any rate, rust-blueing is NOT a hot process as is chemical salt blueing.

So-called "saphire" blueing is either very skilled heat bluieng, with the steel carefully heated taken to its bright or medium blue color range (typically used on say presentation grade sword blades).

However, there is also a "saphire" blue, sometimes refered to as "wet blue ink" that was a chemical salt process, but only used on presentation grade firearms. Period workers at firearm companies like Colt or Remington closely guarded and kept secret their formulae for the different grades of blueing (bluing) both as a company as well as personal professional thing. Colt was very famous for thier presentation grade revovlers, there often being found with dark "wet blue" ink and medium blue "wet blue ink" finishes that set off the gold or silver work and polished engravings. Versus the everyday chemical salt cheap grade semi-matt or flat black they used.

It has been years, and I have not paid attention, but years ago Uberti used to offer the "wet blue ink" look on a higher cost line of their revovlers.

The problem with modern day "hot acid vat" bluieng is that NUG always (use of universal so noted) creates a "wet black ink" blue that does not look like the semi-matt or flat black chemical salt finsihes found on period revolvers.

And last...

Part of the misuderstanding of the Enfield rust blue barel finish comes from modern day lads stripping the "wet black ink" modern blueing and trying to redo it with cheap "cold blue" which is a paste or liquid a selenium dioxide based compound that colors steel a very thin, uneven and fragile black, or more often a very dark gray.
At best, it is okay for small uber-fast touch-ups or small parts like screw heads. (and there are higher priced versions that gunsmiths use professionally, but they are still a poor result).
Anyways, lads having seen "cold blue" results, mentally trasnfered that to the original Enfield's deep and durable blackish rust-blue finish.

Curt

[dixieflyer]

Re: bluing being intentionally removed

FWIW, there is a painting by AOP veteran and MOH winner Julian Scott of two Federal soldiers on pickett duty both armed with Enfields. One weapon is in the blue, the other struck bright. Go figure!

(While I realize that a painting done by a vet is not the same as an actual photograph/image taken during the war, one does have to ask: why would the artist bother to paint it that way?)

[markj]

Re: bluing being intentionally removed

This link mentions a well-known incident in which Confederate troops at Gettysburg inadvertently revealed their positions due to their "glistening gun-barrels and bayonets".

http://camouflage.com/glint-history.php

Check it out,

Mark Jaeger