Bit Bluing

[DaveGink]

Hello,

The 1861 manual for cavalry horse equipment says: "Bit, (shear steel, blued)".

If one were to re-blue a reproduction bit, what parts were blued, and was the blueing similar to what is used today?

Thanks!
Dave

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Bit Bluing

All of the steel parts, in essence the entire bit, minus the brass bosses. No the blueing processes were different. Period blueing was a cold rust blue, while modern blueing methods are either a cold chemical blue which is very shallow and fragile or a hot salt blue. Neither will yield a blue similar to the cold rust. One can still cold rust blue if you can find the blueing solution.
Dave Myrick

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Bit Bluing

Dave and Dave... I did a google search and came up with this....http://www.finishing.com/4400-4599/4469.shtml It doesn't shound all that complicated, but I don't want to try it anytime soon... Z

[Chris Stewart]

Re: Bit Bluing

I feel that the factory bluing on the '59 bits was more of a protective measure for shipping and storage. When the bit made it to the trooper in the field, it was burnished bright ,as rust would form quickly. Keeping a bit " in the blue" would have been a hard chore. I agree that the cold rust bluing method would be the type used.

Chris Stewart
7th Tenessee Cav Co D

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Bit Bluing

What evidence do you have to support your statement that they were burnished bright? I have yet to see an original bit that has been burnished bright but see lots that are still blued.
Dave Myrick

[malachi]

Re: Bit Bluing

check into pilkington rust blueing compound. it sounds like what your looking for.
john tucker

[DaveGink]

Re: Bit Bluing

Thanks for the great information Dave and all!

That Pilkington rust blueing compound does sound just like what I'm looking for.