Blue/brown

[ggggr]

I know there have been a few threads on here about cold bluing----But does anyone know of a cold brown? Ive heard some of the older stuff being a "plum brown" and wouldnt mind trying something different. Thanks lads

[harry mac]

As originally practiced, browning would have yielded a "black" type finish. Some of the modern browning solutions seem to offer what can only be described as a false patina. The breech block on the Martini Henry rifle was browned, and mine, which was made in 1878 shows a dark blue finish.
Incidentally the German word for bluing is brunnierung, which translated is "browning". I think the original process of browning is alternatively called rust bluing.

[edbear2]

Hi mate........I can highly recommend birchwood casey plum brown........You will need a propane torch, or oven for for the smaller parts, as it goes on to heated parts....

H+S.......sheet download (this stuff is quite strong!)

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport/msds.asp

How to use...scroll down till you find it!

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=uk

Results........

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3122848...7616789686347/

This is the "baby" gun I made from an old damaged imp mod D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3122848...7614265676462/

a scoped standard

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3122848...7614265676462/

same gun again......one thing I will emphasise, is that is is important to use the birchwood "sheath" wipes to stop the "rusting" process, and to keep the gun oiled to avoid patchiness........however, it seems a very durable and convincing finish.........I showed the "baby" gun to Mr Knibbs, and he had to double take at first before I explained what I had done........No higher praise than that!.it is used extensively in the states by western re-enactors who "age" Italian modern made western type pistols to use them in competitions etc. and also by vintage shooters........if you want it to look 100 years old.......this is the stuff!!

[royalscotsgrays]

hi i have just been using G96 gun blue creme and its excellent i just blued the barrel on my diana m60 and it has come up like new the blueing blended with the original blueing i think they do a gun brown as well .i got some birchwood blue so i did a test with birchwood next to G96 and the birchwood might as well not been there .kind regards mark

[keith66]

Proper Browning as used on damascus barrels is a slow rusting process that entails multiple applications of a chemical solution designed to promote rusting.
Acid based with horrible toxic chemicals like mercury chloride or ferric chloride.
The brown colour is built up after successive passes & removal of the loose rust known as scratching.
There is often a degree of confusion between the processes of traditional browning & bluing as the only difference is with bluing the parts are boiled after each rusting this converts the brown rust ferrous oxide into ferric oxide which is blue!
There are other bluing processes that use a one shot caustic system.