Chaps. How did the likes of Webley blue their guns in say the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s etc up to current day? I know hot bluing/blacking? salt baths are today’s method, but how was it done in the early / mid and late 20th century? Same method? When was the use of bluing salts and hot baths introduced?
Have a read here
It’s a complex subject but most of this is good information
http://www.rustbluing.com/files/rustbluing_web.docx
A man can always use more alcohol, tobacco and firearms.
I only have post-war webleys, but I'm pretty sure they are all hot caustic blued.
What gives them the great finish is probably time spent by experienced polishers before the bluing process.