For what it's worth in my experience, is the rust blue color is darker (black) when the barrels are polished to a lesser degree, say 400 grit, that when taken to 600 or buff polish. The higher polish leaves the lighter blue and glossier finish. I'm reworking a DHE 20 gage that has most if not all the case colors worn off except the water table and under the top lever. There is no way I'm going to have it recolored as the engraving stands out in all its detail in the silver sheen now present. The gun has been rewooded which I am cleaning up and checkering, and has been sleeved from a 16 gage to a 20 gage ( barrels re-blacked in the process), and has an AHE ejector forend so it will be just a darn fine shooter that shouldn't be attempted to turn into something new looking. Besides that at 1/3 the price of a 20 gage repro I can live with a few imperfections and shoot hell out of it. Think Spring!!!! Lee.
