Effects of Rust Bluing on Damascus and Twist Barrels

[Bruce Day]

Sorry Jerry, I must have you confused with another Jerry in Omaha with whom we we discussed this same issue. Anyway, hot blued is bad, cold blue can be corrected.

[J. A. EARLY]

Brad,

Thanks to you and all who answered. As my first post indicated, I did not understand why the “old wives’ tale” that slow rust bluing would damage Damascus or Twist barrels would be true. I am sure almost everyone on here knew how hot bluing ruins old doubles. I should have used the term caustic solutions instead of acids.

I feel honored to have my question answered by such an expert in the field; and now I know that slow rust bluing of these old barrels is nothing to fear and if it preserved the metal for decades may have been a good thing as opposed to ruining the barrels through uncontrolled rusting and pitting due to no finish. I’ll look upon these guns differently now, knowing they may be returned to their original grandeur with considerable work.

Thank you.