Mauser refinish...brown or blue

[Lost Oki]

I have a sporterised 6.5x55 that is going to be refinished.  I am leaning toward browning rather than blue.  Will end up in a walnut stock.  Opinions.
Note, browning I can and have done.  Rust bluing I would have to find a tank for the final boil...what say ye?

[Tackleberry]

browning might be interesting but certainly not usual for modern guns..especially Mausers...IMO...do what you thinks looks good!!!

[Bingo]

   Browning would certianly be unique. If you can do a good job of it, it would be an eye catching conversation piece.

[shot1]

I would just use Oxpho-Blue cream from Brownells. It is a cold blue that is the best I have ever seen. The more coats you rub on the darker black blue it gets. You do not have to go through the long process of de-grease and leave no finger prints etc. Just start rubbing it on and it turns black blue. This is not your normal thin cold blue. The more you rub the deeper it gets and really looks good.

[Lost Oki]

Oxpho-Blue is a temporary fix.  I am looking at a long term fix.  I have used various cold blueing and rust preventative coatings in the past.  Have yet to find a cold blue that lasts.  Some of the spray on bake on finishes are very good.  I have two rifles that I had rust blued but my source for this is gone.  However, Browning, when done right is just as beautiful a finish.  I have completed 3 muzzle-loaders from kits and browned two, and refinished a 3rd..  Again, just like any coating, when done right, it lasts.  If I could come up with a tank I would do the rust blue. 
I removed the rear sight fixture but have been unable to get this area to take any type of blueing.  I used mapp gas to heat and remove, 400 grit sandpaper to clean the metal, degreased as usual but no luck.  I have never removed a soldiered on sight and tried to refinish.   Any suggestions

[S.S.]

Never had a problem with the durability of cold blue???

[1911crazy]

I have had bad luck with the blue wonder stuff for some reason the patina came back.  I had better luck with the birchwood and the perma cold bluing.  I wash the metal with a rubbing alcohol, then go over it with a 0000 steelwool.  Wipe it free of dirt.  I them heat it with a hair dryer.  Apply the cold bluing with a piece of 0000 steelwool and work it ionto the metal untill its the color depthness i want.  Then rinse it with water to stop the bluing process.  Do not touch the shiney bolt or other shiney metal parts during this process with your hands.  You will blue them too. CZY

[Spector]

Use a box and go with browning.  You know why.  It will just look better..........Mike

[treeman]

I do rust bluing all the time... Just build a trough with PVC pipe and end caps. Cut a wide slot in the pipe, glue on end caps. Boil the DISTILLED water in a large pot, pour it into the PVC pipe holding the barrel, let sit for 20 minutes, cool, card, repeat as necessary.

[goofyoldfart]

you also might try Nitre Bluing. you can use Stump remover (contains 99.9% Potassium Nitrate). you can purchase stump remover at Lowes, Manard's or any hardware supply. You do need a metal hot tank, though. It gives a deep, lustrous, old world blue black finish. looks really beautiful.  God Bless to all.

                             Goofy   <aka goofyoldfart and Godfrey>