REBLUING OLDER WIN.30-30

[dave hall]

I'M LOOKING AT MOD.94 TRAPPER FROM 1981 OR 1982 IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL WOOD STOCK,AND NO SAFTY.THE ONLY THING IT NEEDS IS REBLUED ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE RECIEVER WERE SOMEONE CARRIED IT.MY QUESTION IS THE GUY AT THE GUN SHOP SAID SOME OF THE OLDER WIN'S TURN A RED TINT IN THE NEW BLUING.ANYONE EVER SEE THIS HAPPEN. :-)

[gunnut69]

The rifles in question were made with cast receivers that had an extrordiarily high silicon content. They really don't want to blue at all. Some were so bad that even Winchester plated them with iron and them blued the plating. They can be plated and some are candidates for black chroming or if a using gun is needed I've been powder coatin them. The powder lasts really well and is fairly reasonable in price.

[dave hall]

IS THE THE YEAR I'M LOOKING AT ONE OF THESE. :-)

[Iowegan]

Gunnut is right on. I've been using Brownell's bluing salts for years. When I do a cast frame or receiver, I just add Brownell's Oxinate "S". The cast will take a nice blue, otherwise you get a plum color.  "S" is a real pain to use and it's expensive. You have to bring the salts up to boiling, add the "S" then cool down and reboil a few times. Most gunsmiths don't want the hassle so they turn down cast jobs.

Most liquid cold bluing will work on the '94 receivers. Yes, it's a bandaid and won't last like hot blue, but it does make them look nice and will blend in with the original finish.

[gunnut69]

I've never actually seen a cast receiver 94 that had been reblued but have seen the advertising. Most of the discriptions indicate the receiver needs to be pickled (acid soaked) and the salts run at a higher tempurature to get a good deep clue. Still I've seen the service advertised...  In any case these rifles also(at least the majority) were made with stanped parts and are kinda poor examples of the 94 anyway.  As a using piece I's powder coat the exterior and refinish the wood and hunt with it.