[CAMPBELL49T]

I BOUGHT A USED 3 BAND ENFIELD. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, IT LOOKS LIKE
SOMEONE TRIED TO MAKE THE BARREL WHITE. I CAN TELL THIS BY THE FRONT SIGHT AND AROUND THE FLIP UP SIGHT. THERE IS BLUING AROUND BOTH. ALSO BY THE MUSKET NIPPLE. NOW I HAVE THE OPTION TO RE BLUE IT.
OR TAKE THE REST OF THE BLUING OFF. I HAVE NEVER DONE EITHER ONE. SO
I NEED SOME HELP AS TO WHAT TO DO. IS THE BLUING HISTORICAL CORRECT.
IF NOT IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF I TOOK THE REST OFF. WHICH WAY SHOULD I GO. AND HOW SHOULD I DO IT. THE BARREL DID NOT TURN WHITE IT IS LIKE A LIGHT GRAY.:banghead:

[scrat]

If you were going to take it off you could do a plum brown bluing this is the antique looking bluing. Your gun either is a reproduction or could have been reworked. We would have to see some pictures of it. As far as fixing the bluing there are cold bluing kits sold at places like midway and dixie gun works and even a cold bluing pen. it might take several applications before it blends in however it is possible to match the bluing. As for debluing i always prefered vineagar. the gun would have to be taken apart. Naval Jelley also does a fantastic job and is available at most autoparts or hardware stores. do a search on this forum on de bluing and you will several write ups on doing it i made a write up about a year ago.

[arcticap]

Here's a short video about partially restoring an original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvsoWzkhCjw&eurl=http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=3+band+enfield+musket&fr=ybr_sbc&fr2=sg-gac&xargs=0&pstart=1&b=

And here's a recent auction for an original with some pictures:

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=122818349


http://stores.brigadesutler.com/catalog/enf1853.jpg

The reproductions are factory blued which looks very nice.
IMO a professional hot chemical bluing job would look the best and shouldn't cost too much.
Some folks have recommended the Brownells Oxpho-blue as being a good product for doing it yourself.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/catsearch.aspx?k=oxpho%20blue&ps=10&si=True

[Chawbaccer]

THe gray color is likely from using a phosphoric acid type rust-blue remover such as naval jelly. I would suggest it be polished off before any attempt at re finishing.

[scrat]

if you check out the latest adition of black powder revolver magazine. online edition there is a fantastic article on restoring a 1853

[4v50 Gary]

Send it out for rebluing. I suspect the bluing was removed by some reenactor.

[CAMPBELL49T]

Thanks for all the input. Don't know what to do first. But, i think i
might take it all off. Don't look to bad. If i don't do that i like the
idea of dropping the whole barrel into a bluing tank.
Thanks guys. Try to ger some picture on photo bucket. I got to go
watch a movie with the better half. Or i'll be in the dog house.
Thanks again

[scrat]

dont let anyone tell you. that you need to spend a lot of money to have the bluing done. thats hogwash. check out this link. This is a fella on calguns a youngster who re blued a 12 guage shot gun. he bought a kit Birchwood Casey which is actually a very popular brand of cold bluing take a look how it came out.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=158388

[CAMPBELL49T]

Hey scrat that shot gun looks very good. It looks new. Going to
try it on one of my old nagants first. It'll take some time. Got some other guns i'm working on. When done i'll post pics.
Thanks