expat_alaska
Member
Jim, almost everything you want can be accomplished with a lot of elbow grease and some large flat files - it would take you about a week or two I believe. The cylinder, the barrel, the recoil shields - it all can be done by hand with quite satisfactory results, but it will take time. And lots of it to do it right. As for the blueing - have you considered rust blue? Brownells offers readily made solutions and while that kind of blueing is not 100% historically correct, it does look good and it's sturdy. It has that satin look, but done right it's a great finish. Wish you luck with your project and do keep us informed how it advances!
P.S. I have read some very positive reviews about Art's Belgian Blue solution - it's not an ordinary cold blue (search for the MSDS), but more like a cross between a cold blueing and hot salts blueing. And people are quite satisfied with it's appearance and durability. Here is a link for it: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1861810891/arts-belgian-blue-cold-blue-liquid
I will have to investigate all of your information. The only rust blueing I have ever done was in 1969 when my Dad and I reblued his Winchester Model 12 with Herter's Belgian Blue, which required a hot tank on a Coleman camp stove. It took many hours of applications and steel wool but it turned out very well.
It was very much fun but I am not up to that these days. I would rather have a machinist with an accurate end mill to remove the recoil shields.
Mizar, I do not want a blued frame, rather a case color frame.
Thanks for all of your comments. I am going to sit back and digest it all.
Jim