Bluing a freshly cut crown

[WestKentucky]

I just received a contender barrel that I traded for. Condition is exactly as described and I have zero qualms about it, but I do want to fix a couple small issues, all of which involve bluing. The barrel is now 10” where it was originally a 14” but the barrel was cut and crowned. The crown looks great and I truthfully don’t think it’s been fired since it got crowned. If it has it hasn’t been fired much. The crown though is in the white. There are some other areas where the bluing has rubbed through against the forearm. I know cold blue doesn’t work well long term so I’m looking for other advice. I have heard of wipe on bluing kits that use a heat gun of sorts to “hot blue at home” and I’m interested but it also sounds like a good way to wreck a gun that only needs a little help. Point me in the right direction. I have other things to do once this barrel is looking better.

 

[gobsauce]

Show us some pictures, it'll help give us a better idea of it looks.

 

[milboltnut]

after thoroughly cleaning it with degreaser and steel wool, heat the crown till warm to the touch. Apply cold bluing and let dry. 000 wool to clean off residue and use some vasoline to sit 24 hours. If it's not dark enough, do again until you like it.

 

[Bandit67]

I used Brownells Oxpho-blue to restore a beat up old 1906 .22 pump. (Did it because I wanted to and because it's MY gun). Anyways it came out beautiful. Only time will tell how durable it is but if it wears off I'll just do it again.

 

[milboltnut]

Look great !

 

[Riomouse911]

The crown will have a touch of bluing taken off with every shot, so the heat-then-home blue method above will work initially... and then it’ll work any time in the future that you want to bring it back to the unfired look again.

When you select a process show us how it turns out

Stay safe.

 

[WestKentucky]

Pics are hard with polished things.

 

[BRatigan]

I have used the hot blue torch method before and when I did I used brown bluing first and then Oxpho. It came out very deeply colored. I believe the temperature range was around 140F.