Can you have just the end of a barrel re blued?

[hometheaterman]

So my hunting rifle has the bluing on the end of the barrel worn off. I guess from riding in a truck or something with the end of the barrel resting on the floor. The end has it and it comes back maybe half an inch on the sides. Is there anyway to have just this reblued or would you have to have the whole barrel reblued?

 

[highorder]

A simple dab of cold blue will do if it bothers you.

 

[hometheaterman]

How exactly does cold blue work? I thought about that but read it wasn't a good idea in most cases. I hate to put something that will look like crap on a Browning. However, would it look fine in that small of a spot? Also how easy would it be to keep it out of the barrel. I don't want to get any in the rifling. That's what I was worried about. Or does it not run or anything?

 

[dakotasin]

if you re-blue just the end, the colormatch will be atrocious.

don't worry about it getting in your barrel - won't hurt anything and will shoot itself shiny, exactly like what most likely happened to the end of your barrel anyway. one thing well used rifles have in common, and some not used much, is the blue wore off around the muzzle.

 

[Horsemany]

Actually muzzle wear is usually the easiest to touch up with cold blue because it is gradually worn off. I'd use Perma Blue paste and blend it in. It will not be very durable so try to change whatever you were doing to cause it. It should take 3 or 4 60 second coats. Lightly buff with steel wool between coats and wipe with a water soaked paper towel. Wash with water to neutralize and oil it well to prevent flashrusting. I've done a few you can't even tell under good lights.

 

[jmr40]

I've used cold blue to touch up areas where the blue has worn thin on guns for years. It won't completely reblue the areas to look new, but it makes it look much less noticeable and does improve the looks.

 

[cz85cmbt]

I agree, this is the best application of cold blue. I find perma blue matches dark blues and ox pho blu from brownells matches more dull blues or grayish blues. I had a couple thin areas on a k31 and a scratch on the receiver, used perma blue and you can't tell with a magnifying glass 5 years later.

 

[natman]

Most cold blues are applied with a Q-tip, so it is easy to control how much and where it goes. On such a small area you can get a good match with careful application and polishing with clean 0000 steel wool. Soak the tufts of steel wool you are going to use in gunscrubber or brake cleaner and let dry (outside!). Cold blue goes on better if the metal is warm, so warm it up with a hair dryer.