Educate me please on Bluing a 1911

[RonGoode]

I'm thinking of getting my local gunsmith to Blue my 1911. I want that old 1911 blue look. What does something like this cost? Does the 1911 have to be broken in? My gunsmith says if I wanted to nickel my 1911 (as I have thought about that too) I have to put 1000 round through the gun first to break it in. What do I need to know about getting my gun a nice satin blue? thanks.

 

[dsk]

It really depends on what you mean by "that old 1911 blue look". Prior to WW2 Colts were furnace blued, also known as "carbonia blue". Ron's Gun Shop in PA (www.ronsgunshop.com) does the bluing for Colt's new WW1 replica under contract, so maybe they're a good place to start.

And yes, definitely run some rounds through it to break it in and knock off those high edges first before refinishing it.