So what would cause the bluing to be lighter at the end of the barrel?

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hometheaterman

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So I have a Remington 1100 Magnum that I picked up maybe a month ago or so. Not sure exactly but I haven't had it that long. Anyway, this thing is in amazing shape for it's age. It's a 1978 according to Remington. I'd say this thing is easily in 99% condition. like 3 very very small scratches on the wood and I can't find any scratches on the metal. However, the last about 2" or so of the barrel the bluing looks lighter than the rest of it. You can only see this if you hold it up so the light shines on it or so the sun hits it just right. Almost like it's not as much there. Not really like it's worn off from riding in a truck or anything as the end of the barrel isn't all worn and beat up but it's like it's slightly lighter for the last 2" or so all the way around.

Is there something that causes this? Was it a factory defect or has it been re blued? Is there a way to tell if it's been re blued? The previous owner said it was original as far as he knew but he wasn't the original owner either. Like I said this thing is in darn near perfect shape other than that. I'm just curious what the story behind that is.
 
Well, I will hazard a guess.

The last two inches of barrel is where the choke was formed in it.
Perhaps that section of barrel is harder, or hardened more then the rest of the barrel.
Harder steel does not take bluing to the same degree as less hard steel.
So, maybe it just wore off more from going in & out of gun cases and normal cleaning?

Or it could be the first owner stood it in a duck blind and held the gun by the muzzle with sweaty hands to keep it from falling over in the mud? :D

Or it had light rust on it in that area at some point and part of the bluing came off with the rust.

But I'm just guessing and really don't have a clue!

rc
 
I agree with rc

My first reaction is gun case wear.
However, the way you explain it, it seems pretty even.

rc's Comment about the Choke and hardened metal seems most logical.
 
Well, it's not perfectly even where it's worn. It's like it's lighter but the whole lighter part isn't perfectly the same shade.
 
Perhaps the person always used a particular gun case that was not padded very well at the end 2" around the muzzle.

That would cause what you are describing, but would be an anomaly that would be hard to investigate unless you had the original case that was used for the gun.
 
I'll venture that the end has been inserted into a gun case and has been worn just a tad more than the rest of the gun - maybe a nice sheepskin fleece case or a felt padded one........

I have my dad's 1950 pre model 10 that saw a lot of holster time over 33 years; the end of the barrel's bluing is worn, while the rest of the barrel is just fine - same analogy
 
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