Why is it called blued when it's black?

[KJS]

Clearly not a very important question, just something that's always seemed odd.

 

[Prosser]

Comes out different colors. I remember the deep blue of the Colts I've had.
I had one gun come out a plum black combination.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, some bluing will be light and some very dark and looks like black.

The real question is, what do we call the finish on the S&W M442, M340, M360 and other "blue/black" alloy revolvers???

 

[KJS]

I remember the deep blue of the Colts I've had.

Interesting. I'm a relative novice who's only seen guns that are definitely black.

I'd love to see pics if anybody here has a blue beauty they'd like to show off.

 

[Prosser]

Colt Trooper Blued by JRH I wish I'd never sold:


A custom presentation grade bluing by Ed Tilson:


My Seville, gone now, had a plum color in the bluing:
it is the middle gun:

Check the trigger color, it was 'blued' as well.

 

[KJS]

^Thanks, Proser. Those are indeed some very nice looking revolvers. Some of them look slightly blue depending on how the light hits them, though if I had to pick a color I'd say they're black.

 

[BaltimoreBoy]

Speculation only:

The original chemical finishing technique was called 'browning' and used different chemicals. I think that may be the origin of the name 'Brown Bess'.

When they invented a new chemical formula for controlled corrosion they wanted a new name. It looked different and was kind of blue black so they called it 'bluing'. They probably wouldn't want to call it 'blacking' because that term was already in use for some kind of black polish one put on cast iron stoves and the like.

 

[tpelle]

Kids these days! Just because somebody paints their gun black but calls it blue, you all think that's all there ever was!

 

[cackalak]

I almost want to ask what you think hot dogs are made of.



Happy 4th.

 

[RETG]

Some look to me as blue and black.

I had a Vette with what they called a Blue Roof. It was black from the outside looking in, but inside looking out it was blue.

Could the blueing of the gun be due to different ways light hits it?

 

[unspellable]

Just to add to the confusion, the Brits often do call it blacking.

 

[32 Magnum]

Here's an H&R Auto Ejecting revolver made in 1898 with a blue finish. This gun was NIB when I bought it. Check the color.

 

[MachIVshooter]

There are many, many shades of blue, but only one shade of black. I've never seen a blued gun that was truly black.

 

[GRIZ22]

A hot water blue comes out, well....a deep blue.

 

[postalnut25]

I sent a Colt Three Fifty Seven back to the factory for a re-blue job. The Royal Blue came back so deep it looks black most of the time. When it catches the light right, you can see bue and purple undertones that are just magnificent. I don't have any pictures that can do it justice.

 

[oneounceload]

When they invented a new chemical formula for controlled corrosion they wanted a new name. It looked different and was kind of blue black so they called it 'bluing'. They probably wouldn't want to call it 'blacking' because that term was already in use for some kind of black polish one put on cast iron stoves and the like.

As someone else mentioned, in the British Gun trade, and in the high-end shotgun world, having your barrels blackened, or reblacked is the common term

IIRC, the various methods of bluing can also have an effect as to how it can be perceived

 

[Jim K]

FWIW, the German word for blued is "brüniert".

The color of the bluing depends a lot on refraction, which in turn depends on the polishing. A very smooth finish, with only the smallest of scratches will give a black color. A less-well polished finish, with tiny scratches to break up the light reflections will give a blue color, especially outside under a blue sky. Rust blue has a rough surface (like smooth rust, which it is) and diffraction results in a blue color in most llight. (Don't shine your Maglite on your beautiful Luger or you might need the EMTs!)

Other colors can come from various metals in the steel alloy or from contaminants in the bluing salts.

Jim

 

[Jac]

If you think that's confusing, how 'bout laundry bluing, that makes whites whiter?

 

[Cosmoline]

I think part of it is that modern processes tend to produce a blacker blue. It may be an urban myth, but I've heard that the Royal Blue of Colt was very difficult to produce and required a lot of time and multiple treatments. The end result is hard to capture with a camera, but on the high end models the blue is so deep you could swim in it. Modern revolvers tend to be more utilitarian.

 

[BigG]

Colt Diamondback

 

[BigG]

S&W 44 Magnum

 

[AirForceShooter]

If you ever get the chance take a look at
"Colt Royal Blue"

It's not made any more, thank you EPA

AFS

 

[Rexster]

Blued guns surely do look blue, to my eyes.

 

[mec]

there was a time when they called it "browned" even when it was blue or black (of course some of it really was brown). Carbona finish shows quite a bit of blue:

 

[Almond27]

BigG, Love that Smith and Wesson.