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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET

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Cold blue removal

I purchased an antique Colt SAA which has been cold blued. I would prefer to have it in the state it was before cold bluing. Is there any way I can remove the cold blue without removing any original finish or patina that might remain?

Bruce Bogart
- Redondo Beach, California, USA
2003

I'm not an antique firearms expert, but bluing solutions react with the raw metal, not patinas or finishes. So if you remove the bluing I believe you will be left with raw steel.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

Bruce, any of the bluing removers I have used will take off all bluing and leave bare metal. You are probably best off just leaving it alone, or find a good gunsmith who can reblue to the original finish.

Good luck,

Ed Kay
- St.Louis, Missouri
2003

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