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Two Dimensional Steel Bluing

I am trying to build a custom 1911 auto pistol. I want the finish to have a bright , deep blue with a custom pattern such as flames or tiger stripes in a slightly darker and permanent finish underneath. I would like to know which steel (Carbon, Stainless, Etc.) would be most suitable and which method of finishing I could use to accomplish this myself. I know the shinier the steel prior to bluing,the deeper the blue appears. I just don't know how to create a darker pattern to make the finish appear 2 dimensional. I look forward to any suggestion you can provide.

Sincerely, Gary Kershner II

Gary Kershner II
Hobbyist Gunsmith - Manassas, VA, U.S.A.
March 16, 2008

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March 18, 2008

You could polish the steel bright, then mask off sections and blast lightly with glass bead, finally hot black oxide ("bluing"). This would give you two different colors and glosses.

Use whatever alloy steel as was used by the factories.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Try chemical blueing.You can use 25 gm lead acetate(poison!)/240 gm sodium thiosulphate ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] /25 gm potassium bitararate/ 1 lit water solution.Instead that solution you can use 25 gm copper acetate [affil links]/280 gm sodium thiosulphate/30 gm citric acid ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] /1 lit water(somewhat less poisonous formula).Longer or shorter immersion = darker or lighter blue.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Croatia
March 20, 2008