Rust Bluing and stock finishing
Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:43 pm
Now I had a pickup to fix today, but my shop was far too messy, a bathroom remodel and previous vehicle repairs takes its toll when you often put off cleaning up, so what should I do? Well I better "use" this time well cleaning up to do something.
What better to do than a process that isn't much work its mostly just waiting.
I fully disassembled my Faux Short Rifle, was previously a Kirk Stokes short rifle but now has a 22 inch sporter action swapped in.
I was planning on only linseed oiling my stock today but I just couldn't take the beat up Butt plate, wire wheeled magazine door and side plate, also the rear sling swivel didn't match anything else. Now I will tell you never ever wire wheel a gun part, this is inproper and looks horrible. This is how I had purchased it.
First if all you want is to neutralize rust then boil all parts in distilled water and that will convert it into rust blue, and then scrub parts with 0000 steel wool. Now I would recommend this and this only for a Collectable Krag, maybe this is even too far, but even oiled that rust will eat away at the metal and I currently know of no other way that doesn't remove finish.
Now an anatomy of the parts and their factory finish, (I am by no means an expert but this is what I have found through my research) Also if your Krag has not been Arsenal Refurbished and it is in military configuration with case hardened parts you are losing much value and collectibility to refinish it in any way, if it has been Arsenal Refurbished and many of the original case hardened have been rust blued, then refinishing may still devalue, but it will bring it back to its former Refurbished days.
BOLT BODY IS POLISHED, UNBLUED!
Case hardened and quenched in water AS FOLLOWS
Buttplate trapdoor, Trigger
Case hardened and quenched in oil AS FOLLOWS
Reciever, Magazine door, Sideplate, extractor, bolt sleeve, bolt shroud
Rust blued AS FOLLOWS
Barrel, Buttplate,
Niter blued AS FOLLOWS
Barrel bands, both front and rear. Sling swivels, Trigger guard
Heat blued then quenched in oil AS FOLLOWS
Screws
Now if your Krag has this original finish and it is worn, especially the case hardened parts, there is much reason to leave it as is, as the case hardened and quenched in oil can not really be duplicated easily. There is a few parts here left out as I am unsure of the finishes
Now if your Krag has been arsenal Refurbished this the correct finishes
Rust blued AS FOLLOWS
Barrel, Reciever, Magazine door, Sideplate, Buttplate,
Niter blued AS FOLLOWS
Bands front and rear, sling swivels, screws,
If your Krag has a Mottled finish on the case hardened parts then this is likely the original finish.
Now for the instructions, I will update this thread throughout the day as I have time, with pictures and instructions
What better to do than a process that isn't much work its mostly just waiting.
I fully disassembled my Faux Short Rifle, was previously a Kirk Stokes short rifle but now has a 22 inch sporter action swapped in.
I was planning on only linseed oiling my stock today but I just couldn't take the beat up Butt plate, wire wheeled magazine door and side plate, also the rear sling swivel didn't match anything else. Now I will tell you never ever wire wheel a gun part, this is inproper and looks horrible. This is how I had purchased it.
First if all you want is to neutralize rust then boil all parts in distilled water and that will convert it into rust blue, and then scrub parts with 0000 steel wool. Now I would recommend this and this only for a Collectable Krag, maybe this is even too far, but even oiled that rust will eat away at the metal and I currently know of no other way that doesn't remove finish.
Now an anatomy of the parts and their factory finish, (I am by no means an expert but this is what I have found through my research) Also if your Krag has not been Arsenal Refurbished and it is in military configuration with case hardened parts you are losing much value and collectibility to refinish it in any way, if it has been Arsenal Refurbished and many of the original case hardened have been rust blued, then refinishing may still devalue, but it will bring it back to its former Refurbished days.
BOLT BODY IS POLISHED, UNBLUED!
Case hardened and quenched in water AS FOLLOWS
Buttplate trapdoor, Trigger
Case hardened and quenched in oil AS FOLLOWS
Reciever, Magazine door, Sideplate, extractor, bolt sleeve, bolt shroud
Rust blued AS FOLLOWS
Barrel, Buttplate,
Niter blued AS FOLLOWS
Barrel bands, both front and rear. Sling swivels, Trigger guard
Heat blued then quenched in oil AS FOLLOWS
Screws
Now if your Krag has this original finish and it is worn, especially the case hardened parts, there is much reason to leave it as is, as the case hardened and quenched in oil can not really be duplicated easily. There is a few parts here left out as I am unsure of the finishes
Now if your Krag has been arsenal Refurbished this the correct finishes
Rust blued AS FOLLOWS
Barrel, Reciever, Magazine door, Sideplate, Buttplate,
Niter blued AS FOLLOWS
Bands front and rear, sling swivels, screws,
If your Krag has a Mottled finish on the case hardened parts then this is likely the original finish.
Now for the instructions, I will update this thread throughout the day as I have time, with pictures and instructions