Re-bluing

[Randy A]

I just acquired a Nazi stamped Browning hi-power. It sat in a leather holster since it was brought home in the 40's, there was absolutely no bluing left on it at all, and some rust pitting. Despite advice, then owner tried to cold blu it,,,, needless to say it really looks like doo-doo. This looks bad enough that something must be done. It is an "a" block serial numbered pistol and the stamps are still legible. What do I need to be looking for as far as bluing, I know nothing about it, color, etc. Then, any recommendations on who to send it to?

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[browningautorifle]

I'm sure you'll get the phone book from these guys but here goes... I had the exact same gun with the exact same problem back in 1976 or so. I just took it to a licenced local gunsmith and had him do a mat blue. I think he used a liquid stripping process and not bead blasted and blued. That would have cost much more than I had to cough up. If you reblue it it's got no collector value. If you want a polish and blue then just have the gunsmith be careful not to remove any stampings present. He can hand polish and it will look like the first day all over again. I don't think the blue on those guns was as dark as one might expect. I have seen some that were quite light. Your local phone book will have a name or two for you. Just ask locally about their reputation. It's not magic!

[Warren]

Most if not all Nazi Hi-Powers had a very thin almost brown finish. I cannot recall ever seeing one with the high grade finish to typical to Browning. Are you sure it is cold blue (smell it and you can tell). If just a plum brown, I'd leave it as is. Your gun and your call, but check under the grips and see if it just a plum brown finish first.

[Randy A]

The service member that brought it home from Europe, left it in a 1917 holster since he brought it home. After passing in 1996 his son sold it to a friend of mine not having any idea what it was, it was entirely rusted (from the holster) and the friend didn't hesitate to completely scrub it w/ steel wool. That's when I first saw it, by the time he finally decided to sell it to me he'd tried a cold blu. I think anyone would agree on re bluing if they saw it. I looked under the grips, but believe that he blu'd that too, I'll have to talk to him again. I looked online and saw one that was plum brown and couple more that were blue.

[browningautorifle]

We get back to what YOU want to do. I suggest a licenced gunsmith, and he will talk things through with you until you are comfortable with what's going to happen. The one I re-did sure looked good in dark blue, and by the way I shot the crap out of it. I was regular army at the time, so it was all ball ammo.

[ibuymilitaria]

You want the cold blue off use pure lemon juice that should do it. So I was told at one time. Try it what do you have to lose.

[gj.atkins]

Dont know if you still want a regular effective bluing formulae but I use caustic soda crystals and potasium nitrate powder in a bath. approx two thirds caustic , one third pot. nitrate. add water to cover part , boil up for about 10-20 minuets.Goes a nice durable blue.

John