Luger and Break-free

[lboos]

I've have all way's heard that Break-Free clp was one of the best for cleaning and protecting your firearm, One of mine is a WW 2 German Luger 1936 S/42, I just read on another site that you should not use Break-Free on earley Luger's because there finish is rust-blue which is "rust" and that using Break-Free will loosen the rust blue over time, Is he right? Should i stop using it? There are so many Oil's and opin's out there, HELP.

Information

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[Duane Hansen]

Rust Blue is Not rust. There is rust produced on the metal in the process of producing the blued finish. When the process is completed, there is no longer any active rust present. That being said, Break Free will not hurt rust blue finishes.

[lboos]

Thank's Mr. Hansen, What you say makes sence to me,
Break-Free it is.

[Johnny Peppers]

R. H. Angier, who wrote the excellent book "Firearm Blueing and Browning" would tend to disagree with you. From his book on the nature of gun browning, as rust blueing was originally called:

"In principal, it is nothing more than artificial rusting effected by special oxidising mixtures or pastes, which when repeatedly applied and brushed off after taking actin, produce the desired effect."

The makers of the Pennsylvania, or "Kentucky", rifles used the browning to color the barrels and steel or iron parts of their rifles. Without the steaming used in rust blueing, the finish was brown caused by the ferric oxide. When steam is used on the parts being rust blued, the ferric oxide is turned into the much darker ferro-ferric oxide which is the blue color.

[lboos]

Mr. Pepper's, Now im really confused,, Are you saying i should stop using Break-Free or not? Any way Thank you both for your time.

[Johnny Peppers]

I don't know that there is any evidence to show that Break-Free will remove any blueing. I would contact the makers of Break-Free if I had any doubt. Remington Arms used rust blueing up into the 1950's and possibly the early 1960's, and surely someone would have noticed that Break-Free was removing the blue from their rifles and shotguns if there was any problem. I haven't used Break-Free in quite a while, but I feel certain that some of my rust blued guns were protected with Break-Free.
The Springfield 1911 was rust blued.

[lboos]

Thanks for your advice, That is one great looking 1911.

[reichol71]

BreakFree is great...see the following writeup!

Orv

http://www.thegunzone.com/rust.html

[Jim K]

Breakfree was not originally intended as a general lubricant, but as a penetrant to free up rusted or frozen parts (hence the name). I don't know if it would harm rust blue or not, but rust blue is definitely rust and can certainly be removed by rust removers. (I used to remove it that way instead of polishing to preserve the markings and corners on guns like the Luger.) I think I would go easy on the Breakfree and use another cleaner and a good gun oil for lubrication.

As to Remington using rust blue that late, I am a little surprised. I have Remington guns from the 1950's and they are definitely tank blued.

Jim

[Johnny Peppers]

As to Remington using rust blue that late, I am a little surprised. I have Remington guns from the 1950's and they are definitely tank blued.

Jim

I believe the Remington 740 came out in 1955, and it is common to find these rifles with rust blue finishes. It is easy to tell the rust blue finish on these rifles by looking inside the receiver from the bottom. The rust blue solution ran down just inside the receiver, blueing this area, where the remainder of the inside the receiver is still in the white.
The Remington Model 870 was introduced in 1951 and is very common in rust blue finish.
Recently the local gunshop had a Remington Model 760 in .35 Remington brought in to be drilled and tapped for a scope. The rifle was in 99% condition, and the gunsmith couldn't talk the owner, who had just inherited the rifle, from D&T'ing the rifle, which was in rust blue.