Different Tool - gun bluing

dhermesc · Nov 18, 2015

I'm looking at reblueing or having someone reblue a little Ruger .22 Standard with a 6" barrel. The finish is nearly gone on the barrel and receiver, fair on the handle. No pitting or rust to speak of.

Anyone had decent luck with cold bluing or know of a fair place that does hot bluing with charging an arm and a leg?

caterpillar guy · Nov 18, 2015

Rebluing it will detract from the value if that is an issue for this item. I don't know where you live but Gerry's Gunsmithing used to do hot bluing I believe. He's in Chesaning MI

D beatty · Nov 18, 2015

I have done cold bluing on rifle barrel. Hand gun I would have somebody do it. Did you ever tried calling Ruger ? I haven known several people that ruger reblued gun with no charge. If blueing job is done right you won't know the defferance from new gun.

pete 23 · Nov 18, 2015

My older brother used to blue firearms . It is a messy stinky job at best. His rates were extremely reasonable and people brought him more work than he really needed or wanted to do. Lot of labor taking all the parts out as some parts the bluing salts will eat up. I did cold blue an old 22 for a friend a couple years ago but that is just a quick , make it look a little better deal as it will wear off easily. I had him blue my father in laws old 22 Winchester pump I inherited about 50 years ago. It was so pitted from being out in the garage for years that you can still see the pits through the finish. It still looks and works good though. Not very accurate due to neglect in barrel all those years but ok. Brother did cut off the last inch or two of beat up barrel and put on new front sight. Lot of work.

DGinVT · Nov 18, 2015

If at all possible I would contact Ruger and ask them how much, if anything. It is well worth it as they can go thru it mechanically as well as reblue. In the long run you will be happier. Been there done that.

crwilson · Nov 18, 2015

If it is a Ruger, all you have to do is call them and they will issue you a call tag, send UPS to pick it up, fix it and ship it back to you for nothing. This is the reason that Ruger has no warranty on thier guns. They are always under warranty. If you find one in a mud hole that will not work; all you have to do is call them and they will fix it, no questions asked. Don't you wish everything was like this?

Charlie in NY · Nov 18, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:12:01 11/18/15) I'm looking at reblueing or having someone reblue a little Ruger .22 Standard with a 6" barrel. The finish is nearly gone on the barrel and receiver, fair on the handle. No pitting or rust to speak of.

Anyone had decent luck with cold bluing or know of a fair place that does hot bluing with charging an arm and a leg?

Ruger will do it - correctly - for $110. http://www.ruger.com/service/serviceFees.html

I've had mixed results with cold bluing. I use a product called Formula 44/40 from Brownells.

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/metal-bluing/liquid-cold-bluing-chemicals/formula-44-40-instant-gun-blue-prod1112.aspx

This is excellent for touch-up on (non-stainless) steel. I've done larger wear areas, some take it better than others. With any firearm watch out for aluminum or stainless components. Aluminum takes a different product (aka "Aluminum Black").

dr sportster · Nov 18, 2015

I can picture Pawn Stars 30 years from now when the gun is before Chumlee Jr. " Well, it has been reblued but being that you have the paperwork that it was done at the Ruger factory it is worth way more than if reblued by just any gunsmith"

dhermesc · Nov 18, 2015

Given the fact that hundreds of thousands of this gun are out there, the "standard" was in production from 1949 to 1981 and its neither the first or the last I doubt it has much value as a collectable in its current state.

dhermesc · Nov 18, 2015

You are mistaking Ruger for HiPoint. Ruger specifically charges for "refurbishment" of their weapons - although it is a flat fee - see the above post.

If you find the remains of a HiPoint and send it in they will repair or replace their weapon no matter how it was damaged.

dhermesc · Nov 18, 2015

I think that is what happened to a Ruger Security 6 I own. The bluing nearly looks like paint, very thick and shiny for a 40 year old firearm. When I bought it I knew little about that model and thought it was only a year or two old. Now I notice that it has a few pits that were not sanded out when it was reblued.

oldsarge · Nov 18, 2015

I really don't think I would pay $110 to re-blue my Mk 1 when I only paid $27.00 for it new!!!!!!!!!!!

RGMartin · Nov 18, 2015

Might be most cost effective to do one of the paint type finishes. Duracote or similar.

Seems silly spending 110 plus, $30 return, plus whatever it cost to get to Ruger, on a gun that can be bought for a little over $300 new.

Butch(OH) · Nov 19, 2015

Bluing done right costs money and there are reasons for it, I used to do it. Bluing done wrong is cheap,, take your choice but be aware that any reblue job will at it's very best not hurt the value over leaving it alone to a knowledgeable buyer. Anything less then the best rebluing job will detract from the value. If the piece doesn't have any sentimental value and you want best bang for the buck Choice 1 would be sell it as-is and buy another one in good shape. Choice 2 is send it to Ruger as suggested, it wont look new but will look decent if they refinish it.

dhermesc · Nov 19, 2015

Try buying it now. In decent shape a real Mk1 usually runs about $280 or more (some times a lot more) in good condition.

For the $110 they do go through the weapon and refurbish it - firing pin damaged - its replaced, springs getting weak, a new ones put on. From what I know for the $110 about they only thing they don't do is give you is a new barrel or frame (maybe). Grips, sights, etc... are all repaired or replaced for the $110 along with the blue work.

D beatty · Nov 19, 2015

I have a buddy that owned a gun shop and have seen a few guns that Ruger reblued at no charge. I saw a Ruger single action 44 mag that a guy was running his own hot reloads through and blew a chunk out of cylinder and messed up the forcing cone. Ruger replaced the cylinder and barrel and reblued the whole gun at no charge. Ruger sent a letter with it telling him to not use his reloads but buy factory loads.

Donald Lehman · Nov 19, 2015

As a former gun dealer, I would suggest the best way to handle any Ruger repair, including bluing would be to send it back to Ruger themselves. I would simply ask them to check it over mechanically and re-blue. In my experience, whatever Ruger charges you will be a bargain. What you paid for the gun is irrelevant by today's standards same as what you paid for a 1950's vintage tractor is irrelevant to todays cost of repair. The Ruger is one of the finest, most reliable .22 pistols ever made. It's worth whatever Ruger charges you to refurbish it.

dhermesc · Nov 19, 2015

I checked that out. They quit doing that about 4-5 years ago. If its a newer weapon they'll do a lot of "free" stuff but older ones not so much. A while back I called them about my 10-22 (1980s) that had enough rounds run through it that I was getting weak firing pin strikes and lots of FTFs. They had nothing "free" to offer for it.

Different Tool - gun bluing

dhermesc

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caterpillar guy

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D beatty

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pete 23

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DGinVT

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crwilson

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Charlie in NY

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dhermesc

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