Period Correct Bluing Model 1897 Shotgun

T

The Rattler

New member
I refinished the stocks on my Model 1897 shotgun that was made either in 1915 or 1913 depending upon which website you use. I used Pilkington’s red-brown Classic Gunstock Finish on them that is recommended by some for pre-64 finish correctness. I now am considering having the metal reblued. If I do it, I would like to do it as close to the original bluing as practicable.

1. Was the bluing on Model 1897s originally matt, glossy, or what?

2. Do any of you have pictures that would guide me? Or, perhaps links to websites that would guide me?

3. Are there gunsmiths who do a good job of period correct bluing? If so, kindly give me their names and contact information, if possible.

I will not do any of the bluing myself, so I need to give the refinisher as much descriptive guidance as possible.

Thank you very much.

PS: I refinished the stocks because both of them were very badly soaked in lubricating oil. The entire neck of the buttstock was black with one line going the entire length and the exiting at the butt end cut & discoloring it there.
 
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It would have originally been rust blued, with a finish somewhere between satin and high gloss.

Hot salt bluing won't achieve the same color. But rust bluing is a very expensive proposition today. Very labor intensive, and labor is far more expensive now.
Pick your poison.
 
As above many older guns were rust blued.
This is a very labor intensive process that gives a more satin finish then modern hot salts bluing, but a finish that's more durable then hot salts.
The color is more blue then the blue-black of modern bluing.

Due to the high level of hand labor rust bluing is more expensive.
Here's some people who do it so you can contact them for an estimate of cost.

http://turnbullrestoration.com/ (Really hold on to your wallet with Turnbull.
They're the best in the world and charge accordingly).

http://www.ronsgunshop.com/

Rust bluing is a finish you can do on a kitchen stove, but is messy and time consuming.
 
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