| There are two basic types of firearms | | | | rust get started. Just as with bluing, they |
| finishes. Those that cause a change in the | | | | must be periodically refinished for maximum |
| color of the surface metal of a firearm and | | | | protection. This is one area where they are |
| those that are applied to the surface but do | | | | inferior to bluing. Bluing my be stripped off |
| not change the basic nature of the surface | | | | and a new finish applied with relative ease. |
| material. The first group of finishes | | | | Plated finishes must be removed by special |
| consists of what is referred to as "bluing or | | | | stripping processes, preferably by the |
| browning" while the latter category comprises | | | | original plater. Since there are several |
| the majority of other finishes available. The | | | | plating processes available, each a little |
| purpose of this monograph is to briefly | | | | bit different, they often require a special |
| discuss the nature of bluing, the most common | | | | stripping process only available from someone |
| firearm finish, and then to discuss the | | | | using that particular process. While there |
| applied finishes. | | | | are some processes available that claim to |
| | | | strip almost any plated finish, they must be |
| Bluing (or browning) is, most commonly, a | | | | used with the utmost care. I have seen |
| modified form of rusting created under | | | | several pistols damaged by their use. |
| strictly controlled conditions to produce a | | | | |
| cosmetically pleasing finish on steel. In | | | | There is another form of applied finish. This |
| industrial applications, it is referred to as | | | | is applied by hand by either dipping or |
| black oxide. In the older methods, a solution | | | | spraying and offers the dark color of bluing |
| was wiped on the clean part and then the part | | | | along with the greater rust resistance of the |
| was allowed to develop a fine rust. This rust | | | | plated finishes. Its wear characteristics are |
| was carded off and the part wiped again with | | | | better than bluing but not as good as |
| the solution. This process continued until | | | | plating. Teflon finishes and our TAF-1 finish |
| the desired color was produced. The process | | | | are examples of this type. We feel that the |
| is still sometimes used today on higher | | | | TAF-1 is superior in wear to Teflon and that |
| quality firearms and those, such as double | | | | is why we offer it. Both the TAF-1 and Teflon |
| barreled shotguns, which would be damaged by | | | | finishes are available in a low luster black |
| the more aggressive modern methods. The | | | | which looks very well on a firearm. They can |
| process is known today as the cold rust | | | | also be stripped by normal abrasive blasting |
| method. | | | | which means they do not require the special |
| | | | preparation that a plated finish does when |
| The more modern method of bluing is to use a | | | | they must be refinished. Another benefit of |
| bath of caustic chemicals heated to about 285 | | | | the TAF-1 finish is that it may be applied to |
| degrees F. The parts to be blued are | | | | both aluminum and stainless steel as well as |
| chemically cleaned and then immersed in the | | | | the more common carbon steel. This allows |
| bluing bath for about 1/2 hour until they | | | | these two metals the protection of an applied |
| reach the desired color. In both types of | | | | finish for use under adverse conditions. I |
| bluing, the surface of the metal is | | | | once rusted several parts of a stainless |
| chemically changed and the finish is in the | | | | steel pistol while carrying it concealed over |
| metal. | | | | a period of a week in our hot Arizona summer. |
| | | | Applying a TAF-1 finish not only made the |
| As a side note, there is another form of | | | | pistol less conspicuous, but it also |
| coloring, not commonly encountered today, | | | | prevented any recurrence of the rusting |
| called heat bluing. This is the controlled | | | | problem. |
| heating of the part watching as it changes | | | | |
| colors. The part is quenched in oil when the | | | | As can be seen from the foregoing synopsis, |
| proper color is obtained. This was the | | | | the choice of finish for a pistol is more |
| process used to color certain parts of the | | | | complex than some would have us believe. |
| Parabellum or Luger pistol. | | | | Bluing is an excellent first finish for a |
| | | | pistol. It is relatively inexpensive, holds |
| The second major form of firearms finish is | | | | up relatively well except under harsh |
| the class known as applied finishes. These | | | | operational use and does not change any of |
| finishes are applied to the surface of the | | | | the parts tolerances. It is a very good |
| metal and do not change the basic nature of | | | | choice to use while you are setting up your |
| the surface metal. By their nature, they are | | | | pistol and getting all of the work done on it |
| far more rust resistant than bluing. They | | | | you want. If you decide you want something |
| also tend to be more expensive which is why | | | | changed (different sights, trigger or |
| they are not more common. These applied | | | | mainspring housing for example) it is not a |
| finishes range from common paint to plated | | | | major problem. With a plated slide, for |
| finishes. | | | | example, the plating must be stripped before |
| | | | most sights could be mounted and then the |
| The British used a painted finish on a number | | | | slide re-plated. After you have your pistol |
| of their service arms. The paint was easier | | | | set up exactly as you want it, it is time to |
| to apply than bluing, provided greater rust | | | | consider a better finish. |
| resistance and was less expensive. It also | | | | |
| had the property, in the proper color, of | | | | The plated finishes will change dimensional |
| being less likely to reflect light- a prime | | | | tolerances. Parts that functioned perfectly |
| consideration on both the battle field and | | | | before may cause problems after the plating. |
| hunting field. The painted finishes were | | | | This is particularly true with tightly fitted |
| relatively easily damaged, but could be | | | | parts such as match barrel bushings, |
| easily touched up with a small bottle of | | | | beavertail grip safeties and tightened |
| paint. American ski troops often used white | | | | slides. Trigger pull characteristics (weight |
| painted weapons. With the proper paint, this | | | | of pull and crispness of pull) may be |
| is still an acceptable finish for inexpensive | | | | affected. This is the main reason we do not |
| firearms. | | | | offer plated finishes. Additionally, after a |
| | | | number of years of experience with these |
| Plating is another form of applied finish. It | | | | finishes, we have found no one who can |
| comes in two forms-electro plating and | | | | consistently turn out a top quality finish. |
| electroless plating. Electro plating is | | | | This requires some pistols to be returned to |
| applied by passing an electrical current | | | | the plater to be finished again, delaying the |
| through a part suspended in a plating | | | | return of the pistol to the client. |
| solution. Hard chrome is applied this way and | | | | |
| produces a very hard finish as its name | | | | After much experimentation, we have adopted |
| implies. It produces a white-silver finish | | | | the TAF-1 finish as our most rust resistant |
| and may be either shiny or matte. Nickel may | | | | finish. It will wear, but still provides |
| be applied by the electrical method. In this | | | | greater wear resistance than bluing. If you |
| case, the part is plated with copper first | | | | holster is cleaned periodically with a clean |
| and then the nickel is plated to the copper. | | | | tooth brush and then blown out with |
| Both processes produce a very rust resistant | | | | compressed air, the finish will suffer less |
| finish with good wear characteristics. Both | | | | abrasion. This holds true with all types of |
| will, however, eventually wear through and | | | | finish. The ability of TAF-1 to be applied to |
| can let rust get under the surface. | | | | all types of metal allows us to offer a dark |
| | | | finish for stainless steel and aluminum. In |
| Electroless nickel plating can be applied to | | | | the areas where wear occurs, it can be |
| both carbon steel and aluminum. It is | | | | touched up with cold blue (for carbon steel) |
| available in either a shiny or a matte | | | | or with flat black model paint (any surface) |
| finish. Like the hard chrome it is very rust | | | | to reduce glare. Since these areas are worn |
| resistant and long wearing. Also like hard | | | | away through abrasive action, all finishes |
| chrome it can allow rust to get into the part | | | | will eventually show this wear, but only |
| and pit it. I have a Colt Commander slide | | | | TAF-1 and bluing may be touched up in this |
| that was electroless nickeled which shows a | | | | manner. Most importantly, we do not find the |
| great deal of minor pitting where it rests | | | | build up of the TAF-1 finish to cause the |
| against the body in a Summer Special holster. | | | | dimensional problems that we have found with |
| After a number of years of concealed wear, | | | | the plated finishes, making it easier to set |
| the area above the thumb safety had turned | | | | the pistol up properly and then apply the |
| black. When the finish was stripped, numerous | | | | finish without having to worry about how |
| small pits were discovered. All of your | | | | plating will affect the final fit of the |
| plated finishes offer much greater rust | | | | parts. If there is a problem, it is easily |
| resistance and much better wear | | | | solved and the pistol refinished without |
| characteristics than bluing, but even with | | | | having to ship it back to the plater. |
| the best of care, they will wear off and let | | | | |