Patina???

toad67

March 04, 2010 06:38

I have an SKB O/U shotgun that was made in '94. When the light hits the barrels just right it looks as if the barrels are actually a little more brown than blue. There is absolutely no rust or pitting at all. I am thinking that this is some sort of patina or am I not thinking correctly? I thought that patina comes with age, and that 15 or so years is not old enough for this to start. Thanks.

Todd

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  beantownshootah

  March 04, 2010 07:21

  Remember, all gun bluing is basically a form of controlled rusting.
  
  Some bluing starts off as more of a plum/brown color.
  
  Some ordinary "blued" guns may look a bit brown if a hard light is shined on them. This tendency may become more pronounced as guns get older, and its probably what is going on with your gun.
  
  Along the same lines, with lots of time (usually decades if not longer), many blued guns will eventually turn brown. Its because the blue ferrous iron oxide slowly converts to brown (red/rust) ferric iron oxide.
  
  I suggest just keeping your gun oiled to prevent true rust or corrosion.

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  rwfixem

  March 04, 2010 18:27

  Modern hot caustic salts will produce a brown/plum color on some steels instead of a black(blue) color. This also has to do with chemical makeup of salts,time&temp of bath, rinse/cleanup,oiling afterwards,and most important original polish and prep of metal before bluing.

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