Thread: Need help with info.

So I have posted this razor before but I am looking for help. I Repaired firearms for years and after starting this restoration project I am at an impasse. The tang on this razor has been blued as in the finish you put on a gun. Am I going crazy or is this actually blueing on this razor?

you are completely sane and it is blue, some razor mfgs used the blue tangs on blue steel razors. I have a couple. dbl duck did some as well on carbon. slow rust black rust blueing all one in the same. being an inert form of rust I dosent hurt a thing more to protect than harm.

This is the before pictures. Like I said it is a work in progress.
It was my Great Grandfather Hurst's( related to Hurst Castle in Califonia some how).

Originally Posted by kn4wd

you are completely sane and it is blue, some razor mfgs used the blue tangs on blue steel razors. I have a couple. dbl duck did some as well on carbon. slow rust black rust blueing all one in the same. being an inert form of rust I dosent hurt a thing more to protect than harm.

Thank you that helps more than you know. I plan on reblueing it as best I can. What is strange is that it looks like the spine had blue on it as well.

Originally Posted by KingHooper

Thank you that helps more than you know. I plan on reblueing it as best I can. What is strange is that it looks like the spine had blue on it as well.

It did, if a couple razors of mine are any indication!They require a taped spine to hone without wiping off the bluing.

it is a nice looking razor clean it with a good metal polish before the metal get pitted too bad. do you have the recipe for the old slow rust blue method? you should use it on this one it looks different than bluing salts, a lighter more blue metallic color than blue black, imho, would make it pop out at you. I have the recipe here somewhere used it on a knife blade I made once.

Originally Posted by KingHooper

Thank you that helps more than you know. I plan on reblueing it as best I can. What is strange is that it looks like the spine had blue on it as well.

Not that strange really.

I don't know how you intend to re-blue your blade. I have used cold blue with some success (stinks for a while). I feared I would wreck the blade with a hot blue. That said, cold blueing works better at higher temps. Unless you have a heated garage, and assuming you are going to cold blue it - you might want to wait till next summer.

Well - that's my 2 cents anyway . Good luck - cool blade.

if he goes the slow blue way it dosent need heat just a lot of small steps involved. a moisture chamber on something that small could be as simple as a Tupperware or glad storage container with a damp paper towel thrown in. excellent vintage iridescent blue color and very durable. if you ever saw a vintage parker or l.c. smith double you have seen the blue. it never stops getting darker either unless you allow red rust to form under it. a little mineral oil once and a while should make it last a lifetime.

To blue gun barrels-
A very pretty bluish color may be imparted to gun barrels by dressing them off to brightness with fine emery paper, and then rubbing them over quickly with nitric acid. When the desired color has appeared, wash them off with clean water, rub dry with a soft cloth, then rub with linseed oil to prevent any further action of the acid.

THE GUNSMITH'S MANUAL;
A Complete Handbook for the American Gunsmith,
Being a Practical Guide to all Branches of the the Trade.

by J. P. Stelle and WM. B. Harrison

first printing 1883

Blued tangs and spines are not uncommon.

So the second blade is blued thus Blue Diamond
1st blade if Blackened thus a Black Smith.
You are perfectly normal. With you background in gun smithing reblueing yours should be easier for you than those of us who lack that skill set . Nice find