Finish treatments?

Would any of the more experienced restoration folk offer up an opinion here?

This is an all original Blue Diamond razor. The tang has an amazing sapphire blue coloration to it, that blends to a purple as it approaches the heal of the blade. it has a translucent semi iridescence that reminds me of case hardening. But judging from the wear marks, it is little more than an thin coating of some sort.

Would anybody know how this was achieved? A form of anodizing perhaps? I have never seen gun bluing of this coloration before, but perhaps a similar method?
Pic is not the best, but it should give you a good enough idea what I am talking about. I will try and get a better one in daylight if you think it will help.
I want to restore an older blue diamond, and have no clue what to do.
Attachment 116646

wow, I dont think I have ever seen a question in the workshop go unanswered before!

Hang in there, somebody will know the answer. :beer2:

Bet a nickel it was a sort of blueing salt applied after it was nice &i shiney

My Genco Easy Aces has a tang like that - the iridescence you describe is something to behold. Would love to see it replicated, modern bluing doesn't compare!

I wonder if the same anodizing proceedure for titanium would take and replicate the coloring?

Could it be a Ti coating? Usually a coating of any of the Titanium based "hardeners" produces an iridescence. Tiodizing produces a very friction-free surface for some of the work I do. It could be something similar!

Looks like old fashion Nitric acid rust blue.You see the same on Old winchester rifles.
It can be done at home but is a labourious process.
Takes about two weeks to do a rifle barrel.

I cant say I have ever seen a rust blue like this. Maybe EisenFaust can get us a picture of his? my photographic skills are lacking!

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Originally Posted by Magpie

I cant say I have ever seen a rust blue like this. Maybe EisenFaust can get us a picture of his? my photographic skills are lacking!

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Most likely because it is worn.

Could be the colour left after tempering. If the blade was polished before tempering or a second tempering was done after the polishing stage the steel would form a colour on the surface. The colour would vary depending on temperature. Blue/purple are very close on the temp scale and both colours would form if tempered around 560degF. The hollow was probably polished again to remove the colour but the tang/tail left.
I recently made my own razor and got yellow, gold, red, blue and purple all on the same blade, although the colour was much deeper than on yours. I could be wrong though and it may be a bluing compound or something else.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Most likely because it is worn.

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This was my thought too, Bluing can take on a completely different look as it ages

If you see a Pre 64 Winchester or an older Weatherby the has been lovingly rubbed with a soft oil rag over the years there is a look that it develops that is near impossible to match right outta the Bluing baths...

So true Glen,another perfect example are the 1886 winchesters,they turn purple over the yrs.Also if you can look at a N.O.S orig colt python,you can see the purple under the blue.If I could get Nitric acid (cannot in Kali) would give it a shot.

well, I'm willing to give it a try! Nitric acid eh? Perhaps a trip through the Brownels catalog is called for here?

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Originally Posted by Magpie

well, I'm willing to give it a try! Nitric acid eh? Perhaps a trip through the Brownels catalog is called for here?

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Actually,Brownels will be of no help,Due to OSHA laws nobody sells evil stuff anymore.
you need Nitric acid,this stuff can kill and maim you.
The process is simple,You boil and degrease the item in water and boraxo.
You apply the nitric,you let it work a few minutes,you rinse it off in hot water,than you card it off with 0000 steelwool that has been rinsed in gasoline to remove the oil in the steelwool,after about ten applications it will be dark grey,after 25 it will be dark brown, after 35 it will be blackish,after 50ish it will be blueish.
all your doing is creating rust in a controlled manner,It really is simple no brainer stuff.
But using evil componants.
First time I did it in my shop,all my machine tools had rust on them,best do it outside.