Patina???
 

Can anyone help? I have a gun which the overall frame is about 80% brown patina and the toggle assembly is a nice dark blue - I figure the whole gun to be about 60% patina - once patina does that mean never blue again? It is a little dull and would like to brighten up or improve its sheen. Can this be done with 0000# steel wool without damaging and scratching or is my only recourse to lightly oil and rub with rag and hope for the best. Is there any blue under the brown patina?

Re: Patina???
 

Sam, Yes you can use triple aught steel wool with a liberal amount of oil and it will not take off bluing. It will probably take off the brown patina however since that is genuine rust. I do not believe you will find much blue under the brown patina. It will most likely be white metal.Blue is a form of rust but once it turns to brown it is a different type and triple aught steel wool will take it off. Very fine steel wool and oil will not harm blue if not rubbed long and hard. You might try it in an area under the grip panels if the brown patina can be found there and see what happnes. Jerry Burney

Re: Patina???
 

Sam,


There is a product named RB-17, that I have purchased at gun shows. It will remove rust without harming the bluing. it is applied with fine (000 or 0000) steel wool. I have used this on old Colts, Winchesters & Lugers. It works great, in fact bluing that you didn't know was there will show up! I bought a Luger that was covered with a "patina" of rust. Upon applying the RB-17 treatment, it turned out that I had about 70% of the original rust bluing left on the gun, and it was in much better shape than I or the seller thought it was. I am not selling this product, but use and recommend it.

Re: RB-17 Source?
 

Anyone have a source for the RB-17 that Hugh mentions, other then a gun show?


Thanks,

Rod

Re: RB-17 Source?
 

Search of Web gave me the following address.


www.rb-17.com/


Hope this helps

Re: RB-17 Source?
 

My sincere thanks guys, will try some of the advise and report back at a later date. SAM

Re: Thanks guys, I will RB-17 a try. (EOM)
 

Re: RB-17 may be purchased at.......
 

RB-17 may be purchased at Sinclair International, Fort Wayne, Ind. 219-493-1858. Bought 16 ounces today for $15.00 plus shipping.