Restoring??
 

Gentleman,
First off, I know absolutely nothing, zip, nada, nil when it comes to blueing.

Does a pistol have to be filed and buffed before blueing? I might be picking up an Inglis (Chinese Contract) Hi Power w/stock and I'm thinking of having it reblued. Although it's in excellent condition, some blueing has worn off and there are a couple pinpoint rust spots. I don't want the original file/mill lines removed from the slide. I would like to just have it stripped, the couple rust spots taken care of and then rust reblued. Is this possible? Would this be considered an easy reblueing job?

Is there a gunsmith that specializes in Hi Powers or one that knows the blueing "shade/type" for a WWII Chinese HP. I have seen Thors work on a P-38 and Luger's but, would want someone who is not as back-logged. No offense meant to Thor. Any recommendations?

I know you want photos but I don't own it....yet. Here is a link. What are your thoughts?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=233002669

Thank you.

If it was mine I would not blue it,as I see it from the pictures it is not so bad. My 2cents.:rolleyes:
Alf.

No. It can just be cleaned/stripped and dipped. But few bluers (it seems) will do any re-blueing without some buffing. My VoPo P38 was just cleaned, stripped, and dipped and looks great.

Finding a bluer who will leave tool marks is a pet peeve of mine. They seem to think it is a reflection on their work if they leave it original... :grr:

Inglis HP's weren't blued, they had some kind of other finish applied. The serial numbers were applied after the finish so they should be "in the white".

Hello Duane
Thats a nice looking Inglis. I have one very similar to that one.
The Inglis originally had a Parkerized finish. Sort of a dull Grey much like the WW2 1911A1. This gun is of later manufacture and was probably never sent to China. Inlgis was never able to deliver all the Chinese contract guns due to a Japanese blockade. The ones that where delivered usually had Chinese characters in the slide. So Inglis sold the rest to the British Commonwealth countries. They slapped black paint on the guns,which looks like what is on this one.That is why the serial # is not in the white anymore
Interesting gun with lots of history.

Bob

Well, it was one of the brain spasms that couldn't choose between reblueing and leaving it be. If I do pick it up, I'll leave it original blue or paint or crayon or whatever it is now.

Thank you for your comments and knowledgeable information.