[The Virginian]

Actually Rust Blue is more durable and more rust resistant than modern hot salt tank bluing. If done with at least 6 pulls (rusting, boiling in distilled water and carding) the layer of magnatite or "black iron rust" is much thicker than the black oxide layer of lye based hot salt blue. In most cases the rust blue is not as shiney as hot salt bluing, but it looks more soft, translucent and deeper. I have carefully rust blued basket case non-matching lugers with strawed parts for EFI, LLC (of Sons of Guns fame-espisode "Master Blaster") clients with excellent results. These were pre-war mix master guns that were almost brown with little or no blue left. Hand polishing as to not disturb roll marks and stamps is the key and removing all metal flaws helps keep the gun looking original.