[ithacaartist]

If anyone is in need of salt bluing, I'll give Gunblack of Interlaken NY a plug. The founder used to rust blue all of Ithacagun's stuff. They don't do much--if any--rust bluing these days, but his son, Steve, now runs the show, and he is knowledgeable and skilled. He really knows his chemistry, and can successfully refinish the post-'64 Winchester guns that gave everybody so much trouble, with a two-step process that results in a finish that won't flake off the receiver. Consider asking them for a price list or quote. You can get stuff done at "gunsmith" rate if you're able to prep the parts beforehand.

I've used them for my reproduction Erma front toggle links and various odd projects like slides and small parts for small frame Llamas. My 1907 Savage .32 will be making a visit there pretty soon. The front of the slide had been cut off by a previous owner--not even a square cut-- and replaced with a washer that was soft-soldered on, so we gave it a new nose, and a dovetailed fiber optic front sight in lieu of an original style. The gun arrived with no finish, but the bare metal is without damage, so a good candidate for a lick and a promise of prep for the parts.

As for a need for rust bluing, I have a couple of candidates. G.T., do you remember installing the 6" barrel on my '06 AE? I believe it was one of your first. It still needs the raw barrel caught up with the rest of the gun, and the frame could also do with some work after I get a couple of its discrepancies addressed by micro or TIG welding. Then there's the stock lug restoration for my Artillery...and another '06 AE's grip safety lever that needs someone's bad repair re-done, and maybe a small tapped hole at the lower end of the back-strap filled and the finish reapplied in that area.