Krieghoff Fireblue Magazine Release Button

Thor · 06-29-2017, 07:59 PM

Does anyone know why Krieghoff fire blued their mag release buttons? Always been curious about this. Bottom one is one I restored. An S Date.

Norme · 06-29-2017, 08:40 PM

Hi Thor,
As you know the Luger magazine release is not a highly stressed part (I've never heard of one breaking or wearing out) and I don't think Kreighoff cared what color they turned out after heat treating. I've seen them almost every color of the spectrum, here's mine.
Regards, Norm

Thor · 06-29-2017, 09:13 PM

Thank you Norme, interesting. Very Nice Pistol!

CJS57 · 06-29-2017, 10:04 PM

Perhaps the fire blue hardened the metal a bit as it is a part that could wear with the magazine constantly going in and out?

1933 FORD NUT · 06-30-2017, 07:47 AM

Couple examples in the normal range .

Norme's example is less common .

There are other fire-blue parts inside . Holdopen [ polished on top only ] , S bar , recoil lever , toggle axle etc.

No idea why and my S date 2014 has the thumb safety lever mostly fire blue except the edges that are strawed . Heat was off I would guess ?

DonVoigt · 06-30-2017, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJS57

Perhaps the fire blue hardened the metal a bit as it is a part that could wear with the magazine constantly going in and out?

No,
re-heating the hardened and polished part results in the color change- from straw to fire blue. This treatment is intended(usually) to remove some of the hardness=brittleness of the part. It also helps to eliminate internal stresses.

If one continues to heat the color continues to change until it gets to grey and then becomes hot enough to glow orange. A chart of the color changes has been posted here several times.

The incidental color- which can be very pleasing- is not the main reason for "fire blue", except perhaps in custom finishng.

To the other question or comment- for sure - the temperature of the oven or bath used for the heat treatment will result in edges or thin or other spots being blue, while others are still straw.

Kind of like you see in these tools; where you can see the transition from straw to darker straw, blue, purplish blue, and purple brown.

CJS57 · 06-30-2017, 10:24 PM

Don, Yes thank you, perhaps the fire blue was to normalize the hardened part as well as for the attractive color.

06-29-2017, 07:59 PM	#1
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Krieghoff Fireblue Magazine Release Button Does anyone know why Krieghoff fire blued their mag release buttons? Always been curious about this. Bottom one is one I restored. An S Date. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

06-29-2017, 08:40 PM	#2
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Thor, As you know the Luger magazine release is not a highly stressed part (I've never heard of one breaking or wearing out) and I don't think Kreighoff cared what color they turned out after heat treating. I've seen them almost every color of the spectrum, here's mine. Regards, Norm Attached Thumbnails

06-29-2017, 09:13 PM	#3
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Thank you Norme, interesting. Very Nice Pistol! __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

06-30-2017, 07:47 AM	#5
1933 FORD NUT User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: WI Posts: 88 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 36 Posts	Couple examples in the normal range . Norme's example is less common . There are other fire-blue parts inside . Holdopen [ polished on top only ] , S bar , recoil lever , toggle axle etc. No idea why and my S date 2014 has the thumb safety lever mostly fire blue except the edges that are strawed . Heat was off I would guess ? Attached Thumbnails

06-29-2017, 10:04 PM	#4
CJS57 User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 224 Thanks: 0 Thanked 81 Times in 41 Posts	Perhaps the fire blue hardened the metal a bit as it is a part that could wear with the magazine constantly going in and out?

06-30-2017, 10:24 PM	#7
CJS57 User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 224 Thanks: 0 Thanked 81 Times in 41 Posts	Don, Yes thank you, perhaps the fire blue was to normalize the hardened part as well as for the attractive color.