Let's talk bluing

[4 Scale]

Originally Posted by Paladinpainter

...there is a substantial difference in color between a caustic and rust blued gun....I think if you were to put a 1920 Luger and a 1940 Luger side by side in natural light, you'd see a difference.

We may be talking past each other a bit. I was not opining either generally or authoritatively on the appearance of rust blue vs. salt blue. i was offering one personal observation on a single pistol.

Attached are two photos in shade and two in sun (note dark shadows to figure out which is sun). The receiver/barrel is a recent rust blue, the frame is a 1938 Mauser original finish +90% blue. If I study very carefully, outside in the shade, I can detect a bit more of the color blue in the rust blue part, after allowing for wear on the frame, maybe. In bright sunlight I can't tell a difference.

I figured mixing bluing methods was OK on a shooter and was pleasantly surprised at how the color of upper/lower seems so close. I have no doubt you are right about 1920 vs. 1940 Lugers, I wouldn't know. My point was that at least in this instance I was able to "get away" with combining the two bluing methods on a shooter; to my eye the difference (when I can see it) is acceptable for a shooter.