nitre blue

Nitre Blue is here!

After nearly 50 years NITRE BLUE will be available here again.
It has been nearlythat long since Colt and Luger fans could get their special blue, and after a year of set-up and experimenting the first few customers are very happy!

While nitre blue is quite different and attractive, it will not stand up as well as hot blue because it is a thin layer of the metal of your gun that is colored by heat, not a coating like conventional bluing.
My Mak P-64 got carried in the worst of conditions and even standard bluing rusted quickly, so I started nitre bluing just to try to keep it looking a bit better and do the work in my own shop.

Here is the first color stop on the nitre temperature ladder, a nice gold or bright brass shade.

Next up is a slightly darker or brownish shade of the gold.

Or perhaps you have a passion for purple?
Here just a trace of it coming into the gold...

and here full blown and very out there.

And finally the full rich blue

This last time, I remembered to stop at the different heats/colors to get some pictures...

Because of the chemical and set-up expense, I am not able to do long guns at this time.
Pistol slides can be done starting at $85 and up depending on how much finish and polish work needed.
Triggers, hammers and other small parts at $20, again depending on condition.

Before you get too over-excited, please understand that the only metal that will work with nitre blue is steel.
Stainless, alloys and (sorry) post '64 Winchesters will not color in this process.
Previously blued items can be changed over, and color case hardened parts "MAY" take, although if the hardened layer has been worn through the colors in those areas will be different than the rest!

ALSO the preperations for nitre blue is very time consuming, so it is not a one day job.
Unlike regular bluing that adds a layer to the metal and is more forgiving of a small blemish, this is actually changing the color of the steel for a micro-fine thickness and any small mark that cannot be removed will show, including even the smallest rust pits.