Home Bluing/Browning Choices

Hi all.

I have come across a pristine, unassembled CVA Philadelphia Derringer kit in the original packaging, and made it my own.

Needless to say I plan to assemble it. It's a .45 caliber single-shot percussion with a back lock. I have a friend from Philly, so I asked him "What makes it a Philadelphia derringer?"

He said "Probably because it's stolen."

I will have to put some sort of finish on the barrel, which is currently in the white (greasy white, but white). Many years ago I tried a home cold blue solution ordered from Dixie Gun Works, and I wasn't real keen on the results.

What's my best option for a good blued (or browned) finish on this barrel, short of mailing it to Turnbull?

Thanks,

-AaronB

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My own copy of that iconic pistola has a non-finish finish. As in, in the white. A browning would be OK, I guess, just never have gotten that round tuit. As for bluing, Brownell's version seems to do an OK job. My cousin did his TC Hawken kit with a brown barrel back in the day, and it looked pretty good. I do not recall what company's product he used though.

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I have heard nothing but good about Mark Lee's products.

https://markleesupplies.com/

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Looks like I should also get a carding wheel or a carding brush, or both.

Have you ever done this?

-AaronB

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On the docket, at least in theory, is to set up to do just these things. I have a number of arms that need attention.

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Rust & card for browning. Repeat until satisfied.

Rust, boil (or steam) and card for bluing. Repeat until satisfied.

I started with Pilkintons and tried others like American Rust Blue (rustblue.com), then Laurel Mountain Forge. The last seems more forgiving of not-perfect cleanliness.

In the winter during periods of low humidity I hang my parts in my shop bathroom at the end of the day, take a shower and leave them overnight. You can make a rusting box from a cardboard box and a light for a bit of heat.

The soft carding wheels and brushes are available from Brownells.

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