Removing cold bluing

[builttoughf350]

I recently received this Sauer 38h from gunbroker The sellers pictures weren’t quite clear enough to catch it, but someone has clearly blued / cold blued the slide and a couple areas of the frame. At this point I don’t think I can return it and the cold blue bothers me worse than whatever it might look like under it. It looks like using Flitz metal polish is the go to way to remove cold blue, just rub VERY gently with a Q-tip from what I’ve read? Thoughts ?

 

[jack944]

Flitz...chrome polish....Used to have a gun shop.. That stuff broke many hearts. Does not hurt hot blued parts.

 

[Hercules]

A brass bristle brush takes it off as well. I never used Flittz. What is that made from?

 

[Rheinmetall]

I've been told Simichrome removes cold blue. Anyone here ever try it?

 

[Blackpowderresearcher]

If you want to strip the entire piece, there is an easy method.

Toilet bowl cleaner strips it right off. Brush it on and off it goes. Hot water rinse and then dry.

Polish it afterward. Buy a bottle of express blue from Brownells. All you need is a pot big enough to boil it and a wire brush (and cotton swabs). Follow the instructions. Express Blue is more durable than hot salt blue. The quality of the blue is dependent on the quality of the polish.

 

[agentcq]

I have used vinegar, but need to rinse and oil. If too aggressive it will remove or lighten original blue as well.

 

[Hambone]

I have used vinegar, but need to rinse and oil. If too aggressive it will remove or lighten original blue as well.

Vinegar is great if you want to strip the entire thing of all blue, but that stuff around a firearm is like even carefully working with bleach in one of your favorite dark navy t-shirts or like eating at an Italian restaurant wearing one of your favorite ties. Don't ask.

Flitz and simichrome (sic) are probably the same. I've always used Flitz, for over 30 years, so that's what I can advise upon. You can control it, it takes off cold blue first, etc. Recommend.

 

[jack944]

I've been told Simichrome removes cold blue. Anyone here ever try it?

see above

 

[builttoughf350]

Welllllllll I scrubbed it with Flitz and a q-tip for a while and nothing came off…..
I already figured this one will just end up being a shooter or maybe a carry gun if it didn’t clean up to “original”.

 

[jack944]

It may have been hot dipped re-blued...

 

[builttoughf350]

It may have been hot dipped re-blued...

Yes the signs seem to point that way now unfortunately. It’s probably going to be a shooter or kept somewhere I can access it easily in case of emergency

 

[k98dave]

Birchwood Casey make a blue remover that works well if you follow instructions.

 

[moosedog]

I do not think that it is cold blued. I have seen similar finishes on French WWII guns. Almost looks like a paint
type finish. I would keep as is and research it more.

 

[builttoughf350]

It’s definitely not paint. It looks different in person

 

[WpnsMan]

I second that it looks like a painted finish or, one of the modern epoxies.

 

[Hambone]

BT, it looks like the baked on finish on Mk.III GP.35s, and French M.35 pistols.

 

[builttoughf350]

I took some extra pics in the sun but can’t upload them all

 

[builttoughf350]

These pictures don’t show you in how the finish in the frame and slide vary in person

 

[builttoughf350]

Closer