OT - Kind of - blueing question

[Ysabel Kid]

Sixgun's post on th 1849 (http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=11521) got me thinking - why does blueing and/or color-case hardening fade if it is not worn off?

If a gun was stored in ideal conditions - say moderate temperatures, low humidity, and out of direct sunlight, would the blueing fade over time just from sitting around with age? Would CCH'ing do the same?

[KCSO]

Kept out of direct sunlight c/c will not fade. Bluing is abouut the same. I Had a little Colt 25 that had spent it's whole life in a box in a dresser drawer and from 1908 to 2004 it looked perfect.

[Modoc ED]

One thing that may effect bluing/color case hardening is the makeup of the metal that it is on.

For instance between (approximately) serial #s 500,000 to 1,200,000 flaking of the bluing on the receivers of the Winchester Model 94s is common. The reason given by collectors, enthusiasts, Winchester themselves is that the receivers between those serial numbers had a HIGH Nickle Cadium content in them. That spans all calibers and all types/styles of the Model 94s. There are some that are NIB, never fired, etc. that have flaking receivers.

A guy I know has a .30WCF Model 94 in the 85XXXX range and to look at it you'd swear the receiver was in-the-white. The rest of the metal on the rifle is just as blue as blue can be -- deep, dark, high gloss.

[Gun Smith]

I still own guns I reblued over 50 years ago. I have used them over that time, and all of them still have near 100% bluing remaining. They have been hung on walls and stored in safes. I have always kept them coated with WD40. Bluing will wear, but not fade. I have had little experience with CCH.