Getting ready to convert my 1851 Pietta Colt's to cartridge using the R&D screw in conversion cyilinder kit...just received the cylinders, jig and their drill/tap combo.
Now the question is, once I finish grinding the cartridge loading slot in the frame, do I just slap some bluing on the new slot or do I slow rust blue the entire gun?
I bought some Laurel Mountain Barrel Brown and degreaser...then I took the zinc off a spike and tested out the process (Rust, boil, scrub, repeat) and kind of like the "Slow rust blue" that develops...
Now, looking through a book (I beleive it was
Cowboy Trappings of the Old West), I saw a converted 1851 that looked like it had been blued over all the steel parts...
Were the original 1851 hardened where the repro's are or were they blued all over? If they were case hardened, did some gunsmiths (when converting) just decide to reblue the entire gun?Below is a picture (non-conversion) from an antique site and it doesn't look case hardened to me...but that may just be because it's old...
http://www.antiquearmsinc.com/1851-colt.htmIf I didn't want to do that, is there a way to color case harden just the new loading slot?
Just thought I'd throw the question out there and see what flies back....