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[Seth Hawkins]

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[Fox Creek Kid]

The finish was the same as this:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,21506.20.html


No, it ain't cheap. 

[Mako]

Seth,
I think the major bluing on FCKs pistol is a must be Charcoal Bluing and the screws are Fire Blued. Later Colt started doing Carbonia Bluing using a special furnace but I think that started in the late 19th century.

I'll defer to FCK, because he has probably researched it more than I have.

~Mako

[Fox Creek Kid]

Great explanation is here:

http://www.ronsgunshop.com/carbonia.html

[Mako]

Was this Carbonia bluing used by Colt on the 1871 Open Top?  From what I read at that site, it sounds like the Carbonia bluing came into use later in the century - around the 1890's.

I'm interested in knowing what was used by Colt in the late 1860's to early 1870's.

You're correct the process wasn't around in 1872.  It was probably Charcoal Bluing. I was hoping FCK would verify that.

~Mako

[Flint]

Charcoal Blueing is what I've always understood Colt used, which gave that rather smokey translucent grey blue-black of the old Colts.  Apparently involved in heating the parts in a charcoal fire where the color from the heat is also augmented by absorbing carbon from the charcoal.

If you get a chance to see the bluing on an original Colt that still has finish left on it, you will see the color is different than what you get with hot chemical blue baths and more durable than the delicate bright "charcoal" blue Uberti charges extra for.  Uberti's "charcoal" blue looks like plain furnace heat blue, and is not very durable.  I noticed on a charcoal blue revolver I have, (since reblued) the triggerguard was a bit warped, and only the assembly screws held it flat.  Probably from the furnace process.

[Fox Creek Kid]

...I'm interested in knowing what was used by Colt in the late 1860's to early 1870's.

Seth, in the article I linked he gives the answer as to what Colt used cicra. 1800's. 

"Here is an example of the two early Colt finishes. The top is a barrel from a 5 1/2" artillery model, which is all original Colt blue, and is an exceptional example of Colts early style blue finish. This style of finish is not Carbonia. It was in use before the Carbonia method. This finish is a heat type blueing"

Another great link with detailed info: http://www.restoration-gunsmith.com/artblue.html

[Fox Creek Kid]

It doesn't matter as Carbonia blue is NOT the blue of the 19th century.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Seth, such is the world of gun history. Controversy abounds. However, the Carbonia method was not invented nor used until after the beginning of the 20th century, hence it is not germaine for the Old West period.