Model 14 bluing question ?

[wiktor]

Just curious, does anybody know if early model 14's were rust blued? If so when did they change to hot bluing? It appears that the earlier bluing looks different.

[nambujim]

No doubt in my mind they used "rust" blue on the entire Model 14 production, it shows with aging, and particularly when you photograph one. The frames in particular show up reddish and to varying degree because of the inconsistency of the hardening process. I think they got away from rust blue at some point during the production of the 141, my "guess" would be around serial 55,000, and the really late rifles exhibit a darker/richer blue. I base my "opinion" on the fact that while working for Dupont I had the opportunity to interact with the folks at Remington picking up bits & pieces of what seemed useless information...........at the time.

Hope this helps!

Jim Peterson
Charlotte, NC

[wiktor]

Thanks Jim, I appreciate the reply! I thought maybe they changed during the 14's because I see what you're saying about some look a little brown in bright light while some to me look a deeper blue.
Pete

[nambujim]

Hey! Roger that, think the color difference comes from the variation in heat treatment. You will find some early Model 14 frames take blue like a sponge while most of the later ones are a total bitch to blue.............even with modern hot blue process. Model 141's are "nearly" impossible to re-blue but have a couple of friends (one of which died a few weeks back) that do bluing for me but have an awful time with the frames. Wish I could go back in time and sit down with those chaps at Remington in an effort to get answers to the 100+ questions I have about how and why they did things back then. To quote my friend Tom Hemphill, "one thing for sure, they never threw anything away"!

Jim Peterson
Charlotte, NC