|
We are often asked by dealers and individuals to explain the differences
and uses of the various finishes done at Status Guns. Below is a brief description.
Preparation:
All firearms to be refinished are totally disassembled to their individual
parts. Unless the weapon is exceptionally clean the parts are then bead
blasted to remove dried oil deposits, dirt and rust. All visible parts
are then polished. This is normally a four stage process. First a coarse
buff is used to remove pits and scratches. The three subsequent polishing
are progressively finer, the final one producing a high polish. A fifth
and finer polish is occasionally applied where a customer wants a mirror
finish, but this is so smooth it will not hold oil and is impractical
on a working gun.
Where a customer wants a matte finish the parts are bead blasted a second
time after the second polishing. This is standard procedure when the firearm
is to be parkerised since parkerising is matte anyway. If the firearm
is blued in this bead blasted state a non-reflective sooty black is the
result. Matte blued steel does not last quite as long as shiny blued steel.
BLUEING:
Blueing is a controlled rust process. It is not a rust preventive although
it does greatly retard further rusting. It's main purpose is cosmetic
and reduces the chance of game being frightened by the flash of bright
metal.
At Status all parts except shotgun barrel sets with soldered ribs are
blued by immersion in a boiling caustic solution. This produces a hard
clean black coating and does not in any way alter the surface finish of
the steel.
Soldered rib barrel sets are blued by a swab on hot acid process which
slightly etches the steel surface. This process is slow and difficult
but it produces an extremely durable finish. It is used on shotguns because
the hot caustic solution dissolves the tin in the solder causing the ribs
to let go.
PARKERISING:
This is a phosphating process which produces a dark grey matte finish
on steel. It is not as cosmetically pleasing as blueing but has the advantage
of being highly rust resistant and totally non light reflecting. The ideal
finish for working firearms in damp or coastal conditions.
BROWNING:
Similar to the above mentioned acid blue this produces a brown colour
and is normally used on black powder and damascus guns. It enhances the
damascus pattern. It is softer and more easily rubbed off than blueing.
STAINLESS STEEL:
Status has recently developed a non chemical process to alter the colour
of stainless steel firearms to a matte grey similar to parkerising. This
is a new and unique process and should prove popular with those wanting
a non reflective firearm while at the same time enjoying the advantages
of stainless steel. We call the process Status Stainless grey.
ELECTROLESS NICKEL PLATING:
As the name implies this is a nickel plating process which does not use
an electric current to deposit plating. It is a chemical process and unlike
electroplating it deposits evenly over the entire surface of the plated
object, inside and out. Also, since no current is used there is no chance
of parts becoming crystallised.
The finish produced is a pleasing matte, not unlike the internal surface
of silver plated bowls, jugs etc.
Electroless nickel is hard wearing and rust proof. It is an ideal finish
for handguns and as a cosmetic finish on small parts.
GOLD PLATING AND ENGRAVING:
Status provides these services, but contracts the work out. The normal
guarantee applies.
| 