I started talking with a fellow about buying his used RSM. After looking at the pictures of the gun everything looks perfect except for the it looks like the blueing on part of the gun is turn more blueish-purple.

Do any of ya'll know what causes this or what can be done about it? I'd really like to buy the gun if this can be solved (or maybe it isn't really a big deal). What do ya'll think? I've seen this on other guns, but have never really considered buying one like this.

I have seen the Rugers which are basically white from the bluing being worn off by daily use. My guess is that Ruger uses low end bluing salts to save money. But I bet you could get the gun re-blued and it would not have that problem any more.

Are the pics digital? Flash? Could be the lighting and or angle the pics were taken with the combo of oil or silicone wipedown refracting the light on the surface of the metal.

Ask for a pic in different lighting, outside in daylight or diff angle.

Just a thought.

The pictures are digital, but I asked the guy about it and he said that some of the blueing on the front sight and on the reciever had turned a bit of a "plum" color. He also said that he bought a new Ruger that was more "plum" than this when he bought it...

I've seen the color on guns before, but just didn't know if it was something to worry about or something that would get progressively worse, I also didn't know if it were worth buying and reblueing (not sure what that costs or what it does to the value of the gun). Maybe I'm overreacting

New RSM = about $1300
This one = about $1050

Other than this it is perfect, not the MOST beautiful wood in the world, it is blonde. What does it cost to reblue a gun? What should I offer the guy? How do I post a picture?

Thank ya'll,

NitroSteel

[QUOTE]Originally posted by NitroSteel:
the blueing on part of the gun is turn more blueish-purple.

Do any of ya'll know what causes this or what can be done about it?QUOTE]

NitroSteel,

I was told it is something to do with the Chromium content in the steel & its reaction to the buing. Turns reddish even with no use just age. Happened on my Ruger 77 MK1 receiver (but not barrel) & on my Weatherby MK V receiver as well. The barrels are not affected, just the receiver.

Not much you can do about it except reblue but over time it will happen again. I'm talking caustic bluing not rust blue. Don't know if rust bluing is unaffected?

Maybe our gunsmith friends here can confirm.

Regards
JohnT

Thank you JohnT. Sounds like a dang good answer to me.

Do you think this hurts the value of the gun or is it just something that is pretty much gonna happen over time and nothing to worry about?

Depends on what you want the rifle for. I think the purple tint is attractive. Usually only shows up on older rifles with age. If you want it as an investment, then it may not be the one for you. If you want it to hunt, then who cares.

I have one and I love it. Shoots good and is nice to look at.

I'll tell you what. I have one, it's not perfect, but they're damn nice guns for the money and usually accurate.

Geronimo

The recievers are sometimes a slightly different hue of blue than the barrel and other parts due to the different steels and how they "take" the blueing during the blueing process.

The reciever on my M77 .458 has a slightly plum look depending on how the light hits it, especially in bright sunlight, whereas in other lighting you can't see the plum hue at all with that same rifle. In fact most of the time you don't notice it, just in certain lighting.

On my RSM reciever it's less noticeable but slightly different in certain light.

JohnT is correct in that it depends on the alloy of the metal. A local smith told me it is really bad on the old Winchesters with Nickel steel barrels. I have even seen it on older Leupold scopes from the 60's and 70's. It seems I remember that Ruger uses 4140 for its barrels (as does almost everyone) but uses 4150 for its actions. Don't know if this is true, but if so, it could account for a different blue color on part of the gun.

If the tanks are too hot and I have been told too cold then you get a rose colored blue job, Blueing is nothing more than rust and rust comes in many colors...Also age, like in old Winchesters or double rifles will let the blue turn the color you speak off...A reblue job is in order, but I have to say it sounds like the gun has been reblued by an amatuer..I have never seen a factory gun that new turn....

I will add to the above however that I have seen many Ruger actions turn brown with age...

I believe it is "normal" for the action on Rugers to have a purple look to them, even my 77-22 has it. There is nothing actually wrong with them, maybe something to do with the metal used in casting the action.
John L.

different alloys will take bluing salts differently. also usually if you are bluing the tank should generally be in the 285 degree range, 10 degrees higher and you get red hues, 10 degrees lowere and you get green ones. Remember only the steel portions blue. alloys having nickel, chrome etc. are going to color differently

FWIW I have seen some SAKO actions the same plum color. Seems like they were in the L61R series.

Fairly common with Rugers due to the varying hardness of their castings. I have a number of Old Model Blackhawks whose frames are quite plum in color. You won't see it in their barrels, etc,. only the cast steel parts IME.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroSteel:
Thank you JohnT. Sounds like a dang good answer to me.

Do you think this hurts the value of the gun or is it just something that is pretty much gonna happen over time and nothing to worry about?

Nitrosteel based on the prices you quoted there does not seem to be a lot of difference in price. If the wood is not great and you are obviously a bit concerned at the "look" of the reddish bluing, I'd look around for a RSM with great wood. Some are very nice.

My friend has one of the old ones (very heavy) with the barrel band that goes through the stock. The wood was real nice.

For me I stay away from thinking that my guns have any investment value at all lest I spend even more!!!

Regards
JohnT

Have it rust blued. Problem solved for good!

People have been guessing the cause of Ruger receivers and other parts turning a plum color for years.

I traced it all the way back to a certain party who worked in Ruger's investment casting department. It is common in casting of certain steel alloys that the content of manganese is increased to help the molten steel fill out the molds properly. Story is that it annoyed Bill Ruger too and at one time he ordered the foundry to decrease the level of this element. It did not work, casting accuracy dropped so they went back to their old alloy.

That is the reason their barrels do not turn plum color, they are not cast. You will see this happen on other cast gun parts, Weatherby receivers, old Shilen DGA actions too. You will also see it occur on old Charles Daly over and under receivers too.

I have had the experience of rebluing a lot of these guns, they turn out a nice blue black. Then after a few years they slowly start turning purple or plum again.

I havent tried it but Roger is probably right, the rust blue technique might solve the problem.

Over the years I have made wax molds for certain gun parts to be investment cast at a local foundry and requested them to lower the manganese content of their alloys and they refuse to do it. Citing that it causes too many problems related to the molds not filling out properly.