Can a stainless steel rifle be blued, parkereized or otherwise treated to make it dark and dull?

I suppose flat black paint would work but I would really like a "gunsmith" solution rather than a slapdash.

Short answer is, yes. Do a search here and you'll come up with lots of suggestions.

One of the "bake on" teflon finishes should do the trick.

..or, just get some of the better BBQ pit paint.

Keith

Dura Coat is supposed to be a good option. It doesn't have to be post cured in an oven either. It also comes in many different colors. I have never used it, but I have researched it some because I wanted to try it on a stainless rifle.

You'll really want to apply that duracoat over a park finish.

GunKote(a bake finish from Brownell's) works very well and is durable. It adhears best to an abrasive blasted finish.

GunKote indicates that blasting with aluminum oxide chips works better then glass bead blasting. You might notice that American Hunting Rifles uses GunKote on their guns and when done correctly the finish looks about as good as you can hope for in a non-blued finish. I hear the finish is quite tough also.

Hondo, where do you get Dura Coat? I see the industrial web page but I only need enough for a rifle. Thanks.

I have a beadblasted and black teflon on one hunting rifle. I am presently trying a process on my BR barrels that is a type of low temp[relatively] case hardening. It comes out as looking like a polished and blued CM barrel.
Shilen has been watching the barrel and after 1900 rounds we are not seeing throat erosion. I usually take them off after 900-1200 rounds.
Butch
www.shadetreeea.com