Out of interest, how does one jewell a bolt?? In German it is called "Sun Polishing" (Sonnenschliff), so I'm guessing it is a polishing/sanding/grinding technique used?? Education anybody?
- mike

using a particular method (grinding compound with a shaft of some sort at the appropriate diameter, or abrasive rod, or abrasive rod and compound etc., you get that part) small swirls are applied to the bolt in an overlapping pattern. The number of swirls, pattern, and diameter of the swirl varies from gunsmith to gunsmith. Some even use a pattern that takes into consideration where the bolt will get the most wear and try to make it so it will take as much use as possible before showing the wear (as the metal is worn in that area of course the swirls go away).

For the rod to make the swirls some people buy cratex rods (what I tried when I tried it on a couple of bolts), some use brushes that they apply compound to, some people use knitting needles or even pencils (eraser side against the metal).

I am not sur the reason for this. From what I have heard it started out as a way to get the metal to hold a film of oil a bit better, for functionality. Now I think it is purely cosmetic, although I do like it and when I have an opportunity will try it out again and do to all of my bolts. On a CRF rifle the extractor can be jeweled also, or left plain or often times finished differently to make it stand out. My 35 whelen has the extractor jeweled as well, but in a larger diameter pattern, only 2 swirls overlapping each other and it looks good, especially in contrast to the jeweling on the bolt.

Hope this helps out, I am not a gunsmith by any means so this is only what I have gleaned from talking to them and trying it out myself (by the way, the 2nd time I did it, when i sat down and really got at it, it came out good, only took me about an hour, unfortunately I didn't use compound with the cratex rod and the swirls are way too lite)

Red

Thanks for that Red, most informative!
- mike