Requesting gunsmith & actual "nitride finish" owner comments on nitride finish on barrel/actions. I want to see if the comments equal what I was told about it. I believe the new Mauser (03?) takedowns have this finish.
How good is it? Is anything equal to or better?

I bought some hydraulic cylinders a while back that have the nitride finish on the rod. Pretty tough if you ask me. Weld spatter doesn't stick, don't think we've scratched one yet, definitely rust preventative.

I've heard of someone coating firearms aftermarket with nitride but don't know who.

I'd try it!

God Bless, Louis

Rae59

What type of Nitride finish are you asking about? There is several types and method of applying. Browning has used Silver Nitride finish for years.

James

If you're talking about the nitride finish you see on the action screws on nice custom rifles with the pretty deep blue finish, it can't be done on actions or barrels is what I've been told. They say the solution the part is dipped in is too hot for heat treated parts.

I'm no expert and I'm just parroting info here.

Terry

TC1

I believe you are thinking about Nitre blue not a Nitride finish.

James

My bad

I was going to ask the same question
Nitre blue is a color change

Nitride is a hardening process that we use to surface harden parts

I have several barrels nitride treatet. Here we call it QPQ treatment see http://www.burlingtoneng.com/salt_bath_nitriding.html
They write:
Salt Bath Nitriding
Burlington Engineering, Inc., strips and treats the surface of metal & steel parts & products with quality proformance coatings since 1979. Paint stripping prepares metal surfaces prior to re-coating and Melonite� a salt bath nitriding treating the surface of steel parts to enhance

Corrosion protection
Wear resistance
Surface hardness
Beautiful black finish
Melonite Salt Bath Nitriding System

Salt Bath Nitriding: Melonite Q
Improved Wear Resistance
Improved Running Properties
Increased Fatigue and Rolling Fatigue Strengths
Heat Resistance
Black Color


Salt Bath Nitriding: Melonite QP
lncludes the properties of Melonite Q
Lower coefficient of Friction
Decreased surface roughness


Salt Bath Nitriding: Melonite QPQ
lncludes the properties of Melonite Q and QP
Low Light Reflection
Further Decreased Coefficient of Friction
Enhanced Corrosion Resistance (Not suitable for stainless)
Treatment will give a matte black finish. It is much more corrosionresistant than 416 Stainless steel and the skin of the steel will be hardened. It is a quite hot process and therefore we have only done this to cut rifled barrels with absolutely no internal strees. It is believed that a buttonrifled or hammerforged barrel will change dimensions under the process, but I havent tried it..

I have no idea what kind of nitride finish I am asking about. I was at a gunsmith shop in the area that told me about it. If I am not mistaken, I believe the g-smith said that the Mauser M-03 has a nitride finish. He also said that he can have these finishes done as a custom finish on barrels and actions. I am sure it was a case hardeing process as he had a barrel sample there that you could take a file to to test the finish, he basicly said the same thing. The sample had a brownish hue to it like a "salt brine" case hardening would have. He claimed that the finish is done inside and out and would also give the inside of the barrel the same hardness as the outside. Sounds like it would be great for the "rough on barrel" cartridges not to mention guys who are rough on guns while hunting.

It sounds like the same process that Buffalo described above. But as I recall the sample had a deeeep brownish almost black look to it.

I think my question was answered in the QPQ salt bath nitride post up above.

I know that Blaser uses the nitride treatment on their barrels. Makes them hard in the surface and very corrosionresistant. Actually its the only thing I like about Blaser rifles..

Buffalo, thanks for the info.
Several years ago I worked for a company who employed an old toolmaker so to speak. He was more of a blacksmith and pretty knowledgable on hardening methods of the '40s and '50s era. He once told me about "salt brine hardening" that was used by the oil exploration industry to harden drill bits,etc. He also spoke of cyanide hardening. He claimed both of these methods would substantially case harden even mild steels. I played with it some (salt brine) and it did work to some minute degree. I can see how they got the color finish to where it is.

For what it is worth, I was told that Blaser, Saur, and Mauser are all owned by the same gentleman or consortium. It is apparently true because in San Antonio, all three are sold/exhibited at the same location. I was also told that Saur makes all three brands barrels. I can't prove any of that but that is what I was told.

you are right, Sauer, Blaser and Mauser are under the same ownership.. But I did not know that Mauser offered the same nitride barrelfinish.. But of course they do..