I picked up an early 90's Custom Shop supergrade a few months ago that has a matte blue type finish from the factory (per the custom shop invoice). I noticed the trigger guard, safety lever, and cocking piece all have a distinct "plum" color to them- similar to an older ruger 77 or Leupold scope. Assume this is because of a difference in the metal?

It's not a huge deal, but at some point I'd like to swap them out or refinish them to better match the rest of the rig. Just wanted to make sure these could be refinished- or if I needed to pick up some replacements.

Thanks

Mostly the alloying elements in the steel .It can be reduced bit in the bluing process but I'd leave it alone !

The odd brown to dark plum brown is usually associated with vanadium in the steel. Some times it can be turned black blue by shocking between hot and cold tanks and by taking the tanks to over 300 degrees. Some times there is no turning them other than to rust blue them. Many people have told me over the years that adding potassium to the tanks would solve the problem. I'd have to call bullshit on it. I even substituted the sodium nitrate with potassium nitrate for a year when I was doing Weatherby warranty. It never did a damned bit of good.

Rust blue is the only way to turn them blue black. The down side is you can not have a high gloss finish as the process etches the steel.

I had a late 80s vintage M70 .300 H&H that had a plum colored bolt handle, cocking piece, and safety.

Silicon is added to a investment cast steel part to make the steel flow better.

This is why the od Ruger flat top Blackhawks have the purple colored frames, that was in the old days they did not understand how much silicon was too much

However to much silicon in the casting makes it hard to hot blue, hence a purple color as the years go by.

I know the cocking piece and safety lever are investment cast on those M70's.

JW

When I pointed out to my dad that the 1962 Rem 700 ADL bolt handle that I had just received for my 14th birthday had a purple-ish tinge to it that differed from the rest of the rifle, he merely stated that I didn't know what I was talking about.

Funny story Ray... Was actually my son who asked me why my gun had purple parts on it during a range trip that made me think about changing them. I should have used your Dad's line.

Appreciate all the responses. Sounds like live with it or refinish them in some type of coating.

I have early Ruger 77s with purple receivers; I like the color so nothing needs to be done.

I have had this happen too on Early model 70 Classics. But they didn't start out that way. when I got them they were perfectly black, and over the years they turned purple.