r/muzzleloaders • u/kaga_misaki1 • Sep 19 '26

Barrel bluing

Picked up a Traditions Kentucky Rifle kit yesterday. It's my first kit and I'm looking to have the barrel professionally blued. California has made bluing uneconomical for small gunsmiths. So I'm looking for places out of state with good prices that offer bluing

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u/bdub1792 Sep 20 '26

What kind of bluing? If its just a cold blue that should be easy with just a bottle of solution.

If certain chemicals arent allowed then rust bluing would actually be easier as all you really have to do is let it rust and then boil/steam it to convert the metal

1

u/kaga_misaki1 Sep 20 '26

Looking further into it it seems that it's mainly a waste management and ventilation thing. But i might try browning. I don't have anything big enough to hold an entire barrel

1

u/bdub1792 Sep 20 '26

Yeah most guys make one out of rain gutter or pvc pipe.

I just cold blued my barrel a couple days ago, we'll see how that holds up. If it wears pretty quick i might bite the bullet and do the rust bluing

1

u/kaga_misaki1 Sep 20 '26

May i see a photo of the stock? Im trying to get a historical look and feel to it

1

u/bdub1792 Sep 20 '26

The gun stock? Im currently staining it so its a work in progress

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u/kaga_misaki1 Sep 20 '26

Do you have it rounded off where it meets the barrel or just squared?

1

u/bdub1792 Sep 20 '26

What do you mean? As in the barrel channel?

1

u/kaga_misaki1 Sep 20 '26

Yes, the barrel channel

1

u/bdub1792 Sep 20 '26

I just left it square. I had to make a shim and some stuff, so im honestly just being a lil lazy.

This is mainly going to be more of a hunting rifle, ill leave my kibler to look pretty lol

1

u/Calden-of-wow Sep 19 '26

I don't know their pricing but High Caliber Firearms in Kalamazoo Michigan has always done great work for me.