Gunbluing Stainless steel

[RSA Knifemaker]

I would like to know if anyone knows how to gun bluing on stainless? I need ALL the details.

I know of two knifemaker who does it, but they are keeping their processes secret.
--------------------

Today I did my first gunbluing of plain high carbon steel and it worked like a charm.

500 grams Caustic Soda in 1 liter water in a steel bowl. Bring to the boil. Add 250 grams Limestone ammonium nitrate (LAN - fertiliser)
Lots of ammonia gas liberated.
Get to a fast boil and put in the ultra cleaned absolutely no grease or fingerprints steel and let it boil. You can take it out every now and then to check the progress.
When the color is to your taste, take it out and leave in linseed oil for half an hour. Let it drip dry, wash with hot water. Oil to prevent rust.
(You may want to leave it for a few hours so the blue can "cure" before washing it)

For a complete description go to

RSA Blades , go to the "embellishments" page, as there are several important safety measures you have to take.

 

[Terrill]

Wait about two weeks and I'll tell you what I can. I've signed up for a week long bluing course offered by the NRA and a local college. I have not seen any stainless that can be blued but I guess I'll find out.

 

[Arthur Washburn]

I know of no way to blue stainless steel but I have discussed a bluing type precess with a Theuns Prinslo a South African knifemaker.

He says heat saltpeter to 450C or 840F and quickly dip the blade in and pull it out. It gives a gold color to the blade and is suposed to have the same effect as carbon steel bluing.

I've see a blade treated and it looks quite good but I have yet to try it.

 

[Ringneck]

You can blue stainless. Brownells sells the salts to do this. It is called oxynate 84. It is the same hot salt process that is used to blue non-stainless guns, just different salts. Brownells 1-515-623-4000.

Ringneck