I very recently put up a post about a limited run WW2 reproduction KaBar that KaBar is currently offering. It has a purposely done distressed overall look to it, with Kabar using a "cold blue" solution to achieve the distressed look upon the blade of this model, (the model being named the 'Red Spacer' Kabar).
When I say cold blue solution, I mean that the method they are using to blue this model's blade, is to use a liquid chemical solution that most of you have no doubt seen being sold in small bottles at your local sporting goods or gun shop.
There are all sorts of brands of the stuff, but it's all chemically about the same.
Cold Bluing is not to be confused with the Bluing process that gun companies use to professionally blue their guns.
Cold bluing is much easier to apply, and hence the selling of the stuff at so many local stores, but it just isn't very durable at all. It takes very little to wear it off, MUCH easier to wear off than a professional grade "hot blued" finish. It's best use would be as a touch up on a hot blued steel surface.
So, the fact that KaBar is offering a cold blued steel blade knife, it got me to thinking about Renaissance Wax as an added protective coating on cold blued steel.
Although I have applied Ren Wax to a few of my blued blade knives, they have all been of the factory hot blued type.
Since I don't have a cold blued knife blade to test the Renaissance Wax upon, I decided to take a chance on my made in Spain .50 caliber 'Kentucky Belt Pistol' cap and ball muzzle loader, (.50 caliber usually gets a patched .490 caliber lead ball).
I received it as a gift from a friend some years ago, it still being in it's original box as a "build it yourself" CVA, (Connecticut Valley Arms), kit gun.
My friend had owned it for many years, it having been gifted to him by another friend that himself had received it as a gift, and after many, many years, had not taken on the project to build it.
It basically took a third owner, (me), to land in the hands of someone willing to take on the mission. I would say it stayed in kit form inside of it's original box for about 30+ years before finally being assembled.
It's assembly was started soon after my having received it. I went ahead and worked on the project during a two or so week period and got her fully assembled and finished.
I used a 'Watco' Golden Oak hand rubbed 'Danish Oil' finish for the wood stock, and since I was only planing on building it as a display piece, I chose to use the more delicate Cold Blue finish for it's barrel. Btw, the gun is actually a fully functional Black Powder Muzzle Loading Pistol.
Anyhow, so I decided today to give the Renaissance Wax a try on this gun, using it on the barrel, brass hardware, and on the hand rubbed finished wood stock.
It took me almost three hours to do everything, but the mission was accomplished.
The result was awesome, subtlety enhancing the look on everything I applied it to.
So, if you have a cold blued steel knife, gun, or other item, the Ren Wax should be safe to apply onto it.
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Here's what it started off as some years ago...
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These kits were not as easy to complete as they may seem to be... It took me quite a few man hours, (about 40 or so), to accomplish it
But, it was rewarding at the end
So, is it truly "made in Spain"?... I would say no... It's... Components made in Spain/Assembled and finished in USA
