Best way to blacken a new sight.

[Gollywomper]

Bought a new rear sight. Is looks to come unfinished as cast. What is the best way to darken or blacken/brown the sight?

 

[The Miner '49er]

Everyone will have their own opinion as to what is best, so here's mine. I have always had great results, on raw steel/iron parts including sights, by using Van's Instant Gun Blue. Degrease well, heat with either a heat gun or hair dryer (not required, but helpful), apply with cotton swabs, oil when done. Easy to do, no odor, long lasting even finish, easily touched up if needed.

 

[RobertIN]

Depends on how your barrel is finished. Here are a few parts I've done and the chemicals used. I think Jax is good for a semi-polished look, and rust brown/blue for a matte finish but you can adjust it to be more polished it'll just take more frequent application.

Jax Black rubbed back with steel wool, got a little aggressive on the tail ignore that.

Tracks browning solution:

Tracks browning after boiling in distilled water:

 

[Gollywomper]

The barrel is browned/cerekote. So either black or brown will work. Looks like I need to order a blueing or browning solution?

 

[RobertIN]

The barrel is browned/cerekote. So either black or brown will work. Looks like I need to order a blueing or browning solution?

If the barrel is brown I'd match the sight personally, otherwise it's look mismatched and weird

 

[Gollywomper]

If the barrel is brown I'd match the sight personally, otherwise it's look mismatched and weird

The original setup was black sight and cerakote brown barrel.

 

[stubshaft]

On steel sights I just use the browning solution and try to match the barrel. However, I let it sit a little longer on the blade to give it a slightly rougher pitted surface which (to me) limits any light reflection.

 

[Daveboone]

I like to fire blue. heat till cherry red with a propane torch and drop into a pan of oil to cool. It will quench to a beautiful dark royal blue which is pretty durable.