black rusting a barrel

[holzwurm]

Many yers ago when I was a guest in Ron Ehlerts shop in TN, I saw one of his guns with an absolute BLACK rusted barrel finish. The item was pebbly rough and black as a raven. I think the product was one of his secrets and he never related how he accomplisshed the effect. I have a barrel coming and would like to experiment.

Any ideas?

 

[Gtrubicon]

Could it have been some sort of a coating like powder coat or ceracote?

 

[Kmcmichael]

Slow rust blue is red oxide turned to black with boiling water.

 

[wiscoaster]

Slow rust blue is red oxide turned to black with boiling water.

Ya, it sounds to me, too, like the boiling water to finish off the rusting process.

 

[HSmithTX]

Brown it, then boil in distilled water for a few minutes. Neutralize the browning solution and coat/soak it with nondetergent motor oil for a day or three. Wipe and done, or degrease and wax and done.

 

[ZUG]

Most of the rust blue formulas will turn black/blue when introduced to hot water/steam. Some more than others also the more you polish the barrel the brighter the finished color will be. You have to experiment