Slow rust bluing

[kruzer1]

There are a lot of folks here with a lot of knowledge. So I have a question, does anyone know if slow rust bluing was done to 16th century firearms?

I know most museum and replicas are "in the white" but was this the actual finish or has the rust bluing simply decayed/worn off as it is prone to do after a few decades (has anyone ever had access to period arms to see below the woodline if there was a finish)

I know the process was known then- armor and swords were often treated with the process in period. Several pieces have paintings from period where the armor is clearly blued but the exact same surviving pieces are now shiny.

I'm inclined to think it was used on firearms in this time period, especially on nicer pieces, but would like to hear from others in what they have found/not found

 

[dave_person]

Hi Kruzer,
There is no evidence of which I am aware of slow rust bluing using oxidizing agents like acids before the 18th century. Bluing during the 16 th and 17th centuries was done by either simple heat bluing or charcoal bluing. There also was a method referred to as "russeting", which was some sort of brown paint or coating applied to the metal.

dave