In addition to out other products and services, H-G Firearms also operates a full service bluing and finishing shop. We provide the familiar "Hot-Blue" or caustic salt blue that most shooters are familiar with on production arms. Our standard finish with this process is either a bead blasted matte type finish, which is extremely durable, and very glare resistant. It has also become our most popular blue finish over the past few years. Or, a 240 grit traditional polish. 240 is very close to what most commercial firearms have been produced with for many years now. And will provide a finish that is good looking and familiar to most shooters and hunters. In fact, the biggest mistake usually associates with bluing/re bluing is over polishing to a too high luster. We've all seen that gun in the used rack that just screams out "I've been refinished!!!" And that is usually do to over polishing.
That is not to say that a high gloss finish doesn't have it's place. Many gun owners really like their guns to "shine", and we can provide a number of levels of high gloss finish when and where it is needed. On many custom guns only a really lustrous finish will do!
We also provide the more traditional and more elegant old fashioned rust blue. Sadly this blue seems to be fading more and more from the scene these day. It is true that it is a much more expensive process due to the intensive hand labor involved. But it is also just about the most durable type of bluing available. Not to mention adding a high grade look to any quality arm. In many ways rust blue offers an excellent value for the investment.
We also offer other alternative finishes. We use a hot water blue (Different from and much less aggressive that caustic salts) This is used on such things as double barrel shotguns, and fancy ribbed guns where the caustic hot blue might be damaging or completely impractical.
This is a good spot to point out some myths and realities about blue double and over unders: Many people are under the impression that these guns can;t be "hot-blued" because the temp of the salts would somehow unsolder the ribs. I suppose this is possible, but it would have to be a very soft - soft solder indeed to come undone at the 292 degrees the salts operate at. In fact the biggest trouble with doubles, and fancy ribs, etc. Is all the little crooks and crannies they have. Once you get the salts inside these crevices, it's damn near impossible to get them back out again! They can leak out in the form of a white goo for a long time. They can also sit in there and corrode away at the metal - after all they are a corrosive salt! So it is in reality just a more sound and practical idea to use one of the other blues on these type of weapons.
We also do parkerizing for those who desire this tough and durable military style finish. We offer both Manganese Phosphate, and Zinc Phosphate solutions. We find we are doing more and more parkerizing as a prep to painting the metal with such products as Dura-coat. The "etched" surface of a Parkerized gun is a very good platform for bonding these wonder paints to the metal.
Bluing/Finishing Price List
Standard Bead Blast or 240 grit Blue
As with all our re-blueing services, this one begins with a complete tear down our your firearm. We then inspect for extreme wear and saftey. Then each part is completely cleaned. After blueing and treatment in the after blue oil, the arms is reassembled with correct lubrication on each part.
Also it should be noted that all our prices are a general guideline. Most firearms we recieve fall into the lower end of the pricing below. But we view every gun that comes in as an individual job and treat them accordingly. Some arms will be so worn or rust damaged that extra attention will be required. Some arms will just benifit from service that isn't always anticipated by the owner. In these cases we will put together a detailed estimate and allow the customer to decide of the extra costs will fall withing their desired budget. If not, no harm no foul. We understand that it isn't always cost effective, or desirable to go too far with some guns. We simply return the arm and any deposit - less return shipping cost.
Reblue pistols $100.00 to $125.00
Reblue Rifles and Single barrel shotguns $75.00 to $125.00
Reblue doubles (Usually a hot water blue) $150.00
Octagon Barrels add $40.00
Dura-coat or Alumahyde aluminum frames and receivers $50.00
Dura-coat or Alumahyde trigger guards, etc. $25.00
Nitre Blue small parts $50.00
Strip Nickel handguns $70.00
Strip nickel rifles or shotguns $100.00
Deluxe Finish
With this finish we take the standard 240 grit finish up to a 400 grit polish. This of course adds labor, thus the increase in cost. This Proccess is also more limited in availablity, in that all arms will not be suited to this finish. Flaws and pits that cannot be fully removed and blended in will be very noticeable at this level. We most often do this finish on new arms or Re-barrel jobs where we are working with basically "new" metal. We will always try to accomadate your wishes when it come to finish. But if this or the higher Master level are impractical or impossible will will advise you accordingly and work with you to get a correct finish for your arms.
For Pistols add $50.00 to standard
For Rifles and single Bbl shotguns add $60.00 to standard
For Doubles add $75.00 to standard
Octagon Bbls add $50.00 to standard
Master Grade
This finish takes the 400 grit Deluxe up to a 555 "mirror-like" finish. This is the pinncle of brilliant blued finishes. And is not suitable for all arms. Every imperfection and flaw that cannot be removed or blended will really stick out. It is really best suited for guns in perfect shape, and is a fine choice on a new custom rifle. When ordering this finish we will advise upon inspection the suitability of the arm in question.
For Pistols add $100.00 to standard
For Rifles and single Bbl shotguns add $110.00 to standard
For Doubles add $135.00 to standard
Octagon Bbls add $100.00 to standard
Parkerizing
We offer both heavy Zinc Phosphate, and Manganese Phosphate Parkerizing finishes. Zinc Phosphate is the more common of the two and is most often seen as a dark grey color. It is very durable and quite useful for hard used arms.
Manganese Phosphate is a courser even deep etch than the Zinc Phosphate and is extremely durable. We apply this finish a lot to arms that are going to be dipped or Dura-Coated as the porous nature allows these paints to get a very good "bite" on the surface, making them that much more durable.
Parkerizing prices are the same as the standard blue finishes above
Rust Blue and browning
This is the king of all blues, and as a result of the intensive hand labor the most costly in may ways. But it is also the most elegant and among the most durable available. For a truely fine custom gun it can't be beat. It is also a top choice for looks and durability when re-bluing a fine double gun.
Pistols $200.00 to $250.00
Double Barrels (Barrels only) $150.00 to $200.00
Complete Double or Over-under ` $300.00 to $350.00
Rifles and Single Bbl shotguns $225.00 to $275.00
Please see our shipping/ordering guidelines for policies and ordering details.
