Williamsburg Bluing barrels 1750 and before

[jerrywh]

The URL below will show an article about the Geddy gun shop in Williamsburg VA. of 1750. The advertising proves that barrel bluing was done at that time in Williamsburg. The Geddy brothers no doubt learned the trade from their father who reportedly came to America from Scotland about 1738. If they learned the process from their father the process would be the same as was used in England and Scotland.  Which is now referred to as the heat bluing method.
 www.history.org/Almanack/life/trades/tradegunfou.cfm[/url]
  John Brush preceded the Geddy brothers and also came from England. He would have also used the English method of bluing barrels as he was a leader of the gun smith trade in England. In England the gunsmiths sent their barrels to the bluers. The bluers were a separate guild and probably did gold gilding as well as seen in the Dederot Encyclopedia. In my opinion this is evidence that the European type of bluing was also done in the Colonies and could have been the blue color that Gusler refered to as seen on some under barrels.
http://jwh-flintlocks.net/john-brush-.pdf

[James Rogers]

I just looked this up and posted on the other bluing thread but thought I would add here as well for discussion


Per "The Perfect Gun" first published in 1718, edited and translated by Daehnhardt and Neal.....

"Of giving colour to barrels..... black or bluish colo in thr forge....... there shall be made a brazier of charcoal that gives no smoke in the forge, and when it is well burnt, the barrel shall be placed among the embers, where it shall remain until it turn from blue to black, and then it shall be withdrawn so that the color may be everywhere without patches "  (That is for charcoal bluing )

(This looks like temper bluing)
"In the same way the blue color is given in embers of the furnace, also without there being any smoke, more care being taken with this color that it does not pass the blueness, because if there be any lack of care and it be retained too long in the heat, the color will change, and to give it the proper color there will be no other solution except to whiten the piece again."

[Chowmi]

Would temper bluing be the same as fire bluing? I.e. not all the way to the rich blue of charcoal bluing, but more of a grey? 
We talked about this at WKU this year but did not get to do it due to rain. I intend to fire blue a barrel soon and am curious to see the results. Fortunately, I have a sacrificial barrel to try it out on first...

Cheers,
Norm.