Why should I not do this...

[ronlarimer]

I have a 7rd 870 Express that works fine, I just don't like handling it and I am over the all black tactical thing, so I have decided to give it a face lift.

I have already stripped the receiver, I plan on polishing it, adding some wood stocks, gold front bead, plating the trigger and maybe some jeweling, metal follower, larger safety, maybe some porting, fitting choke tubes et cetera.

The goal in the end is to have a very functional SD gun, that looks like a field gun.

I am struggling with how I want to handle the bluing though.  I think I would like to do heat bluing with oil quenching, but I don't know if it would hurt the receiver and I can't find anyone else that has done it. (I think that may be a red flag).

Are there any gun smiths that can tell me if and why this would be a bad plan?

[Paraguy]

You should do this, sounds very interesting!  Pics must be posted when complete.  Did a quick check on YouTube, looks like Larry Potterfield and Midway USA have just about everything you need for Bluing.  Larry actually is in some of the How to videos in regards to bluing.  As for the receiver question, I am not qualified to answer sadly but am working on fixing that.

[fightingquaker13]

I think you should do it as well. I mean hell, its only an 870, its not like you're doing this to an LC Smith or something. If it turns out ugly, well, it was ugly to start with. It will still shoot great and you will have learned something (and us as well by extension). On the other hand, it might look pretty sweet. I say go for it.
FQ13

[Timothy]

I have a 42 year old Wingmaster that takes offense to being called ugly!   

It's polished receiver and barrel, American Walnut lumber and care makes it quite a lovely little gun!  Certainly not an English double by any means but for this poor old mick, it's quite sufficient.

It also serves to protect me in a pinch....

 

[fightingquaker13]

I have a 42 year old Wingmaster that takes offense to being called ugly!   

It's polished receiver and barrel, American Walnut lumber and care makes it quite a lovely little gun!  Certainly not an English double by any means but for this poor old mick, it's quite sufficient.

It also serves to protect me in a pinch....

 

i used to own one in 16 gauge. They are a stock  pump gun. They are many things, but pretty ain't one of them. Settle for "a damn fine tool" and I'm there with you.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

i used to own one in 16 gauge. They are a stock  pump gun. They are many things, but pretty ain't one of them. Settle for "a damn fine tool" and I'm there with you.
FQ13

The new 870's are junk compared to the early ones!  My daughter has one and it has no character.  I looked at a Browning upland pump gun recently and it was crap as well!  Made in Japan, poor fitting stock, etc...

Anyway, I don't like plastic stocks on anything.  Can't even convince myself to buy a plastic handgun yet.

[PegLeg45]

Beauty is in the eye of the........well, you know...  

I gotta go with Tim.....I've seen some right purty pump guns. A box-perfect Wingmaster or Ithaca 37 is a sight to see, in my eyes. My best friend has a Winchester Model 12 (with US property markings) that survived its military duty unscathed (probably sat out the war in an armory before being 'procured' and relegated to closet duty for decades) and looks practically new. It's one beautiful gun to me.

[ellis4538]

Mr. Potterfield seems to be pretty knowledgable on things gunsmithing so you might try contacting him and ask your question about hurting the receiver.  I talked to him at the NRA convention and he was quite nice to talk to.

FWIW


Richard

[Majer]

if you want to fire blue the receiver I would call Turnbull restorations and see what they would charge . They are the best out there and would know if it was possible or practical.

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/store.asp?pid=20180&catid=19872

[ronlarimer]

Alright, I have attached 3 photos one is the before, a completely serviceable 870, one is it in pieces and the last is with a polished barrel and mag tube(s).

When I got started I decided to remove the finish with sanding and it didn't go so well to I decided to use a chemical stripper.  Aircraft stripper did nothing in 30 mins.  Brake cleaner did nothing.  Acidic tile cleaner made the finish VANISH!  It bubbled up and it was just gone.

As the parts sit now I went through 80, 120, 180, 320 and 400 grit sandpapers and then I hit is with 0000 steel wool. It looks good enough, not a show gun, but that's not the point.

I called Turnbull Mfg and I was very impressed.  They didn't want to tell me how to do it, but they did point out a few things to consider.  The guy I spoke to mentioned that they had done this process a "couple" of times and agreed that with the relatively low pressures there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

I think my plan is to blue the receiver and the barrel in such a way as it looks like it was caused by the heat of the gun firing.  I am going to do the mag tube to look like it was done with radiant heat from the barrel.  If it is too much I am going to cold blue over it.

That's the plan.