What the ???????????????
 

I have a knight rifle that I bought NIB about a month and a half ago. When I first got it I went over the barrell with a lightly oiled patch as I am use to doing. The patch got brownish orange colored. I thought it must be some grease they put on the new gun. Now I am starting to wonder. Every time I go over the barrell with a little gun oil and a patch its the same thing, really the color of rust. Not on the inside of the barrell but on the outside, its a blued barrell. To look at the barrell it looks great, no pitting, no sign of rust whatsoever, its just that these rust colored patches are freaking me out. I try to do everything to keep all my guns in tip top shape. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Art

RE: What the ???????????????
 

flounder33

Since you are indicating the rifle is NEW, I really can not explain in the correct terms what I think you are seeing, but in just ordinary language what I think you are seeing is part of the blueing process(a rusting process that turns the metal blue). Blue is a salt based process that turns metal blue. The longer the process occurs the deeper and darker the blue. Cleaning the feshly blued gun with a quality gun oil can result in a darken patch looking a bit like rust. I have cold blued several guns and get those darkened cleaning patches for several months after blueing.

I know there is a way to neutralize the blueing process and I know oiling will do it eventually, but I am not sure what to use to stop it NOW...

Just my best guess...

RE: What the ???????????????
 

I've never heard of such a thing happening. I'd call Knight and ask them. They might have a solution for you on what this really is, and how to stop it. Of they might just replace the barrel. By the way, what kind of oil are you using?

RE: What the ???????????????
 

I may have to give knight a call. The gun is new in box but I would guess the date of manufacture to be sometime in 2004. There was a coupon in the owner's manual that expired in January of 2005. The two oils I have used are knight gun oil and Breakfree CLP. It sure frosts me.
Art

RE: What the ???????????????
 

Both are great oils. It would upset me too. My Knight Disc and Wolverine had the deepest blue finish I have ever saw in a rifle. They are actually beautiful to look at once they are all cleaned and oiled.

RE: What the ???????????????
 

I called knight this morning. The guy I talked to said it sure sounded like surface rust on the barrel to him. I wiped the barrel with an oily rag again this morning, again I got more orange color on the rag. He told me as soon as hunting season is over I should send the gun to knight and they will take a look at it. I sure hope they treat me right. In any case it is a hassle and a shipping expense that I don't deserve.
Art

RE: What the ???????????????
 

Baking Soda in warm water neutralizes the rusting process. Give it a good scrub down, clean it again and then oil it. Also, do not use a WD-40 type of penetrating oil. This will actually remove rust, and as stated above, blueing is a rust process hence it will slowly remove the blueing too.

RE: What the ???????????????
 

I guess I really don't understand this need to stop the bluing process. Are you telling me that this is standard procedure on any blued barrel? I have had other blued guns and never seemed to see this phenomenon. If this were the case I'm surprised the customer support person at Knight didn't tell me that, or that they don't recommend some action to "stop the bluing process" in the manual.
I'm not saying you're not right,in fact I appreciate the input, I'm just surprised.
Thanks again,
Art

RE: What the ???????????????
 

When a gun is blued the bluing salts have to be neutralized after the color is attained or they will continue to oxidize (rust). Water is often used with cold blue, but with the hot blue the water/baking soda would probably be better. Could be the salts weren't 100% neutralized when the factory blued the barrel. I'd try the water/baking soda and see if it stops the reaction.
(If it were mine I'd soak it in a utility tub or bathtub with hot water & baking soda for an hour or so.)

RE: What the ???????????????
 

flounder33

I thought it was baking soda mixed with water but I could not remember for sure... my grandfather used to that stuff all the time.. hot blueing...

Fogot to suggest... if you choose to neutralize... baking soda is an Akaline or a base will not bother your barrel at all. If you apply warm your barrel to open the pores and use hot water in the mix to keep the pores open...