Rebluing

Double H Gunsmithing refinishes ferrous metal at our shop in Blanch, North Carolina. Ken Barfield restores worn blue, refreshes guns that have seen hard use, and finishes metal after repair or restoration work.

We have run bluing tanks since early in the shop’s history, and metal refinishing remains part of the regular work we do alongside repair and custom builds. Call or text to discuss your gun and the look you want.

Types of bluing we offer

Hot bluing is a strong choice for rifles, single barrels, and many other guns. It produces a traditional gloss and helps protect the bore.

Rust bluing gives a classic rust-blue look and is the process we use on soldered double-barrel assemblies, where hot salts are the wrong fit between the ribs.

Nitre bluing is available on screws, pins, extractors, and similar small parts for that straw-to-blue heat color.

We do not offer Belgian bluing. Cold blue is reserved for limited touch-ups on crowns and other inconspicuous spots. For a cosmetic refresh of a larger area, we reblue the part or the gun so the finish reads even. Color case hardening is a separate service on our Case Hardening page.

Wall hanger treatment

Older guns with a lot of natural patina can get what we call a wall hanger treatment. We clean the gun, apply a couple coats of rust blue without polishing, and blend with Birchwood Casey Plum Brown so the aged character stays. Planning range is approximately $150–$200.

Cerakote option

We also offer Cerakote in a dark blue (Midnight Blue or equivalent) when a non-traditional coating is a better fit for the metal. On a comparable rifle-scale job, planning cost is approximately $270. It is an alternative finish path, not a layer over a traditional blue on the same surfaces.

What the work includes

We polish and prepare the metal in the shop, preserve factory stamps and engraving, apply the finish, and reassemble with function checks. If repairs or barrel work are also needed, we usually complete that metalwork before final refinishing so the new finish is not disturbed later. Wood refinish and other restoration work can be quoted on the same visit.

Current planning times are on our home page lead times table.

Pricing

Every job is estimated after inspection. Extra prep for heavy pitting or prior poor polish is quoted separately. Prices assume payment by cash or check unless we note otherwise. See our Terms & Conditions.

Getting started

Call or text 336-694-5739, or email [email protected]. Tell us the make, model, and caliber, and what finish look you have in mind. We will get you pointed the right way before you ship or drop anything off.