Bluing is way too black. 

What is it in modern bluing that makes it so dark black? Is it simply too much salt? Or some alternate chemical that is no longer used or substituted?

Sincerely,

Maverick

The M55 is prone to having badly flaked receivers. A lot of this model have been redone. I have a takedown and sold frame and both exhibit a certain amount of receiver flaking. I just accept this as the norm. I would never think of re bluing these rifles. I would rather live with the flaking.  Big Larry

Good move! I would send back also, one with some bluing loss, but honest with no sanding of wood and no out of factory add ons would be a better investment

I agree with Clarence. It’s a pretty obvious re-blue. I would be very wary of that dealer if you still deal with him. 

Bert H. said

Zebulon said

clarence said

mark minnillo said

 Seller is a dealer who felt pretty certain it was original.

  

How many thousands of guns have passed through his hands, yet he felt “pretty certain” about a reblue as obvious as this? 

  

“When in doubt, do without.”  And stay away from a dealer who would say “pretty sure” about this particular metal finish.  Is this M55 in a serial range where the receivers were still heat blued, as opposed to Dulite?  To some extent, the level of polishing affects the “blackness” of a hot salts tank blue. 

  

The Model 55 was never factory Dulite blued.  Winchester did not adopt that type of bluing until several years after the Model 55 was discontinued.  The Model 64s were Dulite blued.

Bert

  

Well, not that there was any doubt otherwise, but even I can tell the receiver is not charcoal blued.  My understanding of the coloring method used on steel Winchester receivers before the Dulite hot salts tank method was adopted, was by baking them in a gas fired oven together with sperm whale oil and bone charcoal, which also may have had the effect of heat treating the steel to some extent.  I have seen this method referred to as either the “Carbona” or “Carbonia” process, a proprietary name.  I’ve read the American Gas Furnace Company manufactured the ovens.  I know that Colt’s and Smith & Wesson employed a similar method but don’t know if it was proprietary to them or licensed from whoever owned the Carbona/Carbonia process.  Please enlighten me, if the OP doesn’t object.  (Earlier I used the term “heat blue” incorrectly – I’ve since read that is the process also known as “nitre” or “temper” bluing and is typically used to color small parts.)

From Dunlop’s chapter on bluing, I’ve learned that “Carbonia” was the name of a pre-mixed powder containing charcoal and other materials,  sold by the American Gas Furnace Company.  

UPDATE: To the contrary, Major D. B. Wesson has been quoted as saying Carbonia is an oil, “Carbonia Oil”, that contains pine tar and was used in combination with charred bone in AGF rotating ovens. Carbonia Oil was sold to S&W by AGF.