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January 20, 2023
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clarence said
Zebulon said
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.
That’s a logical name for their product, but I think the term was in use before the machine bluing process was developed; would be interesting to know if they trademarked, or tried to, that name. None of my gunsmithing books discuss the machine process, because it’s not suitable for small shops; easier to rust blue a few parts at a time.
Could be, I’m not sure I can do a trademark search with the limited access I have now. I can guess powder form would have been a time-saver if you intended to use it in a rotating over. I do know that Sperm whale oil was relatively expensive and became more so. Dunlop puts various rusting formulae under the heading, “Cold Blue” — which is right enough.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
January 20, 2023
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I’ve located some pages abstracted from Firearm Bluing and Browning by R.H. Angier (Stackpole, 1936). In the appendix discussing various other methods of blueing, the author illustrates some American Gas Furnace blueing ovens in use by Colt and Smith & Wesson, respectively. Angier quotes Major D. B. Wesson to the effect that Carbonia Oil was a pine tar preparation sold by 
American Gas Furnace to Smith & Wesson, and used as the “primer”. 
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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