Who sells fire blue grips screws?

Skans · February 13, 2014, 10:32 AM

Who makes/sells fire blue (high-polish bright blue) grip screws for 1911's, Hi-Powers, etc. Someone has to make these - I've seen them on custom guns. I've searched the internet and I'm coming up with nothing.

FrankenMauser · February 13, 2014, 02:33 PM

You can do it yourself, pretty cheaply.

Polish the screw heads.
Evenly heat to straw yellow or dull cherry red (in dim light, not bright sun), depending on the color you want.
And, drop into motor oil.

Skans · February 13, 2014, 04:09 PM

I don't have a torch. I suppose I could buy one, but I hate to invest in a torch and a bunch of grip screws just to try this out. I know, I'm lazy - I was hoping there was somewhere that specialized in getting that shiny, bright fiery blue on small parts.

**Aguila Blanca** · February 13, 2014, 05:27 PM

Try Cylinder & Slide

Bill DeShivs · February 13, 2014, 07:28 PM

You don't need a torch. You can use a stove.

horseman308 · February 13, 2014, 08:19 PM

Exactly. I did all fire-blue screws for a flintlock a few years ago using the gas burner on my kitchen stove. I basically polished the screws until I got the surface I wanted, held them with pliers in the flame (head farthest away) and let the color creep up the shaft of the screw. That way, I could see the progress and then remove the screw and drop it in oil as soon as it hit the color I wanted. Took 10 minutes to do a handful.

Bill DeShivs · February 13, 2014, 09:19 PM

You don't even need oil. You can use water.
If you are very careful, you don't need either.

Skans · February 14, 2014, 08:29 AM

Ok, you guys are making this sound too easy. I may have to give it a go.

James K · February 14, 2014, 06:35 PM

You can even do it on an electric stove (not one of the radiant heat ones though). With a standard burner, just hold the screw on the ring of a burner and wait until it is the color desired. Then quench in oil or water.

Jim

gyvel · February 15, 2014, 07:51 AM

Just try practicing on a few nails first. Very cost-efficient practice.

milq · February 15, 2014, 08:48 AM

I'm with the DIY guys! But if that doesn't get you what you're looking for you might try Turnbull Restoration.

Wyosmith · February 15, 2014, 08:57 AM

Oh heck....PM me.
If you send them to me I'll do them for you free.
You pay postage both ways and we'll call it good.

cecILL · February 16, 2014, 08:46 AM

Dumb question. Is the temper affected?

Wyosmith · February 16, 2014, 10:22 AM

Yes it is, but the 620 degree temp that turns the screw blue is the same temp you draw good spring steel at. So if the screw is mild steel (which most are) there is no heat treatment in the first place, so nothing is affected.
If the screw is made of a better grade of steel it will do nothing to affect them badly, and can possible make them better.

February 13, 2014, 10:32 AM	#1
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Who sells fire blue grips screws? Who makes/sells fire blue (high-polish bright blue) grip screws for 1911's, Hi-Powers, etc. Someone has to make these - I've seen them on custom guns. I've searched the internet and I'm coming up with nothing.

February 13, 2014, 02:33 PM	#2
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	You can do it yourself, pretty cheaply. Polish the screw heads. Evenly heat to straw yellow or dull cherry red (in dim light, not bright sun), depending on the color you want. And, drop into motor oil. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

February 13, 2014, 07:28 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	You don't need a torch. You can use a stove. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

February 13, 2014, 08:19 PM	#6
horseman308 Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 526	Exactly. I did all fire-blue screws for a flintlock a few years ago using the gas burner on my kitchen stove. I basically polished the screws until I got the surface I wanted, held them with pliers in the flame (head farthest away) and let the color creep up the shaft of the screw. That way, I could see the progress and then remove the screw and drop it in oil as soon as it hit the color I wanted. Took 10 minutes to do a handful. __________________ You only take one shot at a time - make it count.

February 13, 2014, 09:19 PM	#7
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	You don't even need oil. You can use water. If you are very careful, you don't need either. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

February 13, 2014, 04:09 PM	#3
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I don't have a torch. I suppose I could buy one, but I hate to invest in a torch and a bunch of grip screws just to try this out. I know, I'm lazy - I was hoping there was somewhere that specialized in getting that shiny, bright fiery blue on small parts.

February 13, 2014, 05:27 PM	#4
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,459	Try Cylinder & Slide

February 14, 2014, 08:29 AM	#8
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Ok, you guys are making this sound too easy. I may have to give it a go.

February 14, 2014, 06:35 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	You can even do it on an electric stove (not one of the radiant heat ones though). With a standard burner, just hold the screw on the ring of a burner and wait until it is the color desired. Then quench in oil or water. Jim

February 15, 2014, 07:51 AM	#10
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Just try practicing on a few nails first. Very cost-efficient practice.

February 15, 2014, 08:48 AM	#11
milq Junior Member Join Date: January 16, 2013 Posts: 6	I'm with the DIY guys! But if that doesn't get you what you're looking for you might try Turnbull Restoration.

February 15, 2014, 08:57 AM	#12
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	Oh heck....PM me. If you send them to me I'll do them for you free. You pay postage both ways and we'll call it good.

February 16, 2014, 08:46 AM	#13
cecILL Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: central IL Posts: 769	Dumb question. Is the temper affected?

February 16, 2014, 10:22 AM	#14
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	Yes it is, but the 620 degree temp that turns the screw blue is the same temp you draw good spring steel at. So if the screw is mild steel (which most are) there is no heat treatment in the first place, so nothing is affected. If the screw is made of a better grade of steel it will do nothing to affect them badly, and can possible make them better.