Mauser with purple tint?

Vic6 · April 19, 2016, 02:50 PM

Hi guys, this is my first post on the forms. Thanks for accepting me, on with the question. I purchased this RC Mauser K98 in Nov. of last year and I have been wondering. Why is it that certain parts of the Mauser have a purplish tint to them.

Type of metal causing it? Poor job? I don't know what the correct answer is, maybe you guys might know.

A little background on the gun though, it was previously owned by somebody who tried getting the shellac off of it and did a terrible job. So I took the liberty of doing it myself. (There is still some on the bolt and on the end of the barrel but I just ordered something to remove it without causing damage to the metal/bluing.

Thanks for any suggestions or logical reasons why it is like this.

mete · April 19, 2016, 03:25 PM

Temperature of the bluing solution has some effect and the rest is the difference in the composition of the steel. Even some of the more modern guns such as the HK P7 have purple. Some like it , some don't !!

Jim Watson · April 19, 2016, 03:26 PM

One cause of a purple tint is running the bluing tank too hot.
Maybe Ivan wasn't watching his bath temperature close enough that day.
Soviet motto: "We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us."

Mk VII · April 19, 2016, 03:26 PM

It usually means the bluing solution was contaminated or off the correct temperature.

**44 AMP** · April 19, 2016, 03:33 PM

I have a Yugo M 48 Mauser with that exact purple on the extractor, only. The rest of the rifle has the normal blue.

The color of "bluing" depends on the metal itself, the chemicals used, the proportions, impurities, and the exact method (heat, time in the tank, etc.) used.

Blue (in different shades), black, purple, and even grey/green or brown are possible with different kinds of "bluing". Maker's standards, and military standards for finish, or refinish vary.

Sometimes, a certain method will produce a blue that "ages" to a purple color, or a purple tint. I have seen this on some civilian arms too.

I've never seen a Mauser action with that color before, but obviously you have one.

Welcome to TFL!

Gunplummer · April 19, 2016, 04:03 PM

I agree. I never hot blued, but ran across a lot of purplish colored steel. It seemed to me that the parts had a lot of nickel in them that turned purple.

James K · April 19, 2016, 05:17 PM

Some K.98k extractors have a purple tinge due to the tempering, but that receiver didn't come that way from the factory; it was done either by the Russians, or (more likely) by someone in this country after import. The cause has already been discussed.

Jim

Vic6 · April 19, 2016, 05:53 PM

Oh my God, thank you guys for the responses. I never had a problem with the color on there, I was just curious how it got there. But again, thanks for all the feed back. I really appreciate it.

This is a great website.

gyvel · April 20, 2016, 01:26 AM

Quote:

It seemed to me that the parts had a lot of nickel in them that turned purple.

^^^^^^

This is the second most prevalent cause of "purple" after incorrect bluing salts temp.

Gavlan · April 20, 2016, 06:06 AM

My first home hot bluing effort was an old Carcano bolt body I had .
That sucker came out real purple looking.
I kinda like it.

geetarman · April 21, 2016, 10:17 AM

I have a Ruger M77V 200th Anniversary 22-250 that I bought new. The rifle was blue all over when I bought it but now I see a definite purple cast on the rear of the bolt. I never knew what caused it but it actually is very attractive.

RC20 · April 25, 2016, 07:02 PM

Maybe it had something to do with Prince?

Rifletom · April 25, 2016, 08:39 PM

Was waiting for that. I just KNEW it!

kilimanjaro · April 25, 2016, 09:22 PM

This is a Russian Capture K98. When factory commissar comes to check on your work, you throw the empty vodka bottle in the bluing tank to hide it. When it melts, the manganese in the glass reacts with the salts and causes the purplish hue.

Better purple in Pinsk than blue in Siberia, tovarisch.

Gavlan · April 26, 2016, 05:41 AM

,,,,,,Rifletom ,,,,,, Was waiting for that. I just KNEW it! ..

Me Too, it was inevitable wasn't it,?.

RC20 · May 5, 2016, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Was waiting for that. I just KNEW it!

Someone had to do it! Now its done and over......

Rich_357 · May 8, 2016, 10:07 AM

After the war, the Soviets disassembled and stockpiled captured weapons. They then stamped out new parts for the for the areas that were likely to fail. The puple parts are most likely Russian.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...-star-model-b/

F. Guffey · May 8, 2016, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Quote:
It seemed to me that the parts had a lot of nickel in them that turned purple.

^^^^^^

This is the second most prevalent cause of "purple" after incorrect bluing salts temp.

The Winchester Model 94 did not have a purple barrel and the M1917 rifles from Eddystone, Winchester and Remington were not purpled; that would be purble instead of blue or black.

F. Guffey

April 19, 2016, 03:25 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Temperature of the bluing solution has some effect and the rest is the difference in the composition of the steel. Even some of the more modern guns such as the HK P7 have purple. Some like it , some don't !! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

April 19, 2016, 03:33 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,813	Welcome to tfl vic6! I have a Yugo M 48 Mauser with that exact purple on the extractor, only. The rest of the rifle has the normal blue. The color of "bluing" depends on the metal itself, the chemicals used, the proportions, impurities, and the exact method (heat, time in the tank, etc.) used. Blue (in different shades), black, purple, and even grey/green or brown are possible with different kinds of "bluing". Maker's standards, and military standards for finish, or refinish vary. Sometimes, a certain method will produce a blue that "ages" to a purple color, or a purple tint. I have seen this on some civilian arms too. I've never seen a Mauser action with that color before, but obviously you have one. Welcome to TFL! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 19, 2016, 05:53 PM	#8
Vic6 Junior Member Join Date: April 19, 2016 Posts: 7	Wow Oh my God, thank you guys for the responses. I never had a problem with the color on there, I was just curious how it got there. But again, thanks for all the feed back. I really appreciate it. This is a great website.

April 21, 2016, 10:17 AM	#11
geetarman Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,157	I have a Ruger M77V 200th Anniversary 22-250 that I bought new. The rifle was blue all over when I bought it but now I see a definite purple cast on the rear of the bolt. I never knew what caused it but it actually is very attractive. __________________ Geetarman Carpe Cerveza

April 19, 2016, 03:26 PM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	One cause of a purple tint is running the bluing tank too hot. Maybe Ivan wasn't watching his bath temperature close enough that day. Soviet motto: "We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us."

April 19, 2016, 03:26 PM	#4
Mk VII Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: England Posts: 455	It usually means the bluing solution was contaminated or off the correct temperature.

April 19, 2016, 04:03 PM	#6
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	I agree. I never hot blued, but ran across a lot of purplish colored steel. It seemed to me that the parts had a lot of nickel in them that turned purple.

April 19, 2016, 05:17 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Some K.98k extractors have a purple tinge due to the tempering, but that receiver didn't come that way from the factory; it was done either by the Russians, or (more likely) by someone in this country after import. The cause has already been discussed. Jim

April 20, 2016, 06:06 AM	#10
Gavlan Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2015 Posts: 108	My first home hot bluing effort was an old Carcano bolt body I had . That sucker came out real purple looking. I kinda like it.

April 25, 2016, 07:02 PM	#12
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Maybe it had something to do with Prince?

April 25, 2016, 08:39 PM	#13
Rifletom Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 786	Was waiting for that. I just KNEW it!

April 25, 2016, 09:22 PM	#14
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	This is a Russian Capture K98. When factory commissar comes to check on your work, you throw the empty vodka bottle in the bluing tank to hide it. When it melts, the manganese in the glass reacts with the salts and causes the purplish hue. Better purple in Pinsk than blue in Siberia, tovarisch.

April 26, 2016, 05:41 AM	#15
Gavlan Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2015 Posts: 108	,,,,,,Rifletom ,,,,,, Was waiting for that. I just KNEW it! .. Me Too, it was inevitable wasn't it,?.

May 8, 2016, 10:07 AM	#17
Rich_357 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2016 Posts: 268	After the war, the Soviets disassembled and stockpiled captured weapons. They then stamped out new parts for the for the areas that were likely to fail. The puple parts are most likely Russian. http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...-star-model-b/