Easy touch up of black oxide blades!

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CrimsonTideShooter

CrimsonTideShooter

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Oct 23, 2010
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I just noticed a fairly large scratch on the black oxide coating of my SMF. I thought about it for a second then remembered that I have a gun blue pen that I could try.


I always thought that stainless (S30V in this case) wouldn't accept any form of patina, but I tried it anyway. I swiped down the length of the scratch twice, and right before my eyes the scratch disappeared! The gun blue pen blended right in with the flat black BO finish on my strider, so I figured it would probably work on other too.

I used a birchwood Casey gun blue pen. Looks just like a sharpie. Hope this helps someone!
 
Hadji Flip Me Over said:
Gun blue...pen? What is this I don't even-

That sounds awesome. I have never even heard of anything like this. Thanks for the tip.
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Yep. You can get them at most places that sell guns. Bass pro, gander mountain, etc. It's for touching up the blueing on guns and such. Costs about 6 bucks.
 
I've been using one of those bluing pens for years - they work quite well. It helps to wipe down the area to be treated with alcohol or acetone before applying the pen.
 
I was actually wondering this same thing. I use a clamp sharpening kit, and all of my knives get small scratches from the clamp. Glad I was pauying attention when I saw the title of this link. One question: would I only be able to get one of the pens at a place that sells guns, a smaller gun shop, or a superstore (Wal-Mart/Meijer)?
 
WalMart has them here, they're made by Birchwood Casey, at least the ones I see commonly. :)

Now I haven't gotten them to work on stainless before, but with all the odd kinds of powder metals and cutlery stainlesses, it just might! I'll have to give it a try now for sure.
 
So does this gun blue pen actually forcibly oxidize the steel? Would it work if I wanted to put somewhat of a decorative patina on CPM-M4?
 
Don't want to thread crap but how did the warranty experience go on the SMF?
 
ssblood said:
Don't want to thread crap but how did the warranty experience go on the SMF?
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I sent it via fed ex to the strider guys. It's gone now. I'm guessing in a month or so I'll have it back good as new.

I bought another SMF to keep the other company while it's gone. That makes 3 SMFs in 2 weeks. Needless to say I won't be buying another knife for a while. Haha
 
If you cannot find the Birchwood Casey Pens. In all my years of Gunsmithing The best hands down product I have found for Touch up or even cold bluing and entire gun. Or blade is a product called, Formula 44/40 instant gun blue. on a large surface 1st coat my look mottled..... Don't panic just keep rubbing it in with a clean cloth and it always evens out. Good luck... By the way Brownell's carry's, it as well as amazon.
 
Noctis3880 said:
So does this gun blue pen actually forcibly oxidize the steel? Would it work if I wanted to put somewhat of a decorative patina on CPM-M4?
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Bluing or browning is a controlled rusting process. so it will not work on your M4 as that is aluminum. The M4 must be anodized, or cerokoted or some other electro chemical or painted on product.
 
panzerjunky said:
Bluing or browning is a controlled rusting process. so it will not work on your M4 as that is aluminum. The M4 must be anodized, or cerokoted or some other electro chemical or painted on product.
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(Aware I'm replying to a thread that's been bumped after 11 years...)

The earlier reference is to 'CPM-M4', which is a high-carbon, non-stainless tool steel. So it can rust or patina. Definitely not M4 aluminum, in this context.

 
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