Rifle bluing project……

It depends what you are looking for. What makes a good blue job is the metal prep and polishing. A rust blue is not hard to do yourself but is time consuming. Let me repeat. Your metal prep and polishing before you blue is much more important than the bluing process itself. If you don't know what you are doing you will just mess things up. If you opt to have a pro do it look at some of his work. Rounded edges and ground out stampings or barrels that wave at you in the sunlight are big red flags.

Brownell's oxpho blue works well as a touch up but is difficult to do a whole blue job with. If the rifle is in good enough shape with small wear spots in the bluing it is worth a try. If the Oxpho-Blue doesn't do a good enough job you are only out a bit of time and a few bucks.

Good luck with your project.

It doesn't cost much to have it blued. I had an old REM 870 and REM 572 that were hot tanked and look amazing. I also have a 1911 model 12. I cleaned and blued it myself. A lot of work but it's gorgeous. Depends on how much time you want to put into it. It would be pretty for sure.

If you have the knowledge and equipment why not do it your self! You will take more time with it than a gunsmith!

How valuable is it to you? How much can you afford? What do you have for time, space and equipment to use on this?

If its something you consider an heirloom collectible and you have a tiny apartment and bezos level funding - no brainer. Smith.

If you have zero money, live off the 200 acres you ranch and will only use this to shoot elk you need to make it through winter, no brainer - do it yourself.

The middle ground will be twitchier, but some guidelines.

Just don’t do this.

I’m no expert but isn’t chrome a harder surface?

Oxpho blue, liquid.
It its an at home job.
Brownells sells it