doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bubba The Gun Dealer

Since this activity spans all of firearms collecting I'm posting it here. I picked up a very nice J P Sauer Model 1913 32 auto pistol at the gunshow here last weekend. It's in exceptional condition or at least it was until the gun dealer plastered two price stickers right on the bluing.
I carefully removed the stickers this morning and they didn't come off easily and damaged the bluing underneath.
Hopefully any dealers on this forum will read this and take note.
As an aside: Whenever I put a gun up for sale at a show I use a hangtag on a string for the description and pricing.
Jim

I have always had good luck with Goo Gone, a citrus based product that is kind of oily. It seems odd that a sticker would cause bluing damage. Is it possible it was cold bluing or something similar.

A citrus based cleaner would likely contain citric acid,which could cause rust. Something like lighter fluid or alcohol might be better. Acetone would likely remove the sticker residue, but would damage the plastic grips(so might the alcohol or lighter fluid, depending on the plastic), but they can be removed.
Mike

I find Ronson Lighter fluid works well removing stickers and tape from firearms. It doesn't damage the finish or plastics. It was trick I learned from a car detailer for removing bumper stickers without damaging the paint underneath.

Ronson lighter fluid is the first solvent I try for most every thing; it's amazing what that stuff will do!

More likely it was covering an existing problem.

I agree with Zach. But there are a lot of guys named Bubba. Don't want to give the wrong one a bad name.

i have a hard time understanding how sticker adhesive that's usually organic based, would react with the oxide of the bluing. pulling paint off a metal surface i understand. but not removing rust bluing or hot caustic bluing ???? i ask the chemists out there, what would that reaction be? maybe mr james m would post some pictures to show us the damaged bluing on that pistol ?

cb - the scenario that comes to my mind is as follows. The paper likely has a trace of acid left over from processing. Paper is apt to absorb moisture from the air. The slightly diluted acid penetrated the sticker's mastic and came in contact with the blue. We all know that even trace amounts of acid from fingerprints can damage blue. Theory only - not proven or presented as truth.

DDA

WD-40 is great for removing stickers.