I have a Wickliffe 76 single shot and a Mauser model 66S bolt action. Both have actions made with nickel steel, Both were hot blued, and both have turned a plum color over time. This plum coloration is very common on guns that have actions or receivers made of steel with a high nickel content. If I recall correctly, this was discussed in one or more of the Brownell's Gunsmith Kinks volumes.If I'm not mistaken, they recommended that the parts should be hot blued at a somewhat higher temperature than is normally used. I wish I knew for my own guns, whether they would need to be in the white to be reblued, or if a simple degrease and dunk in the salts would restore the original blue black finish.
