FORMULA 44/40® INSTANT GUN BLUE Reviews & Ratings

44/40 has long been one of the cold-blue standards in the industry and we here at Brownells are delighted to have purchased the original, high-speed formula and the legendary name and brought it back to its many fans. 44/40's familiar bluing action is almost magic; simply dampen a patch with 44/40, wipe it on and wipe it off immediately with a dry one. The coloring action happens instantly and the color penetrates deep into the metal for a long-lasting finish. There's no need to soak or rub for long periods. Surface preparation's easy, too; for scratches, just clean and degrease as you normally would and apply 44/40. As a blue for external/internal parts and pieces, the procedure is just as easy. Bring the surface to the finish you want, clean it and wipe-on, wipe-off. 44/40 will do the job beautifully. And, it's great for other jobs around the shop, too. The quick action and dark color makes 44/40 an excellent substitute for traditional layout fluids. The steel is darkened quickly so your layout lines will show up. There's no surface buildup of "paint" to foul up dimension readings and nothing to peel or flake off. Coat lathe and cutting tools before sharpening so you can see where you're grinding. Use 44/40 to age brass and copper in restorations, or just to reduce glare and reflection. You can literally do thousands of jobs with 44/40! You need 44/40 on your bench; the highly active formulation makes sure that you're going to be able to expertly touch-up virtually any non-stainless gun steel and professionally blend the repair into the original finish. For the gun shop or store, there's the proven, "sells-itself" display. It comes with a dozen, 2 ounce bottles of 44/40 in a brightly labeled, attention-getting, countertop display tray, along with a test bottle and a supply of nails so your customers can dip into 44/40 to see just how quick and easy it really is. Plus, you get cleaning patches for the "wipe-off" part of the procedure.

SPECS: 2 oz. (59.12mL), 1 pt. (473mL), 1 qt. (946mL), 1 gal. (3.8L). Counter Display includes 12, 2 oz. bottles of 44/40, 1, Ѕ oz. test bottle, 18 nails and 18 patches, plus molded plastic countertop display. Carton contains 12, 2 oz. bottles. Shipping prepaid on 24 carton single purchase.

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Reviews Summary

Overall, reviews of FORMULA 44/40® INSTANT GUN BLUE are mixed. While some users praise it for effectively touching up small scratches and parts, others report poor results, including blotchy finishes and rusting issues. The product's performance appears heavily dependent on proper application and surface preparation, with some customers unhappy with odors and consistency.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Effectiveness

55%

Effectiveness is a significant theme, with a mix of reviews. While several users find it works well for small touch-ups and refinishing, others report poor results, including blotchy finishes and rusting. This dichotomy suggests that results may depend heavily on how it is applied and the condition of the metal surface.

Preparation & Application

60%

Many reviews emphasize the need for careful preparation and following the application procedures closely to achieve satisfactory results. Users mention cleaning, degreasing, and not stopping the application midway as critical for a uniform finish, indicating that application technique plays a crucial role in effectiveness.

Odor & Chemical Reaction

30%

Several reviewers express dissatisfaction with the strong odor and chemical reaction after using the product, indicating it lingers even after washing hands. This theme suggests that the chemical properties of the bluing solution might deter some users from reusing or recommending it.

Versatility

50%

Despite mixed reviews on performance, many users appreciate the product's versatility. It's noted to work well on small parts, scratches, and in applications that don't require a full re-blue, making it valuable for quick touch-ups or refinishing projects when used appropriately.

Disappointment

45%

A number of customers report significant disappointment with the product's performance, particularly regarding re-bluing large areas or achieving a satisfactory finish. This dissatisfaction is mentioned frequently, which indicates a segment of users did not find it met their expectations.

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Not as good as advertised

I followed the instructions exactly but got poor results. I was trying to touch-up some spots on my blue revolvers where the bluing wears off. Example: extractor rod, muzzle end of the barrel, and the cylinder. The results were very blotchy and did not match the original blue of the gun. I did this process three times with the end results no better than the first. Knowing that the extractor rod constantly gets the bluing removed from it from constant use and constant friction I tried removing the bluing and polishing the rod. I then again started the process. The results were no better than the first and third attempt. The bluing was still blotchy. My conclusion is that the only way I'm going to get good results is to remove all of the bluing from the guns, strip the guns down to the bare frame and bare metal and hot blue the gun, which I don't have the equipment to do so, or else send the gun back to the factory for a total re-bluing, which will cost me over $350.00. I do not recommend this product for even a slight touch up because it just doesn't do the job as advertised.

by DALE H. on January 16, 2025

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Unreliable performance. Use Oxpho Blue.

I am a tool and die maker/machinist. I like the appearance of bluing on steel parts. I think customers like it. I have lots of great experience with Oxpho Blue on many different kinds of steel ranging from 4140 thru 1045. I learned about Oxpho Blue from Adam Booth who is Abom79 on YouTube--a machinist's machinist. I switched to 44/40 on impulse, starting with a quart. I intend to get my money back. Using Brownell's method, I get blotchey, yellow-tinged partial bluing which rubs off on your hands, stinks of sulfur, and leaves an odor on your hands. You can put lots of oil on it and it will never shine. The only way to get a uniform bluing is to NOT rub it off. I wash thoroughly with 200 degree F water, then 99% IPA. It always creates a flat, not shiny finish. I have just lost money on a part with an unacceptable finish, which I will need to regrind to remove a bad bluing job.