Rust Bluing Question(s)

[mrcabinet]

So I have decided that this 75BD compact I have needs to be stripped and refinished with a rust blue. I've done a few rust blue's in the past, but that was on previously blued guns - not painted. What I'd like to know is if I need to remove the finish from hidden areas like the mag well, or is it O.K. to leave those alone? I've read where some people varnish or lacquer areas they don't want blued, but I'd like verification from those that have done it.

Also, has anyone had issues with Mark Lee's Express Blue on the CZ steel?

Thanks in advance!

[SPO1SHADOW]

It largely depends on how you are going to strip off the Polycoat. If you strip off the Polycoat using Epoxy stripper it will leave the Phosphated gray metal and any part of the gun left gray will be fairly well protected from rust or from the boiling you will need to do when you rust blue. I never bother with the inside frame and only rust blue the entrance of the magwell. Under the slide and inside the frame is not only unnecessary but will be a bear to card off.
If you follow the directions and get under the Phosphate when sanding so that all the gray is removed Mark's works OK. I have had the best results from Classic Rust Blue sold by Brownells on CZ steel. But again, you must be sure to get under the phosphate a few thousands to really get a good result from either.

[Psyop96]

Can't help with the question but would love to see a photo(s) of your BD Compact.

[mrcabinet]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know about the residual phosphate coating. I'll be using Jasco stripper so now, rather than being careful with it, I'll go ahead and strip it inside and out.

Psyop96 - did you mean a photo of it now or after it's done? It's a pretty well worn police trade in that's great on the inside but not so great on the outside. It'll be awhile before I can get to it - too many projects ahead of it right now!

[Psyop96]

Would appreciate a photo of it in current condition. If I may ask, what year is it and what is the model marking on the left side of the slide? You mentioned 75 BD Compact...."BD" is not a common marking for a Compact from what I have read.

[cntrydawwwg]

Just curious, is this the "75D" compact? I ask because very few had the steel frame. Most are the aluminum frame, which can't be blued.
    If it's the rarely seen steel framed 75D, then very cool.

[SPO1SHADOW]

Here is a CZ project I stripped last year, it may help you when doing yours.

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=81305.0

[mrcabinet]

SP01Shadow - thank you for sharing that link. I hope mine turns out half as well.

I apologize for my CZ newbie mistake of putting "B" in the description. It is a 75D compact, 2002 vintage, steel frame police trade in with the awful CAI import marks on it. Like I said, it's rough on the outside but an awesome shooter. I have definitely been bitten by the CZ bug!

Here's what it looked like when I bought it. I picked it up as a project, even though I need another project like another hole in my head.

[SPO1SHADOW]

Here is the last BD I rust blued. I thought it turned out very good.

[cntrydawwwg]

SP01Shadow - thank you for sharing that link. I hope mine turns out half as well.

I apologize for my CZ newbie mistake of putting "B" in the description. It is a 75D compact, 2002 vintage, steel frame police trade in with the awful CAI import marks on it. Like I said, it's rough on the outside but an awesome shooter. I have definitely been bitten by the CZ bug!

Here's what it looked like when I bought it. I picked it up as a project, even though I need another project like another hole in my head.

   Very cool. Someday I hope to get one of these to do the same thing.

[mrcabinet]

And FYI, that's what a compact with a 17 rd. magazine in it looks like!

[Psyop96]

CZ nomenclature can be confusing but that's part of the fun! The only decocker, steel-frame with a slide marked 75 BD Compact is what I have seen in a book. This steel-frame D Compact was picked up a couple years ago. Also cosmetically challenged but capable of a tight grouping out to 25 yards. Did a complete overhaul through CGW and the steel frame lent itself well to a blued finish.

[mrcabinet]

Psyop96 - I think I have your pistol's twin sister! Your's is absolutely gorgeous - it's what I hope mine will look like. I love the tweak to the annoying mag lip. I was lazy and just ground it down and cold blued the lip on a 14 rd. I picked up.

Wood grips are definitely in this pistol's future, what with me being an old wood butcher and all. I've made plenty of 1911 grips, but those are about as basic as you can get. I have an idea on how to accurately fabricate CZ grips, but that will have to wait for a future thread.

[SPO1SHADOW]

That blued gun is beautimus! Love the grips too.

[Psyop96]

A joy of CZ pistols is that one can choose to transform some of the older surplus pistols into something that stands out in a crowd. It may not be as cost effective as buying new but you have the satisfaction of a more unique piece. I actually sold those Marschal grips to a forum member as the finger grooves didn't work for me and replaced them with regular shaped ones from Marschal. I have seen a few of the magazines with the bend in the lip so it's possible that might have been done on a mass scale basis. Most of the decocker steel frames have been from 1999 but I have started seeing some from 2002 like yours.
Looking forward to seeing the transformation of the sister pistol!