Yes indeed, this can almost certainly be done very satisfactorily with the barrel and action as a unit, or should you prefer, by detaching the barrel. Most Mausers were made of very plain steel indeed, deeply and selectively case-hardened, and they are designed to be strong enough with this sort of material. Of course it is possible that someone used nickel steel in 1940, but it would have to be VERY nickel to blue much worse than the 3½% nickel steel of US Enfields, which blue quite satisfactorily.
Anyway, this gunsmith claimed to identify it as such on sight. Just maybe he has the necessary knowledge of makers, but more likely he was just looking for an excuse to get out of doing the job. Some of them don't like to say "too much trouble" or "I haven't got the tools". I must admit I've always felt on much safer ground detaching a barrel I didn't have to keep free from even marked bluing. But then, I never claimed to be anything like an amateur.
There is or used to be a trick of dipping scope mount screws etc. in vinegar to make them rust in place. It was always a botcher's expedient, and I never heard of its being used with Mauser barrels. I doubt if its strength of hold would make a lot of difference, compared with the force needed to move a tight rifle barrel. Maybe this man has encountered one that had been dunked in sea water at some time, and never washed out properly with fresh. Or maybe... See previous paragraph.
Anyway, this gunsmith claimed to identify it as such on sight. Just maybe he has the necessary knowledge of makers, but more likely he was just looking for an excuse to get out of doing the job. Some of them don't like to say "too much trouble" or "I haven't got the tools". I must admit I've always felt on much safer ground detaching a barrel I didn't have to keep free from even marked bluing. But then, I never claimed to be anything like an amateur.
There is or used to be a trick of dipping scope mount screws etc. in vinegar to make them rust in place. It was always a botcher's expedient, and I never heard of its being used with Mauser barrels. I doubt if its strength of hold would make a lot of difference, compared with the force needed to move a tight rifle barrel. Maybe this man has encountered one that had been dunked in sea water at some time, and never washed out properly with fresh. Or maybe... See previous paragraph.
