I really appreciate the suggestions.  In the meantime I've been spending way too much time searching and reading about various forms of bluing on the 'net, all over a 1X1/2X1/4" part!  It seems "all roads lead to Rome" though with different caveats, durability, rust resistance and end result colors.  There's a lot of excellent step by step instructions I've run across from machinists, gunsmiths, blacksmiths, period blade makers, and other hobbyists.  Rather fascinating actually.

Once this part arrives I think I'm going to try oil quench bluing it and then probably follow that with the browning solution, with final dip in the boiling water and carting as you described.  As long as I don't do something too stupid, worst case scenario is taking it back to the white and trying again.