Browned or grey?

[Ravenshurst]

Hi all.
I am wondering about the finish on an ‘early’ rifle. I am not HC/PC, but I do want something that won’t stand out TOO much.....
So on just-a-generic early colonial/Virginia/Christiansbrunn.....
On your personal rifle, browned or grey barrel and lock face?  Or in the white?  Not really interested in faux patina, either.
Thanks.

[Greg S Day]

I cold blue them and then rub them back.  They get better looking each year of use as the finish fades.  They now look like guns delivered in the white that were used hard.

[Stoner creek]

You probably already know what you want. Since none of us know what a new gun looked like in the 18th century there really aren’t any rules which say what is right and what isn’t. You could also enter charcoal blue into your list of options. Find a gun out there with a metal finish that you like and then ask questions.

[Ravenshurst]

Greg - thanks for the reply. Looks neat. The bird looks pretty good too. What caliber is that?
Stoner - actually I really don’t know. Not white, and, for this weapon, not charcoal or fire blued.
So.....what do you gentlemen prefer on your own firearms?

[TommyG]

Barrel greyed using Stoner's (Wayne's) barrel recipe, easiest one I've ever done, I think if you search here, you could find it.  Lock just polished in the white.

[Dphariss]

Hi all.
I am wondering about the finish on an ‘early’ rifle. I am not HC/PC, but I do want something that won’t stand out TOO much.....
So on just-a-generic early colonial/Virginia/Christiansbrunn.....
On your personal rifle, browned or grey barrel and lock face?  Or in the white?  Not really interested in faux patina, either.
Thanks.

Good chance they were fire or charcoal blued or left in the white.  I like rust blue myself.
But brown barrels too.
Dan

[Panzerschwein]

Browned barrel with a white lock.

[Greg S Day]

The turkey gun is a 16 ga. fowler.

[577SXS]

I like rust blue or browned barrels and polished lock in the white.

[Marcruger]

I cannot locate it again to save my hide, but I saw in one of the longrifle books a photo of a late 18th century gunsmith advertisement from Wilmington, NC.

The gunsmith advertised various tasks like flintlock repairs, door lock repairs, etc.  He also advertised that he wanted top quality curly maple and would pay well for it.  Trust me, there is very little sugar maple in balmy Wilmington. 

The period ad also advertised both blue metal inishing and brown metal finishing.  That answered in my mind whether either finish was more appropriate for the time period of our interest.  I'd say "both". 

God Bless,   Marc

[Ravenshurst]

Unfortunately, the more research I do, the more I learn how little I know.  Every thing I read on the 'net is contradicted by the next thing I read...
Greg, that fowler is very nice.
I am leaning towards browned barrel and lock, but I am not yet positive.

[Daryl]

What was the composition of "Japanned Black" used on Marine muskets.

[Panzerschwein]

Unfortunately, the more research I do, the more I learn how little I know.  Every thing I read on the 'net is contradicted by the next thing I read...
Greg, that fowler is very nice.
I am leaning towards browned barrel and lock, but I am not yet positive.

Well to the hobby lol it’s part of the journey.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Ravenshurst:  if this is the only longgun you'll ever possess, I can see why you might have trouble making up your mind.  But somehow, I doubt that that is the csse.  So just make every one just a little different...variety is the spice of life.

[Mule Brain]

Here is what is left on an antique rifle I have from Huebert Hill 1885

This rifle wasn't a production gun, but near a copy of a Leman

[Steeltrap]

I have one in brown, and one in Patina (grey). I like 'em both. So....there's that!

[Clark Badgett]

What was the composition of "Japanned Black" used on Marine muskets.

Japanning was a dark paint. Often enough black but sometimes a ver dark (almost black) brown. If you have something on Marines japanning their muskets please share, as the most I’ve found is they preferred English pattern muskets due to the brass fittings.

[Ravenshurst]

Ravenshurst:  if this is the only longgun you'll ever possess, I can see why you might have trouble making up your mind.  But somehow, I doubt that that is the csse.  So just make every one just a little different...variety is the spice of life.

I already have my next two rifles planned.  No, three.  Wait...four...lol

[hanshi]

A rifle I had built many years ago was finished gray and looked terrific.  Another thing was that it still acquired more "patina".  Most of my current ones are some variation of brown.  But if I wanted another one I'd have that one done in gray since everything else is either blue or "brownish".  There is a caplock among them with a dark, faded looking gray finish and I like it.

[Daryl]

What was the composition of "Japanned Black" used on Marine muskets.

Japanning was a dark paint. Often enough black but sometimes a ver dark (almost black) brown. If you have something on Marines japanning their muskets please share, as the most I’ve found is they preferred English pattern muskets due to the brass fittings.

I merely recall hearing or reading about Japanning the marine muskets for rust protection at sea.  Might have been noted in the "Firearms of the American West" when discussing the rubbing or boning of the metal parts of the muskets to make them shine, and some soldiers using steel ram-rods for this "practice". This, of course, caused excessive wear of all parts and rods as well.

[Clark Badgett]

What was the composition of "Japanned Black" used on Marine muskets.

Japanning was a dark paint. Often enough black but sometimes a ver dark (almost black) brown. If you have something on Marines japanning their muskets please share, as the most I’ve found is they preferred English pattern muskets due to the brass fittings.

I merely recall hearing or reading about Japanning the marine muskets for rust protection at sea.  Might have been noted in the "Firearms of the American West" when discussing the rubbing or boning of the metal parts of the muskets to make them shine, and some soldiers using steel ram-rods for this "practice". This, of course, caused excessive wear of all parts and rods as well.

I've not seen anything on US Marines doing such. It may have been a Royal Marine thing. I do know by the percussion era, it was a practice for Naval arms to be requested Nickol plated, there may have been some varnishing experiments going on as well.