Browning your Brass

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

I love my rifle, but I hate the brass! Brass IMO just gives a cheap look unless its really aged to almost black. But even then, the smell it leaves on your hands is just plain nasty, like you've been handling pocket change.

No one makes steel parts for a cva hawken, so I had to go my own way and my way was around $4.

Rust Oleum camouflage brown matches the browned barrel as perfectly as I could ask for!  Will it chip? Sure, it will over time. I do plan on looking into Duracoat for something better, but at $56 per can with shipping, That $4 rust oleum can will last me quite a while.

Brass VS rattle can brown.

[Long Ears]

Rattle can brown. Exactly how they would have done it..

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

  I know it aint right but whats a man to do when there are no steel parts for this rifle? Im not going to be cutting and hacking up the rifle to fit other parts onto it. Once its cleared, it looks like the barrel after i rub it down with a rig rag. Just a neat little trick if your rifle has ugly brass and no steel aftermarket parts available.

[WadePatton]

... whats a man to do when there are no steel parts for this rifle?...

we make them.
 

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

nope she was built once and thats it till it either breaks or I do a replica. If it aint broke, dont fix it!

[WadePatton]

... or I do a replica...

a replica?  what would you be interested in replicating?

[docone]

The Hawken Shop makes those parts in steel. Easy fit on the imports.
Another trick is to use ammonia to darken the brass. Splash it on, wipe it off. That and using powder in the rifle, makes a nice patina.
I did a Cabelas rifle in Hawken Shop stuff. It looked great when I was done.

[retired fella]

I'm with you docone.  I mixed a slurry of black powder and water applied to brass fittings.  Gave a nice patina as I recall.

[Nate McKenzie]

44/40 gun blue will do the job.

[mab7]

I just did some brass aging last night.
Started with brand new, bright shiny solid brass... 400 grit sandpaper to make sure there is no varnish, dip in white vinegar, run it through the flame of a Bic lighter (candles work too). Two minute  process that yields an excellent aged patina.

[Gun_Nut_73]

FWIW, I too did not like the bright brass finish on my Hawken rifle.  What I did, however, was to wipe down the patchbox and nosecap with my used cleaning patches.  The brass developed a patina very fast.