I really appreciate all your kind words, guys. They are most encouraging and make me want to run out to the shop and get to crackin' on building another gun! Even though I have a couple going already!
wow that looks nice! How did you antique the brass? It looks a lot better than the brass black treatment that I've seen.
Mike - I have been using Birchwood Casey cold blue and sometimes their Super Blue on brass for patina like on this gun. I then rub it back with grey Scothbrite or #0000 fine steel wool till I get the desired effect. Sometimes I rub it back a little more than necessary because it will mellow out in a couple of days a bit darker than what it is rubbed back to. Just experiment to get what you like. I have tried Alumna Black but it gives a harsher patina, you might get good results with that if you experiment.
I think you’ve been channeling your inner Mike Brooks, Curtiss! Lots to like there. I need one of those!
Who is this Mike Brooks fellow anyways? Just funnin' you Mike!
Seriously though Rich, I take that as a compliment!
Very cool fowling piece Curtis! Your English walnut has just the right amount of interesting figure and grain, and the colour is very pleasing. I'm impressed by your buttplate: I like the curve you're given the plate and the engraving.
And I must congratulate you on the stump you used as a backdrop...very complimentary.
Thank you Taylor! To get the contour of the buttplate I first rasped the butt to the shape I wanted, then inlet and nailed the finial of the annealed plate, started bending it down and hammering it home with a nylon teardrop hammer from Harbor Freight. It has a blunt point and a rounded end and ony cost a couple of bucks. It doesn't mar or dent the brass.
As for the stump in the photos - I dragged it to the end of my shooting range with my tractor to use for hanging targets on originally (it is flat on the other side) but now I just use the backside for shooting photos.
Curtis
