outlook on rifles changing

[JTR]

Jim, Even without much carving, that's a nice looking rifle!
I'm curious what you use for your wood blackening?

As for circa 1790/1800 and later guns, I'm fairly convinced that at least a fair percentage of guns leaving the maker had some sort of light varnish or shelac finish on them, maybe put on over linseed oil or similar. This thought is from seeing patches of what looks like original finish in the protected areas of a lot of rifles.
Then again, at this late date, it's hard to say whats original, or added a hundred plus years ago...

John

[Jim Kibler]

The darkening is just from bone black, JTR.  I was fairly pleased with how it worked in this case. For me, the key to this type of stuff is getting the color on early when little finish is on the wood. The color then seems to have something better to bite and hold on to.  

I'm a little disappointed in that the photos don't show the surface texture better.  As I said, it is much more apparent in person.  I guess the point of this is to try to reinforce how toolmarks and surface texture can be used to your benefit.  They can create an appearance that is more visually interesting than something plain and sterile.  It must be said that I'm not speaking of random marks left by unskilled use of tools, but rather marks from the proper use of tools.  For example, carving with background showing marks from the corner of a chisel is not a good thing, but facets left from clean chisel cuts can be very nice.

Jim

[Dan'l 1946]

Jim-
   That is a beautiful piece! Do you have a full length photograph of it? Thanks.
                   Dan

[JTR]

Jim, Thanks for that. I've tried burned bone meal a couple times, but holymoly the stuff stinks while burning!

Lately I've tried a couple versions of ebonizing that seems to work pretty well. It too works best on unfinished wood.

John

[Jim Kibler]

John,

I just purchased the bone black.  It was sold under the name of "drop black".  It's ground very fine and seems to work pretty well for the process. 

Jim

[JTR]

Thanks Jim,
I'll give it a try.
Burning bone meal isn't something I'd care to do again!
John

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

John,


I bought mine here. nice folks. tell them what you want to use it for and they will tell you which type to get. I bought the 300 grade but haven't tried it yet.

https://www.inventables.com/technologies/bone-black-pigment

[JTR]

Thanks Tim. I'll give them a try.
John

[Robby]

JDK, I wasn't referring to the thickness of the finish, but the gloss itself.
Robby

[JDK]

Excuse me Robby.  I missunderstood.  I thought you were suggesting that a built up finish would obscure or fill the scratches and when it wore off, as they are today, we would then see the scratches/scraper marks....that does seem to make sense.  If the finish is not built up, I just don't see it hiding tool marks, especially a glossy finish.  Maybe we're skinnin, the same cat here.  J.D.