The article below is actual history. John Brush learned his trade in England as you will read below.
The Bluing and Browning in England was what we call Fire bluing today. Back then it was called charcoal bluing simply because it was done over a charcoal brazer. You will find engravings illustrating this in the Diderot encyclopedia of trades and industries from back then. The browning done was as was done in England also because it is where John Brush learned his trade. I taught a class on this at last years Oregon gunmakers fair for Ron Scott.
A Gun Building Tradition: Gun
building in Williamsburg began
with John Brush who arrived from
London in 1717. He was a master in
the Gun Makers’ Guild in England.
James Geddy Sr. established his
shop prior to 1736. His sons, William
and David, carried on the business
after their father died in 1744. In
1750, six years after her husband’s
death, Anne Geddy sold the east lot,
forcing her sons to relinquish the
workroom on the property to its new
owner. Subsequently, the brothers
built a workroom on the west side of
the foundry.
The Geddy brothers advertised
in the Virginia Gazette on August
8, 1751 they were carrying on the
“Gunsmith’s, Cutler’s and Founder’s
trade, to include Gun Work, such
as Guns and pistols, Stocks plain
or neatly varnished, Locks and
Mountings, Barrels blued, bored
and rifled.” This advertisement
indicates that David and William
Geddy were partners, continuing
their father’s trades of gunsmithing
and brass casting. After 1760, when
