Wood finish, brass combination question

[Eric Krewson]

I posted before about the Isaac Haines precarve I bought second hand that was so poorly done that it will take some wood splicing in the lock inlet to place the lock up where it needs to be. The precarve had a 3/8" web under the  breech, I dropped the barrel a bunch but am still low on the lock.



The wood is spectacular but even though the rifle will be only for my use and probably be sold at a yard sale after I am gone, I can't make a sub par rifle with a patch. I plan to trash the stock and start over.

One of my favorite looks in a rifle finish is Jim Kibler's mountain rifle with bone black, tannic acid and aquafortis on plain maple, rubbed back to lighten the wear areas. The rifle is in his photo gallery on his website.

Jim's rifle is iron mounted, all the mounts for my kit are brass, I wonder if brass would look wonky on a plain maple rifle with this type of wood finish.

What say the experts?

[Pukka Bundook]

Eric,
I am no expert , but if the mounts were fairly plain and you did them in ammonia and just highlighted them a bit, I think it could look very nice.

Others who know more will likely chime in!

[smallpatch]

Eric,
Aged brass will look great as well!
And more correct for the era.

[flinchrocket]

Is there a reason you don't want to take the barrel deeper?

[Huntschool]

Eric:

I would go with the aged look.  You can always "polish it back" to something less (more)......

[Levy]

Ammonia causes inter-granular corrosion in brass (weakens it).
James Levy

[fahnenschmied]

Why not inlet the barrel till it is the proper depth in regards the lock?  So long as the rammer can come and go?  Less work than patching the lock mortise, and the rifle will be slimmer too.

[Mr. Bubbles]

Looks to me like you can thin that web down to 1/16" and be in good shape.  Are the lock bolts already drilled?

[stubshaft]

I'd try to set the barrel deeper too.  I've used ammonia and store bought aging solutions to age brass.  The ammonia looks good but does weaken the brass slightly.  The solutions look false (to me).  I use a patch that has BP residue on it (run it down the bore while shooting) and swipe the brass with it or suspend the brass over a metal bucket, put a small amount of BP in the bucket, cover with foil and light it up (low tech).  Let it darken for a couple of days and wipe down with fine bronze wool.