Metal Finish Options

[Carolina_Skinner]

Hey guys,

I'm new on this forum, though I've been lurking for a while, and reading all I can on everything I can.  I recently was able to get into Jim Chamber's rifle building class, where he teaches you to finish a rifle, so I'm trying to be prepared for that, and for my next build that I will be building during that class.  So, I was just curious about all the different finish options y'all use on your guns. Including barrels, locks, brass etc. I want to make a good attractive decision on the finish on my next gun, so could you talk a bit about your own person decisions on finishes, pro-cons, and could I see some examples?  This is for Jim's Penn fowler kit.

Thanks Guys.

[Mark Elliott]

Do you want to finish as new or aged?  If aged, how much?

[Carolina_Skinner]

Mark, I would want as if it was well used, but as it may have looked back in the 1770's, just as a well used hunting fowler.

[Mark Elliott]

Then I would finish everything (barrel, lock and mounts) polished bright and then add a patina.   When I say polished bright,  I mean to 600 grit on brass and lock; and to 320 grit on barrel.   I would use Liver of Sulfur gel to darken the brass.   I would use cold blue and tincture of iodine to rust up the lock and barrel and then polish back with Scotchbrite pads to suite.    You should get a gray/black/brown finish on the steel; more gray than brown.  See http://www.markelliottva.com/wordpress/2016/06/gun-16-early-jacob-dickert/ for a good example of what I mean.