Author Topic: Odd coloured guns??  (Read 10000 times)

Offline Justin Urbantas

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Odd coloured guns??
« on: February 06, 2018, 09:27:43 PM »
I am curious to hear of the strangest colour stock you have seen on an original gun, or have documentation on. I know there were red and blue trade guns, some painted red rifles, yellow stains. What about odd colour stains or dyes on wood? These are from Clay Smith's website.


« Last Edit: February 07, 2018, 02:15:54 AM by Justin Urbantas »

Offline axelp

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2018, 09:50:31 PM »
nice looking underwater camo'd smoothbores!
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Offline Justin Urbantas

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2018, 09:55:43 PM »
nice looking underwater camo'd smoothbores!
Perfect for stalking cat fish

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2018, 10:02:13 PM »
They gotta be black to hunt catfish around here.
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Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Sawfiler

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2018, 10:21:48 PM »
Those are neat to look at, but I don't think I could bring myself to paint one of mine. Maybe when I have a few more under my belt.
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Some would run, ah, but that ain't like me
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Offline Justin Urbantas

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2018, 12:17:25 AM »
I realized I posted this here, but it probably belongs in Antique gun collecting if somebody wants to move it.

Offline Justin Urbantas

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2018, 12:18:02 AM »
Those are neat to look at, but I don't think I could bring myself to paint one of mine. Maybe when I have a few more under my belt.
saves time on sanding or scraping

Offline hanshi

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2018, 01:04:14 AM »
I find the practice rather interesting.
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Offline Marcruger

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2018, 01:55:25 AM »
Not my cup of tea either, but I am glad someone likes and builds them as it adds variety and color to our world.  God Bless, and best wishes, Marc

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2018, 02:28:02 AM »
I've wanted to paint one of my Carolina guns but could never decide what color. I have wondered how bright/dull I should go, don't really know what they used as far as shades of color. That particular blue above is really BLUE! :o
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Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline flinchrocket

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2018, 03:15:58 AM »
I could live with blue after it faded,but my luck a red one would fade and be bright pink. Then I'd have to paint it black.

Offline wattlebuster

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2018, 03:21:06 AM »
That would have to grow on me
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Offline Tim Ault

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2018, 03:37:36 AM »
I'm color blind and I have a bear of a time and getting up the nerve to paint or stain something especially a rifle I've spent countless hours working on . I have to trust the Mrs.and ask " Hey what color this look like to you ! " I'm redoing a cherry stock now and I can't see the red hues like everyone else it sucks its all different shades of brown to me ,  but dang even I can tell those rifles are very blue!

Offline WadePatton

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2018, 03:38:41 AM »
That appears to me to be a dead ringer for Fluorescent Swimming Pool Blue.

I'm not opposed to paint-of somewhat less intensity and brilliance.  8)  gotta wear shades to load one of those!
« Last Edit: February 07, 2018, 03:40:42 AM by WadePatton »
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Offline Dan'l 1946

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2018, 04:37:17 AM »
Many years ago I saw a "bitsa" gun with a sort of mustard colored paint finish. It really wasn't that bad.
                                                                              Dan

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #15 on: February 07, 2018, 05:00:53 AM »
Had an original Snider -Enfield, ( we don't talk about them here!) But it was painted Yellow!
Have another one, same type , and it was painted Black...after the stock being slimmed,   apparently with a carving knife.  I left that one be, and call it "La bet Noir"

(The black beast)  I use it for culling cows and bulls that are sick or needing to go without the trip to market.

Saw a Robert Griffin? print, and the Eastern woodland Indian had a blue stocked gun. It was striking and looked fantastic!  But I wouldn't have the nerve!
Not this pale blue, it was deeper,...........like a Fordson Major tractor!  (But we don't talk about them either! LOL!)


Offline David R. Pennington

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #16 on: February 07, 2018, 05:21:33 AM »
I remember reading about an old murder trial that ended in a conviction because the only witness, a young girl, while not able to identify the suspect, positively identified the 'old red gun' he carried.
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Offline Gaeckle

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #17 on: February 07, 2018, 09:25:23 AM »
I have an old antique gun that is painted barn red, the figure under the paint is pretty good. The paint is fading in some areas, but there is a lot of paint still left on it. The way I look at it, it was made that way.

Offline Robby

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #18 on: February 07, 2018, 05:18:33 PM »
molon labe
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n stephenson

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #19 on: February 07, 2018, 05:41:22 PM »
Is`nt it the painting "The death of General Wolfe" that shows an Indian , with a gun with painted designs on the stock?

Offline axelp

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #20 on: February 07, 2018, 06:34:27 PM »
I have seen a few guns with painted designs on them and I can recall one or two that were really quite wonderful. Like all folk art, Its one of the hardest things to pull off. I think for a native impression a painted gun would be the bees knees.
K
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Offline EC121

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #21 on: February 07, 2018, 07:29:35 PM »
I have seen one of the blue type G trade guns shown and then used well by an indian portrayer who also shoots trade gun matches.  The paint wears off over time and cleaning, and the wood starts to show through.  Sort of a unique look.
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Offline little joe

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #22 on: February 07, 2018, 08:15:29 PM »
Made up a lock a few years ago for a British smooth bore that was from Nova Scotia and at some point it had been painted black wood, metal and all. I have been told black paint resists  salt water.

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #23 on: February 07, 2018, 08:44:20 PM »

If that gun was from N.S it was as likely painted to camoflauge it's stoleness LOL. Someday Nova Scotia will give up her Fergusons as well and it will happen as part of a trial LOL. Bluenosers eh.

In seriousness though I think Hornblower makes reference to painted ships muskets.

Justin, If you go down the road of researching Milk paint you might find some references to it's use on arms I have a vague memory of being interested in the same thing and ended up learnin (and forgetting) alot about old paint.

Offline Levy

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Re: Odd coloured guns??
« Reply #24 on: February 07, 2018, 09:53:38 PM »
I worked on an encrusted swivel blunderbuss recovered from a shipwreck (ca. 1733) that appeared to have red paint under the band that went over the area reinforceing the swivel.  I think that painted ship's guns were not all that uncommon.  James Levy
James Levy