Why Age Contemporary Pieces?

[120RIR]

As I anxiously await a totally custom (in other words...nearly everything including the lock made from scratch) rifle by a noted frequent participant on these forums, I've gotten increasingly curious as to the apparent trend to age and patinate contemporary pieces.  I'll admit, some intentionally aged contemporary horns, rifles, etc. look great but what's the attraction?  Even as a kid when I started reenacting in 1976, I couldn't figure out the guys who would intentionally rust up their muskets so they "looked old".  We were (are) supposed to be reenacting events as they happened with gear that was new at the time - or at the very least not showing 200 years of age and wear.  Personally, I've requested my rifle with no aging at all.  I'd rather have my contemporary pieces look like just that - identical in all respects to the originals but just without the wear which can be gained over time with honest use.  Again - this is just per personal preference but I'd be interested in hearing what others have to say.

[Molly]

I'll chime in on this one.  And about all I can say is it's a matter of personal taste.  Works that have added some elements of age tend to look more "natural" as that is how we see many originals today.  But those originals were once new and I'm sure they did not look like they do 200 years later.  There is also the matter of the degree of aging.  "Browned" metal was not unheard of back when.  But broken stocks, cracks, chips dings and dents personally are not appealing to me.  I accept them on a 200 year old rifle however. With use, your pristine virgin rifle will acquire it's own character in the coming 200 years.

[axelp]

Sometimes artificial aging can end up funky and not very convincing. Or you have an imbalance where the steel is aged and the wood is new or vise verse. Adding patina is an art form similar to folk art. It is a challenge to make it truly believable.

Black powder guns are inherently messy and patina happens pretty quick all on its own lol. But I have to admit, I prefer a little aging. It gives a warmth to the piece that a new gun does not have. I would rather buy an old gun that a brand new one any day. And I like my jeans faded and broken in too.

[Smokey Plainsman]

As I anxiously await a totally custom (in other words...nearly everything including the lock made from scratch) rifle by a noted frequent participant on these forums, I've gotten increasingly curious as to the apparent trend to age and patinate contemporary pieces.  I'll admit, some intentionally aged contemporary horns, rifles, etc. look great but what's the attraction?  Even as a kid when I started reenacting in 1976, I couldn't figure out the guys who would intentionally rust up their muskets so they "looked old".  We were (are) supposed to be reenacting events as they happened with gear that was new at the time - or at the very least not showing 200 years of age and wear.  Personally, I've requested my rifle with no aging at all.  I'd rather have my contemporary pieces look like just that - identical in all respects to the originals but just without the wear which can be gained over time with honest use.  Again - this is just per personal preference but I'd be interested in hearing what others have to say.

I agree 100%. I, too, have been confounded why some reenactors want to have a rifle that looks ancient as well as heavily antiques horns and bags. It just does not make sense for them to have new items made as the old ones look now. I don’t mind a bit of aging or patina, in fact I prefer it, but not to the extent some do.

[hanshi]

I like new guns to look new.  I take care of mine but it doesn't take long before they all have a few minor dings, some brass patina and barrel finish wear.  Shortcut aging can look very cool and some prefer it.  I just like the "new" to stay around as long as  possible.

[WadePatton]

Lots of reasons.

Some folks want a gun that looks like a surviving original gun.  Maybe they own the valuable antique and want to shoot a near-exact replica of it,  so as to fully experience the piece, but not to risk any damage to a valuable antique?

Some folks like pre-half-wornout bluejeans too.

Matter o' fact, it's really really difficult to find genuine hard-denim clothing (needs washing 2x just to put it on) for sale these days.  Some folks pay money for brand new guitars or other such items made to look old and vintage.

Some folks want everything totally virgin so they can ruin/maintain it by their own hands and that's fine too.

Patina is much more authentic when applied over great long spans of time .

Fakaging is an art unto itself-and like all art, some is better than the rest, and folks like different things.


I can appreciate presentation pieces that rarely see daylight staying pristine and as-crafted, but I shouldn't own them. Mostly though I personally prefer the feel of old denim and duck faded and worn until all is smooth but yet there aren't many holes or ghastly stains.  I also like wood and iron well-worn by time and hands and frost and sweat and sun and snow, and such.

Everything has to be "brand new" once.  Not a lot of things age as gracefully as a longrifle, and quite rare are the modern things (items of any sort) that could ever age as a longrifle. "Durable goods" are hardly that any more (they've de-engineered them down to their minimum legal definition).  Lucky we live in a time when antiques can yet be had that are as yet useful as they were designed to be (tools mostly).  Aye but I'm ramblin' now.

Suit yourself.  Lots of guns and makers around.

This is another one of our "every Winter" topics. 

[Mike Brooks]

Why Age Contemporary Pieces?

My new  standard answer for the age old question.

WHY NOT?

 It's a free world after all.

[L Meadows]

Why? I guess people like different things. Same reason folks tend to like guns patterned after different makers and styles, it all comes down to the individual who is paying for the gun.

[wattlebuster]

Because I like it

[Dennis Glazener]

Because I like it

Yep, me too. Not with years of use but enough to not look new!
Dennis

[oldtravler61]

  Interesting question I like guns that have age to them. Ian Pratt, Jack Duprey and our own Mike Brooks have a certain nack of doing it. To me it just adds a historical look to the firearm.  Character,age, patina call it what you want but I like it. To each his own and having choices makes everything better...Oldtravler

[axelp]

Seems like the guns that have believable patina worked into them get the most kudos around here.

[rich pierce]

This is a perennial topic.

[Smokey Plainsman]

For reenacting, no honestly it doesn’t make sense, but for folks not in character it can be nice if they like it.

I let others do the living history stuff and enjoy it, but I’m a shooter first so it doesn’t matter either way really.

[sqrldog]

Cause Hershel done it.

[120RIR]

I see the dominant themes are "old denim" and "Why not?" both of which certainly work for me  .  However (and I claim no expertise in this), does this apply as much to copies/reproductions of things like period furniture?  There are a lot of great makers out there but I don't recall ever seeing an intentionally aged tilt-top table, a Connecticut Valley high-boy, or the like.  I'm sure some makers will intentionally age furniture for reasons other than illicit faking but I suspect the tendency is far less prevalent than it is in the long rifle world.

[iloco]

Because I like it

I like it also if done by someone who knows how its suppose to be done.  My Mike Brooks gun is proably one the best I have that looks like a well used older gun but under that cover is a new gun.  People who look at it can't beleive he aged it so it would look old and well used. I have other guns that are finished as new but don't have the character as my Brooks gun.

[WadePatton]

For reenacting, no honestly it doesn’t make sense, but for folks not in character it can be nice if they like it.

I let others do the living history stuff and enjoy it, but I’m a shooter first so it doesn’t matter either way really.

There's a fair mix of folks here. One can be interested in history and the preservation of such without being a reenactor of any sort.
 


Anyone ever see a barnwood pictureframe?  Fine furniture doesn't get aged much--unless one is trying to match a genuine article. The more "utilitarian grade" furnishings (casual or commercial) -are- routinely faux-finished to represent some level of use, abuse, or re-purposing. Look for some.  I commented on some hand-made restaurant tables the other day-had obviously been teased with a torch in the finishing process to add "something" to the item (but not "newness").

[Stoner creek]

I like aged flintlocks. There’s absolutely no drama about putting that first ding in the stock. No fretting about a spot of rust on the outside of the lock or barrel.

[BOB HILL]

I like a gun to look like it’s been used and taken care of. To me that gives it a warm,familiar feel.
Bob

[1sogdusm]

One more for the old look and feel. I never liked new boots, hats, trucks, and I have always liked antique guns over new ones. I’m glad we all like different things, keeps it interesting. P.S. If you have something ugly and old looking like one of those Soddy rifles Jack Duprey did I will be happy to give you a new looking rifle for it!!

[thecapgunkid]

You'll never get an answer to this one, because it is a human thing.  It's so subjective that just about everybody is right and everybody is wrong depending on the listener.

From the time the first Homo Erectus stood up and convinced the rest of the Homo Erecti to try it, all the way through sales of products, ideas and services today it seems to be an emotional thing...Conclusions in search of supportive documentation....a human foible.

I got a big shock this past year at Jacobsburg when some guy walked up to my shoemaking bench and started waxing prophetic on how well made his bag was and how authentic it looked.  When he pivoted to show me I realized it was one I made and schlepped off to being consigned over to Dixons almost a year ago.  Now that it was well out of my hands, I was amazed at the patina and character it took on upon this guys shoulder and I reckoned that the best patina and character comes with time, wear and use..

[EC121]

It wasn't long after Hershel House started Cloroxing his barrels that people started bleaching the metal.  As others tried it there were some strange looking rifles with pretty new looking wood metal that was just about eaten in half.  As the saying goes:  They make chocolate and vanilla to give people a choice.   

[Bob Roller]

The late and still missed Tom Dawson was a master of aging a new rifle.
The Hoffman&Campbell copy he made was displayed with the original at
Friendship and "experts" were confounded and one was angry at being
mistaken in his identity of the two guns.Tom aged out more than one
and his Hawken copies are in demand today.

Bob Roller

[Hungry Horse]

 I think for me, the attraction to aged modern muzzleloaders is the same attraction I have for well used antique muzzleloaders. The phrase “If only that gun could talk” comes to mind. A pristine shiny new muzzleloader simply doesn’t make me dream of possible life episodes. They seem somehow sterile, with no back story.

  Hungry Horse