Touching up a browned barrel

[Crow Choker]

OK, my first experience in browning a barrel. Just finished a build on an old CVA 45 flint kit I bought in and around '77-'78. It's been in TLC storage over the years and got busy this winter and finished it. After the first 2-3 applications of Laurel Mountain Forge it looked like one poster somewhere stated it will look like an old iron bar dug out of some junk yard, but after repeated applications following instructions and everything I could read on this forum and Muzzleloaders forum it turned out really nice. A nice chocolate brown.

 I made one mistake though in building. I didn't fit the front and rear sights to the barrel before browning sights and barrel and had to do so after browning. In the process somehow a small 1/8" area in front of the front sight became marred (not down to the steel) and bothered me every time I looked at it, was sort of discolored. Thought of letting it go but my 'fussiness' prevailed.

 I took the front sight off and gently rubbed the area and after degreasing, applied three coats of LMF browning. Was not taking well but had to leave for the evening. 'Carded' the area and applied a light coat of oil. This morning the area was black as night, gently rubbed/carded area. To be frank, area looks like something drug outa a junkyard. Question, I haven't seen any information on how to touch up a small area of a browned barrel. Appreciate any directions on how to do properly.

[Crow Choker]

OK update. After four attempts to touch up the small area in front of the front sight (about an inch), rubbing down the area with steel wool, degreasing with acetone, and browning with no good results, I took the area down to bare steel with 320 paper, degreased with acetone and started the LMF browning steps from step one. I couldn't get the area to brown evenly and in one attempt one area on the flat wanted to stay light. After the first two or so applications it wasn't great (just like when I first started the whole barrel), but it soon was looking even and after 5-6 coats was a nice chocolate brown like the rest of the barrel. Even the corners of the flat are good. Matches the rest of the barrel, even under light and in sunlight there's no evidence that the flat in front of the barrel was redone. Learned alot on this first browning attempt.

Question, I used around 1/4 of the 2.5 oz bottle of LMF browning. Have read 2-3 rifle barrels can be browned with the 2.5 oz bottle. I did spill some on my bench while doing the pistol barrel, but there is appox 3/4 of a bottle left. Will this be enough to brown two MZ barrels. I have a Kibler SMR to do and possibly want to brown another down the road.
(Edit bottle volume from 4 0z to 2.5 oz  )

[bluenoser]

In my experience, there is more than enough to do three guns in a 4 oz bottle, if you use it sparingly. Keep your solution and dauber covered with something like saran wrap or a plastic bag when not in use to cut down on evaporation.  I don't use browning solutions right out of the bottle.  I pour a little into a small plastic container and dip and wring the dauber as required.  Among other things, it reduces the chance of spillage.