Barrels finished "in the white".

David LaPell · Feb 4, 2025

I was reading an article today on gun barrels from the 1700's on rifles left "in the white". I was wondering how many of you have guns that have been done that way, and if you have, does it end up just turning into a nice patina later?

Texcl2 · Feb 4, 2025

I have, it’s slower than you think. Modern steel is whiter than iron, which is what barrels were made from originally, so I try to simulate a grey iron color now. These two fowlers are in the white but one is slightly aged by using perma blue then knocking it back to grey, the other is a true white finish…

Tumbledown · Feb 4, 2025

This barrel has been sanded to 220 grit, then treated twice with naval jelly to give a nice, slightly aged gray finish. The lock has been sanded finer and left bright.

Tumbledown · Feb 4, 2025

This is another, sanded and treated with naval jelly.

Browning was uncommon due to its cost, usually reserved for high-end British guns.

Grenadier1758 · Feb 4, 2025

My Deringer replica rifle was left in the white. The metal is taking on a nice gray patina.

Grenadier1758 said:
If you can find it, the "Trade Rifle Sketchbook" by Hanson covers those rifles built for the American Fur Trade from 1810 about to 1835. I found this copy on the Amazon site.

https://www.amazon.com/Trade-Rifle-...1RPZ39MHXAH&psc=1&refRID=FRC72X5QP1RPZ39MHXAH
I used the description of the Deringer flint trade rifle to build my Deringer replica rifle.

View attachment 39920

Gtrubicon · Feb 4, 2025

Grenadier1758 said:
My Deringer replica rifle was left in the white. The metal is taking on a nice gray patina.

How long has this taken?

tenngun · Feb 4, 2025

They can pick up a little color but stay pretty bright

Grenadier1758 · Feb 4, 2025

My Derringer rifle has been aging for about 6 years.

westrayer · Feb 5, 2025

"In the white" was a way for the military to keep an eye on maintenance. Rust shows better on the bright barrel. I had a Springfield 1871 that looked odd since the receiver was blued, but the barrel was not. Just the way it was..

longcruise · Feb 5, 2025

I did a deerhunter with the naval jelly treatment about 6 years ago. It still looks good but a re do of the treatment could be easily done.

ZUG · Feb 5, 2025

I did some guns with a phosphoric acid wash for a dull gray look and then a coat of wax on all the parts. I find that if you want to keep it looking as good as it did when first done than you will have to reapply the phosphoric acid wash often and that depends on how much you use the gun. Using a cold gun blue will give you a darker gray/black look depending how hard you scrub back the cold blue. Your milage may vary.

Rock Home Isle · Feb 5, 2025

Here’s my Pedersoli Brown Bess Carbine Kit, I left the barrel in the white. Over the last 35 years, it’s developed a nice dull grey patina.

Tumbledown · Feb 6, 2025

ZUG said:
I did some guns with a phosphoric acid wash for a dull gray look and then a coat of wax on all the parts. I find that if you want to keep it looking as good as it did when first done than you will have to reapply the phosphoric acid wash often and that depends on how much you use the gun. Using a cold gun blue will give you a darker gray/black look depending how hard you scrub back the cold blue. Your milage may vary.

Wash, as in a thin solution? Maybe like wipe-on bluing, it doesn't go deep enough into the metal. Try the naval jelly. Apply a coat, let it sit 15 minutes. If it dries too much, brush on more while it's "soaking." Wipe off, rinse, dry. Repeat if you want it grayer.

wiscoaster · Feb 6, 2025

I did my Kibler Colonial barrel and lock both in-the-white, and though it's been in its sock for a couple months now, I saw no evidence it was beginning to rust. I think the key is to be absolutely obsessive about mirror-polishing the steel. It's much harder for rust to get a start. And of course lightly oiling after cleaning.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...l-58-caliber-smoothbore-maximum-bling.181896/

ekettenburg · Feb 7, 2025

Keep in mind that most 'in the white' iron objects finished up in 1760 or 1770 or 1780 were not finished to the degree that we finish them now. I have been privy to some spectacular antiques that were clearly 'in the white' originally and the barrels would be considered very rough by today's standards; you will easily see long draw file remnants under a bit of a 'scrubbed' looking higher polish which was apparently the finish. Frankly this holds true for brass components also, but that's an entirely different subject.

Pretty much everyone working today is finishing these things up to a much higher standard than American antiques, much more along the lines of very high quality Euro work which was of a different standard.

A 'in the white' barrel used often and without modern anti-rust oils will gray very, very quickly unless you are obsessive about cleaning. True iron will gray even faster and can be browned faster (and more consistently) than modern 12L or various other common barrel steels.

Horton1 · Mar 2, 2025

I left my current rifle barrel and lock in the white for a year and a half shooting it every week. I recently gave up. I de greased it I thought I had some jacks black on hand. Turned out to be jax brown. Gave it a try anyway. Although it took quite a few reapplications it turned a nice subtle grey. I rubbed it back pretty gently with scotch Brite. Just to even it out and brighten up edges. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Best part was the cast pieces out the sights had a slightly different reaction and caused some odd barrel staining around the bases and it looked pretty natural so I left it.

My last rifle was a different beast it was left In the white and it aged very fast. Had to use steel wool on it several times to keep it from looking like a rusty piece of junk. I like that nice light grey finish.

wiscoaster · Mar 2, 2025

Horton1 said:
I left my current rifle barrel and lock in the white for a year and a half shooting it every week. I recently gave up. I de greased it I thought I had some jacks black on hand. Turned out to be jax brown. Gave it a try anyway......

Can you please post a pic of that? I was thinking of trying that product on gun steel to see what it did. Would save me some elbow grease if you can. Thanks!!

Mgbruch · Mar 2, 2025

Two rifles I built from a blank. The top is my personal gun, which I left in the white. The bottom went to a customer, and I did apply the artifice of aging to it. My rifle was about five years old when the photo was taken. Even today, three years later, My gun looks about the same. Just a nice satin. When finishing the iron, I sand to a 220 grit, then finish with purple scotchbrite.

Horton1 · Mar 2, 2025

wiscoaster said:
Can you please post a pic of that? I was thinking of trying that product on gun steel to see what it did. Would save me some elbow grease if you can. Thanks!!

I will later this week I’m out of town til late tomorrow night. If you could remind me on Tuesday. I’ll try and remember.

wiscoaster · Mar 2, 2025

Horton1 said:
I will later this week I’m out of town til late tomorrow night. If you could remind me on Tuesday. I’ll try and remember.

Based on your pics posted above I think that's the "look" I want, but if you're able to do some close-ups, please do, that would be helpful. :thumb:

Barrels finished "in the white".

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