“De-Farbing” a Traditions Percussion Hawken Kit

[FinnMcCool]

Afternoon all,
First, I am new to the world of muzzleloaders, so please let me know if this should go somewhere else.

A friend graciously gave me a partially complete Traditions Hawken rifle kit. I’d love to actually get it close to resembling a piece from the 1840s/50s.

Number one for me right now is the barrel. It currently has a bright, almost stainless finish to it, and the modern markings on it. Any recommendations for how to best remove those markings? They aren’t stamped, so I’m thinking a dremel might work. As for the barrel finish, I’d prefer to bring it down to more of an “armory bright” or at least not as modern looking, and I don’t know how to go about that.

Thanks in advance,

Finn

 

[bpflint2007]

If the stampings aren’t deep I’d draw file them off instead using a dremel. You would be hard pressed to keep the metal from looking wavy afterwards with a power tool.

Lots of guys have different methods on the finish of the metal. I don’t have any suggestion for you on that however. I typically use naval jelly or browning solutions. Careful though, many here might give you grief for doing anything like this to that gun. I say if you want to further your skills there’s no better thing to do that with than a cheap (or free!) rifle. No matter what you do just take your time and you’ll love the results. Good luck!

 

[rafterob]

Draw file, time and patience.

 

[Trot]

Yep, ditch the dremel, the dips and waves would be more unsightly than the lettering.

 

[FinnMcCool]

Well so far it’s been unanimous. I won’t dremel haha. I got plenty of files, so I’m glad I asked!

 

[FinnMcCool]

Lots of guys have different methods on the finish of the metal. I don’t have any suggestion for you on that however. I typically use naval jelly or browning solutions. Careful though, many here might give you grief for doing anything like this to that gun. I say if you want to further your skills there’s no better thing to do that with than a cheap (or free!) rifle. No matter what you do just take your time and you’ll love the results. Good luck!

Naval jelly, huh. Well I’ll have to read up on that.

 

[bpflint2007]

Naval jelly, huh. Well I’ll have to read up on that.

It gives a light gray finish to the metal I’d imagine once it’s gray you could polish to armory bright, but no experience to say that’s for sure what will happen.

 

[FinnMcCool]

It gives a light gray finish to the metal I’d imagine once it’s gray you could polish to armory bright, but no experience to say that’s for sure what will happen.View attachment 117517

Nice! Okay yeah I love that light patina. Definitely what I want to get. Thanks!

 

[Dave Dworshak]

I used 600 grit emory paper with a palm sander for my traditions kentucky pistol kit. made the barrel look like glass. Its easy to completely eliminate all the lettering.

 

[tenngun]

If the stampings aren’t deep I’d draw file them off instead using a dremel. You would be hard pressed to keep the metal from looking wavy afterwards with a power tool.

Lots of guys have different methods on the finish of the metal. I don’t have any suggestion for you on that however. I typically use naval jelly or browning solutions. Careful though, many here might give you grief for doing anything like this to that gun. I say if you want to further your skills there’s no better thing to do that with than a cheap (or free!) rifle. No matter what you do just take your time and you’ll love the results. Good luck!

Good advice. Would say draw file and sand whole barrel, not just the stamps.
A brown or cold blue and then the jelly.
The Hawken Shop sells faux Hawken hardware that can be adapted for your gun.

 

[user 48679]

Here's a draw filing tutorial:

 

[Gooddaytoya!]

There are videos on YouTube on how to draw file, or flat file, the flats on octagon barrels. It is imminently doable if you can figure out a way to watch it actually being done. Sorry but with my Android phone I can't place any links in this text.

 

[Gooddaytoya!]

There are videos on YouTube on how to draw file, or flat file, the flats on octagon barrels. It is imminently doable if you can figure out a way to watch it actually being done. Sorry but with my Android phone I can't place any links in this text.

Oh duh now, I missed the YouTube video posted just above.

 

[Grenadier1758]

These rifles can be made to look more like one of the local small caliber hunting rifles. You can take the engraving off the barrel by draw filing. Nothing screams "farbish" as much as the wavy surfaces left by the grinding away with a Dremel tool or the dips in the barrel flats by overzealous draw filing. You can change the colors of the barrel to make it appear more like one of the Dimick or one of the many St. Louis builders that made the brass furnished squirrel for deer rifles. It may look a bit more like a rifle of the period, but the lock, stock architecture, and snail will give it away as a modern rifle. The Hawken shop steel part conversion kits were designed for the T/C Hawken and would be a challenge to fit to the Traditions St. Louis Hawken.

Learn more about the brass mounted rifles made and sold by Eastern Missouri gunsmiths. You can make your rifle approach the look of one of those rifles. I wish you luck.

 

[SmokepoleSam]

Bpflint, I like the look of that barrel but the front sight is on backwards, does it work ok for you?

 

[bpflint2007]

Bpflint, I like the look of that barrel but the front sight is on backwards, does it work ok for you?

It seems to work alright. Truthfully that’s how I got this gun before I “redid” it by refinishing the wood and metal and improving fit on the metal best I could. The barrel is rough on the inside and I can’t get it to pattern well. Still working on it but I’m not sure if I’m willing to install a new barrel on a gun worth $180.

 

[SmokepoleSam]

If it works then leave it alone. Thanks for the answer about the sight.

 

[bpflint2007]

If it works then leave it alone. Thanks for the answer about the sight.

Not a problem! If I wasn’t so invested in .45 caliber stuff I’d almost hand this barrel off to a buddy and have it made into a smoothbore. The barrel is that bad inside.

 

[SmokepoleSam]

You can have it relined to .45 again instead of bored larger, it will just cost more. Something to think about. As for being invested in .45, if you cast your round balls the only extra cost is for a new mold

 

[Sixgun_Symphony]

Get a good, used copy of this book.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-powder-gunsmithing-Replicas-restore/dp/B0006WRLCM