1851 Navy

[Zulch]

I have to admit the effect of the vinegar on the brass looks great! Thanks for the explanation

 

[Hawk54]

I have to admit the effect of the vinegar on the brass looks great! Thanks for the explanation

I find suspending the brass pieces over the vinegar works real well. The fumes from the vinegar work to evenly patina the brass. Turn the parts over every half hour or so that all the surfaces are exposed evenly. Keep doing this until the desired color is reached. Some good You Tube videos on aging brass. Here is a good one. How to Antique Brass - Leathercrafting Tips - YouTube

 

[NeilMacleod]

Awesome pieces !!!

 

[Zulch]

I find suspending the brass pieces over the vinegar works real well. The fumes from the vinegar work to evenly patina the brass. Turn the parts over every half hour or so that all the surfaces are exposed evenly. Keep doing this until the desired color is reached. Some good You Tube videos on aging brass. Here is a good one. How to Antique Brass - Leathercrafting Tips - YouTube

Hawk, what type of vinegar is recommended? I know there are different types.

 

[springfield art]

Yep. I preferred the 44’s so as the opportunity presented itself I bough not one but two. One with a 5.5 inch barrel.
As to authenticity that counts as much as a rat’s petunias.

Hey! My pet rat's petunia garden is his pride and joy. Don't hurt the li'l fella's feelings!

 

[springfield art]

I've always liked the "service worn" look.

I have a few steel frame Ubertis, I just like how the brass frame Colt clones look. I picked up 2 of the .36's when stuff was still cheap and a Pietta brasser was a sub-$200 gun brand new, 2 I got used for almost free and I just got the .44 for about $150

I just take the hammer , loading lever, all the screws , cylinder and barrel and put them in a foil roasting tray, cover them with vinegar, move the parts around every few hours and the next day I pull them out and hit everything with Action Blaster.

I think it gives the guns a neat "service worn" look since the Confederate gunmakers probably would have used a browning or a fragile blue that would have quickly worn off

All of the original Schneider & Glassick, and Griswold revolvers are "gunmetal" but likely because they were all used hard.

 

[Hawk54]

Hawk, what type of vinegar is recommended? I know there are different types.

Plain distilled white vinegar works fine.

 

[kemart17]

Never let historical accuracy get in the way of fun.

well said

 

[springfield art]

I have to admit the effect of the vinegar on the brass looks great! Thanks for the explanation

I gotta try this Brass/Vinegar thing! Thanks.

 

[Stantheman86]

I let the brass darken up naturally with just powder residue and handling

The white vinegar zips the blue right off the barrel and cylinder in less than a day

I soak the fake case hardened parts too to "dull" the color to make them match the gun metal

 

[Hawk54]

You only expose the brass parts to the vinegar. That means taking it apart.