"Ageing" a case colored lock ?

[kyron4]

My Kentucky rifle flintlock kit build is coming along and I gave the brass a worn patina look along with a slightly worn browned barrel. The lock is the typical Traditions case colored lock and is a bit shiny and new looking. Any ways to add a patina or aged duller look to the lock without removing the case coloring ? I was going to strip it and brown it , but I think I like the contrast the case coloring brings to the rifle. Trying to get that slightly used but not abused look for this rifle. -Thanks

 

[edw.marshall]

My Kentucky rifle flintlock kit build is coming along and I gave the brass a worn patina look along with a slightly worn browned barrel. The lock is the typical Traditions case colored lock and is a bit shiny and new looking. Any ways to add a patina or aged duller look to the lock without removing the case coloring ? I was going to strip it and brown it , but I think I like the contrast the case coloring brings to the rifle. Trying to get that slightly used but not abused look for this rifle. -Thanks

Personally, I like the look case coloring gives to the overall appearance of a rifle.
A nice contrast between the wood stain, barrel brown & brass patina.

 

[Phil Coffins]

It’s good to look at real case color that has some age to it to try know what you’re shooting for. Here’s an example of well used and fresh. I’d try an eraser on the inside to see what effect I got.
2015-10-21 001 001 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[Loyalist Dave]

My Kentucky rifle flintlock kit build is coming along and I gave the brass a worn patina look along with a slightly worn browned barrel. The lock is the typical Traditions case colored lock and is a bit shiny and new looking.

Case hardening was done on flintlocks in the 18th century, but they would then polish the staining off the locks plates. The hardening remained.
I have a Pedersoli trade musket, but since I swapped out the quasi-North West Tradegun guard for a brass guard, I took the coloring off the lock. It didn't work visually for me on my gun, but your gun is up to you.

IF you want the marbled appearance of the metal on the left in the above photo, polish off the color on your lock plate. Degrease the lock plate. Then apply a thin layer of mustard to the lock. Yes..., the inexpensive, yellow condiment. It has vinegar, and is a thin paste. The vinegar will "stain" the metal. Allow the mustard to dry and go brown. Then knock it off with a toothbrush and see what you have, and repeat if you want more. Because this has no heat, you will only end up with darker areas that would normally last over time as the color hardening ages.

IF you find the mustard has gone too far, then polish back the stain to lighten them or further to remove them, and try again.

LD

 

[Loyalist Dave]

My Kentucky rifle flintlock kit build is coming along and I gave the brass a worn patina look along with a slightly worn browned barrel. The lock is the typical Traditions case colored lock and is a bit shiny and new looking. Any ways to add a patina or aged duller look to the lock without removing the case coloring ? I was going to strip it and brown it , but I think I like the contrast the case coloring brings to the rifle. Trying to get that slightly used but not abused look for this rifle. -Thanks

Here's an online article that I just found that seems to indicate that modern case hardening, really isn't the right color for a flintlock or caplock, as it was a bit different in end product until the 20th century. I for one, always thought it was done the same way...

The Case Against New Colours

LD

 

[bubba.50]

Most of what you see on new muzzleloaders is just case 'coloring'. Quite a difference between it and real case-hardening.

 

[2 shots]

bubba 50 hit it right on the mark. just chemical color.

 

[Hawk54]

That is why it is easy to remove the chemical case coloring from the locks if you want to recolor them or just color over them. I am going to do that on two rifles.

 

[COTNTOP]

Didn't the oldtimers use metal shavings and heat to antique parts?