antique finish

[John Strong]

I would like to try an antique finish on a rifle. Have any of you tried this on the metal parts? If so, how did you go about doing it? I have heard anything from boiling the parts in Clorox and water to coating the parts with mustard. What have you done and how did it turn out?
Thanks

 

[Cowboy]

I had a Kentucky Rifle that was still in the white. I tried the mustard method and it turned out a dark shade of grey in color. I lightened it up a little bit with some 0000 steelwool. It came out pretty nice. I applied the mustard in nice even passes along the flats of the barrel and a thin coat on the lock plate and hammer. I let it sit for about a couple of hours and then wiped the mustard off. Then I took the steelwool and evened it all out. The I applied a heavy coat of WD40 and left it for a day or so. Then wiped off the excess oil and the end results was what I was hoping for. The longer you leave the mustard on the darker the finish will be. As I said before, you can lighten it up a little with steelwool which blends everything in. Hope this helps if you want to try the mustard method. Respectfully, cowboys1062.

 

[LRB]

Brown the steel with a cold type brown, but don't over do. Then sand it back with 400 or 320 grit, leaving dark areas in those places where you think it would be appropriate and look natural. Use cold blue on the brass, then lightly steel wool the areas that you would normally handle the most.

 

[Zonie]

Unless you want to end up with a gun that looks like it was left out in a dirt field for years, forget using Clorox.

Chlorine bleach will almost instantly start etching and rusting carbon steel and once it is started, it's hard to stop.

I did use it once on a modern replica of a Confederate pistol.

Just a few minutes of applying COLD Clorox changed the exterior to this:

 

[Micah Clark]

YIKES !!!!!

 

[don hepler]

I had good luck, by steel wooling, and using scotch brite very fine grit. I took some of the bluing off and added cold bluing, to achieve a worn look, but without rust. I put an oil finish on the grips. I never took any pictures, and sold it to a guy who thought I was carrying an antique real Colt. But it still had the Italian markings, so he liked the look and bought it. I added an extra $50. to the price I had been asking. In that case it actually added value, or I was just lucky to find someone interested.

 

[Pete G]

If you try the method of boiling in bleach you will end up with a gun that looks like it was boiled in bleach. I have had good results by applying a few coats of browning, enough for the rusting to "take", and then sanding back, which removes the rust from the high spots. Then apply a coat of cold blue, when that has set use 0000 steel wool and WD 40 to scrub back to the color you like. This leaves a finish that is very similar to that seen on well used, but not abused old guns.

 

[Doug Lykins]

I guess it depends on what finish you're after, antique rifles can vary in their look. The finish on the lock in the pic can be achieved with naval jelly or vinegar. If you use naval jelly, pay close attention not to let it set too long as it will eat into the metal.

 

[99whip]

Do you mind explaining your procedure for using naval jelly or vinegar to create that look? Great looking finish on the lock you did.

Glenn

 

[Doug Lykins]

Remove whatever existing finish from the surface and clean with acetone.
From here there are several options. If you want a Damascus look wrap some yarn or heavy string around the item in the direction you want the Damascus rings to appear. Soak in vinegar, allow to dry. Lightly buff w/ fine steel wool. Repeat the process until you get the look you want.
If you just want a grayed look, simply pour vinegar into a spray bottle, back the spray off so that it splatters onto the surface. Allow to dry and lightly buff. Repeat until you see the finish you want.
Using naval jelly is more durable because it etches the metal. If you like the Damascus look, use a broad fan brush and apply by stroking in the direction of the Damascus rings. This is more work and you need to watch closely not to allow the naval jelly to set too long.
If you want the splotchy gryed look as in the picture of my lock, dab naval jelly on with a small artist brush, allow to set afew minutes then clean it off. Repeat until the desired finish is there.
Vinegar is easier and safer but less durable. Hope this helps.

 

[John Strong]

Thanks for all the information. I watched a video of Hercial House where he boiled everything in Clorox and water. He then removed all the rust with a scotchbrite wheel and then oiled it. I thought it looked great, but I am not brave enough to try it on one of my rifles. I may try it on an old steel but plate just to see how it works.

 

[Pete G]

If you boil your gun parts in bleach you will end up with a finish that looks like it was boiled in bleach.

I have NEVER seen and old gun with any type of finish that looked like that.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Here is a picture of a test rifle I finished antiquing. It went better than I had planned and looks fabulous in person. Don't mind the blue patina on the brass, I have since knocked it back considerably, for a more appropriate look.

I completely stripped all bluing, applied light coats of super blue and buffed it back with steel wool. It's time consuming but worth the work IMO if you take it slow and work carefully. Artificial aging definitely does not compare to real use and overall age but can be done obviously. Have some naval jelly or vinager at the ready and experiment until the results YOU like are achieved. :hatsoff:

 

[Vaino]

I just slightly "age" the brass by using 44/40 cold blue and rubbing back w/ steel wool. Don't like shiny brass. I don't age further.

If one really ages the metal then the stock deserves some aging also in the form of some wear at the normal often used areas....and some intentional "dings" and scratches should be applied. I personally can't do this on a new build, but if a MLer has been truly "antiqued", the entire gun should look like it and not just the metal parts.... otherewise it looks "phony". Of course....it's a personal opinion as to what looks "phony".....Fred

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Using the process crewdawg kindly showed me, I achieved this finish on my rifle. This is when it was brand new, the finish has lightened somewhat on the metal now at certain wear points.


I gotta ask though, how does an aged finish look after actually aging?