Antique set pistols "dark bores?"

[Marplot]

Looking to buy antique pistols cased set, looks good otherwise, but seller says "Lightly pitted, dark bores." I think he is saying it needs cleaning? Dark bores may be rusted, but lightly pitted could only mean just need to be cleaned. Maybe abrasive cloth? I would like to shoot them, but not often.

What would my best way to clean up "dark bores?"

 

[wiscoaster]

On the contrary, it's my interpretation of such a description that bore is both dirty and rusted. Rust causes pitting. Darkness might be just dirt, or it might be rust. With the pits present, I'd assume rust. However, my experience is mostly with smokeless powder center fire milsurps, so take that FWIW. In my experience with milsurps such a bore can be improved; it might shoot just fine after some remediation; it might not; but it's never going to be "as new" bright and shiny. How well it shoots depends more on how much erosion has occurred from use (and where). I've got some rifles with bores that look absolutely awful and they shoot just fine.

 

[LRB]

Looking to buy antique pistols cased set, looks good otherwise, but seller says "Lightly pitted, dark bores." I think he is saying it needs cleaning? Dark bores may be rusted, but lightly pitted could only mean just need to be cleaned. Maybe abrasive cloth? I would like to shoot them, but not often.

What would my best way to clean up "dark bores?"

If the set is valuable, you probably won't be using them very much if at all, so clean the bores as best you can, grease them for protection, and just enjoy owning such.

 

[Marplot]

If the set is valuable, you probably won't be using them very much if at all, so clean the bores as best you can, grease them for protection, and just enjoy owning such.

Good enough! I won't be using them very much, but would like to know they could work.

 

[Sam squanch]

Bobby Hoyt…..

 

[wiscoaster]

Good enough! I won't be using them very much, but would like to know they could work.

Good to know you plan to shoot them. Hate to think of them becoming "wall-hangers" just because of a dark bore.

 

[Marplot]

Bobby Hoyt…..

The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. - Contact Us ??

 

[Sam squanch]

No. Bobby is in West Virginia I think. Look him up on this forum. The man is a miracle worker on old barrels.

 

[Marplot]

Looking for him. My first guess felt wrong

No. Bobby is in West Virginia I think. Look him up on this forum. The man is a miracle worker on old barrels.

 

[BoomStick]

Looking for him. My first guess felt wrong

Mr Hoyt re-bores and installs liners in worn out barrels -one of the best. This would make an antique with a ruined barrel shootable, but I assume would hurt its value.
He's in Fairfield PA, Freischutz Shop. His number and contact info is also probably somewhere on the forum.

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[SDSmlf]

Bobby Hoyt
Freischutz Shop
2379 Mt Hope Rd
Fairfield, PA 17320
ph# 717-642-6696

Call him early in the day, 8-9 o’clock. Don’t get discouraged if he doesn’t answer immediately.