Best polish for iron furniture

[64Springer]

Five days and the OP is nowhere to be found.

And no one here knows what he really has.

Could be a mislabeled Kentuckyish kit for all we know.

Yet everyone is whipped into a froth over rust removal.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Five days and the OP is nowhere to be found.

And no one here knows what he really has.

Could be a mislabeled Kentuckyish kit for all we know.

Yet everyone is whipped into a froth over rust removal.

Spring, actually if I had iron browned furniture I would hit it with bowling alley wax to keep it where it is at while protecting it.

 

[64Springer]

Spring, actually if I had iron browned furniture I would hit it with bowling alley wax to keep it where it is at while protecting it.

I can appreciate where some folks are coming from.

But saying the man's rifle will be ruined before even knowing what the rifle is makes no sense.

If it was a remnant of the Alamo that someone just unearthed, then yeah, leave the old girl alone.

But if it's some 1980s Pedersorry that was left in the shed for a decade, then break out the wire wheels and git to remov'in.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

That's the mystery of it all, we don't know what he has. The anti rust removal comments, at least mine, are meant to prevent someone who doesn't know any better from making a serious mistake he will come to regret.

 

[Mulebrain]

Hell use a belt sander. and get it over with.

Yeh! That'll get it done! LOL

 

[IanH]

I remember seeing a beautiful original finish Sharps carbine stripped, sanded, and refinished. Just ruined the gun. But his gun, right?

Depends on whether it was refinished well or not. Guns are tools, the museums have plenty to look at already. I've refinished several original guns, most of them early cartridge, which were in perfect "collector" condition replete with the obligatory crusty layer of grimy rust, stuck internal parts, broken springs, and of course rotted bores. I did total resets on them to as-new shooters and enjoy them thoroughly. The collector value may be ruined but at least they're useful and beautiful again and are valuable to ME.

What makes me furious is idiot collectors who let an "original" gun rot to dust because they dare not touch the precious "patina", particularly below the stock line and inside the action. Maintain stuff, at least. It's been deteriorating since the day it was made and it's up to the owner/temporary curator of a piece or collection to keep up the maintenance.

 

[RB POWELL]

Ive recently acquired a beautiful southern mountain rifle with iron furniture that is turned brownish, i would like to clean it and have it look as the day it was installed. Ive tried never dull to no avail. Thanks for help

How old, what rifle?

 

[user 34300]

How old, what rifle? Exactly!

He wrote "I've recently acquired a beautiful southern mountain rifle with iron furniture that is turned brownish, i would like to clean it and have it look as the day it was installed. I've tried never dull to no avail. Thanks for help".

I qualified my response with careful words explaining the ins and outs of it. From his words it sounds like it might well be a high condition original, or was. It would be a pity for anyone to be screwing up high condition originals with the information we have available today.

The OP must be following the responses. I wonder if he did sand or strip and original and is now too embarrassed to respond back?

Again I strongly reject the idea that we can destroy a valuable antique because, "it is my gun". You obviously can do what you want but, it would demonstrate extremely poor judgment. To tell somebody it is a fine thing to do is terrible advice.

 

[tenngun]

How old, what rifle? Exactly!

He wrote "I've recently acquired a beautiful southern mountain rifle with iron furniture that is turned brownish, i would like to clean it and have it look as the day it was installed. I've tried never dull to no avail. Thanks for help".

I qualified my response with careful words explaining the ins and outs of it. From his words it sounds like it might well be a high condition original, or was. It would be a pity for anyone to be screwing up high condition originals with the information we have available today.

The OP must be following the responses. I wonder if he did sand or strip and original and is now too embarrassed to respond back?

Again I strongly reject the idea that we can destroy a valuable antique because, "it is my gun". You obviously can do what you want but, it would demonstrate extremely poor judgment. To tell somebody it is a fine thing to do is terrible advice.

I disagree.
I clean my guns, and polish my brass. I oil the stock regularly.
I use them afield
I’m 66, so it’s unlikely I’ll see forty more birthdays.
Now my guns get put up but not cared for for some years. A new owner has them, is it bad if he treats it as I did?
Guns are made to be used, and taken care of.
I am put in mind of Victory or Constitution. Two old ships, it is unlikely any original Timbers exist in Victory and only a small percentage in Constitution, but they are those ships still. These are the decks trod by Hull and Nelson
My home was built in 1911, much of its history it was uncared for, but last owners made it livable as I plan to keep.
If this gun in Question is a true antique it deserves love, if that’s what the owner wants. Letting some collector say you loose value if you take care of it removes it from being a gun and just makes it a museum piece of dust collecting old wood and iron.

 

[SOLANCO]

Maybe it is a question of reverence for something scarce. There were only so many made of that 1835 and there will be no more but for copies. Does it merit care, conservation, careful display? Is it any less informative than any other contemporary artifact?

 

[user 34300]

I am giving guidance on high grade, antique, and collectable guns. Originality, including percentage of remaining finish determines 95% of monetary and historic value. A person would be foolish to shoot or scrub such a gun. Say the value is $100,000 if left alone. That trip to the range might cost you $10,000 a shot.

This does not matter with modern guns. They do not have the historical value that we have an obligation to preserve. It seems that some here are making a case to use and shoot modern guns or old beaters as if they were historically important. They are missing my point. Maybe they are trolling?

There was a time before decent reproductions were available. Original guns were common and not valued. People shot them. People did ill advised gunsmithing experiments. Many fine guns were destroyed. Now is not then. IF a guy wants to shoot it is much better in every way to get a modern ML. The few survivors should be preserved.

IF you inherited a near mint condition Duesenberg would you paint it pink and push it off a off a cliff? Then, rationalize it by saying it is mine and I can do with I want with my car? Of course not, that would be stupid.

I've said it several different ways, I'm done.

We really need a sticky on this subject.

 

[necchi]

Ive recently acquired a beautiful southern mountain rifle with iron furniture that is turned brownish, i would like to clean it and have it look as the day it was installed. Ive tried never dull to no avail. Thanks for help

It's simple really, all you have to tell us is what it looked like the day it was installed.
And/or what finish you desire.
Get it?
Iron furniture has many options for "finish", and all the variables apply within certain presentations or personal whim's/desires.
What do YOU want it to look like?

 

[Relic shooter]

Ive recently acquired a beautiful southern mountain rifle with iron furniture that is turned brownish, i would like to clean it and have it look as the day it was installed. Ive tried never dull to no avail. Thanks for help

The collector value of an original firearm drops close to 50% when the vintage patina on the wood or metal surfaces removed with abrasives or chemicals & /or refinished.
Consider applying a lubricant such as Ballistol & let it sit for a few days.
If it needs any repairs do not take it to a modern day gunsmith as most have no experience to make repairs on antique firearms properly & will likely devalue your rifle.

 

[SOLANCO]

The collector value of an original firearm drops close to 50% when the vintage patina on the wood or metal surfaces removed with abrasives or chemicals & /or refinished.
Consider applying a lubricant such as Ballistol & let it sit for a few days.
If it needs any repairs do not take it to a modern day gunsmith as most have no experience to make repairs on antique firearms properly & will likely devalue your rifle.

Clean it prudently. As in remove dirt, grime, old grease. NOT any finish! Once cleaned, I like to apply Renaissance wax to the exterior and a little Ballistol to the internals.

 

[tenngun]

I am giving guidance on high grade, antique, and collectable guns. Originality, including percentage of remaining finish determines 95% of monetary and historic value. A person would be foolish to shoot or scrub such a gun. Say the value is $100,000 if left alone. That trip to the range might cost you $10,000 a shot.

This does not matter with modern guns. They do not have the historical value that we have an obligation to preserve. It seems that some here are making a case to use and shoot modern guns or old beaters as if they were historically important. They are missing my point. Maybe they are trolling?

There was a time before decent reproductions were available. Original guns were common and not valued. People shot them. People did ill advised gunsmithing experiments. Many fine guns were destroyed. Now is not then. IF a guy wants to shoot it is much better in every way to get a modern ML. The few survivors should be preserved.

IF you inherited a near mint condition Duesenberg would you paint it pink and push it off a off a cliff? Then, rationalize it by saying it is mine and I can do with I want with my car? Of course not, that would be stupid.

I've said it several different ways, I'm done.

We really need a sticky on this subject.

No but if you picked up an abused Duesenburg and you restored it to like new and used it is that not honoring the history of the car?
Around 1900 my grandfather bought an 1888 .33WCF rifle. After a bad winter about 1905 he rebarreld it, and refinished the wood
My cousin owns it now and it’s fully shootable,
Does it not have a history, or is it diminished by its intended use and care

 

[Whitworth]

I remember seeing a beautiful original finish Sharps carbine stripped, sanded, and refinished. Just ruined the gun. But his gun, right?

I'll see your sanded Sharps and raise you a glass beaded .45 Colt SA . A non gun guy had taken it in trade for an unpaid bill. He proudly showed it to me afterwards and I didn't have the heart to tell him what he had done.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Years ago a fellow showed me a couple of commemorative Winchester 94's he had refinished since he didn't like the factory finish and thought that by improving it he would increase their value. I didn't have the heart to tell him that he should have taken the wood off so that the 220 grit sandpaper he used wouldn't scratch up the blued receiver. But, they were his guns and his lost money.

 

[reddogge]

Here's one I saved from the re-finishers. My co-worker's GG Grandfather's 1860 Army Colt he had in a basement. He asked me where to go to have it refinished and re-blued. I talked him out of it and gave it a gentle cleaning, made a hand spring for it, and saved it for posterity. His wife had it put in a shadow box.

 

[springfield art]

Many guys seem to prefer the 'aged' used look, but if you like the brite-n-shiny, it's your gun! Good luck! Just don't let a sun glint out in the woods scare off a trophy buck!

 

[Relic shooter]

Here's one I saved from the re-finishers. My co-worker's GG Grandfather's 1860 Army Colt he had in a basement. He asked me where to go to have it refinished and re-blued. I talked him out of it and gave it a gentle cleaning, made a hand spring for it, and saved it for posterity. His wife had it put in a shadow box.
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