Brass , Iron or Pewter ?

[atr]

A reporter was once interviewing General Patton and commented on the Generals pearl handled revolver . Patton wasn't long in straightening out that reporter . He told him that the grips on his revolver were made of ivory and that a pimp was the only person that would carry a gun with pearl handles . My number one prefrence is german silver/pewter . Somewhere about 25 to 30 years ago i bought a CVA mountain rifle in .45 cal. that was all decked out in pewter furniture . Probably the prettiest rifle i ever owned . I don't think CVA makes them with pewter anymore , hardly anyone does . My second choice is iron and that was one of the reasons i ordered the Lyman Great Plains rifle . I have no third choice as i truely dislike brass . To my eye it just plain looks cheap , kinda like a pearl handled pistol . What do you prefer , and why ?

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

I too built several CVA Mt. Rifle kits with the German silver, steel and pewter hardware - they also had real maple stocks. Steel looked good for my Santa Fe Hawken and Poorboy rifles but brass really works for me when it comes to "Golden Age" flintlocks and other fancy guns - especially when tastefully engraved. ::

 

Iron.....I'm kinda like you in that brass simply doesn't appeal to me. I don't know if I would personally call it cheap looking but it certainly has no appeal for me. As for why I like iron.....I dunno....same reason I prefer Dodge pick-ups maybe? Anyway, all my muzzleloaders are iron mounted and browned. Now just for S&G's I'd really like a fine Pennsylvania, silver mounted rifle with wire inlays....but I'd like to have a new, 1 ton Dodge, Dually, Diesel, crew cab pick-up also.

Vic

 

[tg]

My choice is dictated by what was the type of material used on the originals of the type of gun I am making/buying, same goes for finish on the metal, I do not care for cast steel/iron furniture on early guns which looks just like the brass type but is made of steel,cost and practicality dictate steel barrels but it is possible to come up with a PC set of furniture with a little research.

 

[Griz]

It may also depend on the persona you will be doing. I have one finished in all steel for a plain woodsman and I have one all decked out in German Silver for when I am portraying a fancy person or a higher ranking officer. As for my preference, it would be hard to pick. I do like the fancy silver, but feel more at home with the good ole plain one.

 

[LRB]

Bear in mind that German silver was not used until the second quarter of the 19th century. A form of it did exist, but was virtually unknown in America until this time.

 

I guess I have it all covered. The last rifle I built has a brass TG and patchbox, steel BP and thimbles with pewter nosecap and entry pipe.

 

[Griz]

Wick, thanks for the info. I did not know that about German Silver. Always learnin' at this site :applause:I will still keep on using it, to pretty just to let it sit around.