This is just a side note, nothing more. Years ago when the Green River Rifle Works was up and going in Roosevelt, Utah, there was a chemist who was working in the oil drilling industry locally at the time and he made up an acid formula that was used by GRRW to brown their metal parts. I got a small bottle of this from the guy and used it on a several rifles I've built over the years, it was simple to use and gave excellent results, problem is he is no longer here, so product is unavailable, and I have no idea what the formula was, i.e. what type of acid used, and the other elements in the solution. For best results I would bead blast the metal parts, wrap them in paper towel while they were still in the blasting cabinet, then wear clean cotton gloves to protect the metal while working with it. I would simply apply a coat of the acid then let it sit for 24 hours and then apply another coat and wait. If it could be put into a humid environment it would work quicker, but had excellent results just working in my shop in the garage, and we live in a rather arid climate. I would keep treating the metal until the desired color was reached, and then I rubbed it carefully with 0000 steel wool, wiped it clean and then oiled it, never used a neutralizing agent, watched it to make sure there was no more rust forming, and insuring there was a light coating of oil, eventually wiped it down and put it away. I still own those rifles and the brown finish is still good, and I have never had any problems with further rust. I have a few ounces of this mixture left, just enough to do one more rifle, if it is still good, which I assume it is. I wish this guy would have patented and marketed this product, but not so, and GRRW didn't either, my loss. The last time I talked with Doc White he had a gallon jug of the stuff about 2/3rds full or better, enough he said to last him the rest of his life, wish I'd gotten a gallon of it way back when.
