Browning

[tg]

This goes hand in hand with a current post in this forum, who has some doc. on how early browning was used as a finish on colonial guns? not the quick brown before battle stuff but used as an actual barrel finish like the fireblue or late 18th century browning as advertised in many period publications, and just for colonial guns not European.

 

[C_Laubach]

As far as written documentation this is the earliest I am aware of for browning;

Pennsylvania Gazette May 2, 1781

Perkin and coutty at the corner of Second and Spruce Streets,
Philadelphia, beg leave to acquaint their friends, and the public
in general that they carry on the gun and pistol making in all its
branches, where gentlemen may be supplied with guns and pistols
of the neatest and best quality, on the shortest notice and most
reasonable terms. They also blue and brown gun barrels in the
neatest manner

 

[Mike Brooks]

I have no documentation, BUT...... :winking: I've always felt it came in vogue with the coloration of damascus shotgun barrels and carried over to regular iron barrels as well. So I "feel" that the 1770's 0r 80"s is most likely.
These are just my observations, nothing concrete here. Wouldn't mind hearing a definitive answer on this myself.

 

Mike, I like and kinda agree with yer theory(that's what they are til documented) One theory I thought of is that it may of come about by accident. That is A/F is nitric acid based, and browning solution is nitric acid based, and maybe someone picked up the wrong bottle, and or spilt some. Who's to know. But I like the Damascus theory, makes good sense. Feux Damascus, Feux tigerstripe ala Leman.
Bill

 

[tg]

I thought the use of browning in Europe somewhat pre-dated its use in the colonies is this correct or am I thinking of something else like iron furniture?

 

[Mike Brooks]

I thought the use of browning in Europe somewhat pre-dated its use in the colonies is this correct or am I thinking of something else like iron furniture?

That could probably be safely said about most things. The colonies were a "back water" when it came to "style".
Having said that, The Briish were somewhat enamored of our Longrifle, and copied it directly so they could be given to their indian allies as gifts to try and tighten the bond against their mutual enemy.

 

Here is some one who may be of help re: browning/bluing
Dr Brian Gilmour
Address: Department of Materials, 12/13 Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH
Phone: 01865 273727/5522
FAX: 01865 273794
email:
Research Interests: Archaeo-metallurgy, especially of iron and steel, including surface patination techniques; early technology, dating and fake detection; the development of medieval buildings; British archaeology.
Current Activities:
The metallography of early ferrous edge tools and edged weapons, BAR British Series 155 (1986) (with R.F. Tylecote). Iron and steel in Islamic Iran (with J.A. Allan); chapters summarising the origins and developments mainly in the crucible steelmaking typical of this region, partly based on the technological examination of objects of the Islamic period. Early weapon technology and its application (practical vs symbolic etc): specialist developments in iron and steel manufacture, trade and use (types of iron and steel, composite manufacturing techniques such as patternwelding etc), particularly in Northern Europe. Investigating the origins and use of ferrous patination techniques such as blueing and browning. Tracking improvements or at least changes in the late medieval and post-medieval iron industry from the detailed examination of examples of different type of ironwork which can be reasonably well dated.

 

[flintriflesmith]

As far as written documentation this is the earliest I am aware of for browning;

Pennsylvania Gazette May 2, 1781

Perkin and coutty at the corner of Second and Spruce Streets,
Philadelphia, beg leave to acquaint their friends, and the public
in general that they carry on the gun and pistol making in all its
branches, where gentlemen may be supplied with guns and pistols
of the neatest and best quality, on the shortest notice and most
reasonable terms. They also blue and brown gun barrels in the
neatest manner

 

[rich pierce]

I wonder of a charcoal blued barrel finish could really stand up to boring and rifling and cutting and breeching w/o getting scuffed up. A man would have to keep the shop clean and pad the clamps holding the rifle for boring and rifling. But I suspect it could be done and would not surprise me.

 

Recently I have come to agree that a charcoal blued bore is less than desirable.

Gary, why is that?.


Cody