Curious about copper

[Celticstoneman]

I own an 18--'s "every day" plain percussion rifle that has brass furniture and a copper patch box. There is no entry thimble and the incised carving behind the cheek piece is VERY crudely done even though the architecture look professionally done and the wood has nice curl.

oreclan, May we have a photo of the rifle please?
John

 

[Whughett]

This was my first thought. Don't want no green inlays on my guns.

But it would clean up with little effort.

 

[necchi]

A question for those "in the know":
Why isn't copper used more often with regard to metal inlays and such? (I suspect it could be somewhat of a prestige thing.)

There's lot's of parts for rifles that used copper, new ones as well as historical,,
It's just that the copper has been mixed with about 30% Zinc

 

[andy52]

Copper inlays have indeed been around for quite some time.
This is a 1850ish SxS with a copper inlay intended to be engraved with someone's initials.