De-Farbing Italian Bess Lock

[BigDeutscher]

Well I Still like My Bess But I would like the plate marked with something other than Grice
And would also like to know more about finishes
used by the Empire on the wood.Mine looks alittle to shiny for me
Barrel markings and Cartuches
Any one out there .....Hard Core Authentic
Help me Please
Deutsch

 

[paulvallandigham]

The originals were bright. However, if you want to " dull down" he finish on the lock plate, and cock, simply take the lock apart, and coat the cock and outside of the lockplate with MUSTARD. The vinegar in the mustard will turn the metal a dark gray "patina", and etch the surface a bit. Leave the mustard on the metal until it dries. Then rinse/wash it off, and dry.

Using mustard helps hold the vinegar on the surface of the slick metal, better than trying to use vinegar alone. Any Citric acid will produce the same patina for you( Orange, Lemon, Lime, etc.). Mustard just holds it to the metal. If you mix citric acid in mayonnaise( "salad dressing"), that will also hold the acid to the metal and give you a patina.

 

[Stumpkiller]

"TOWER" is always acceptable. "HAWKINS", "DUBLIN" or "DUBLIN CASTLE", "MOORE" and many, many others.

And they all need the "GR" beside the cock.

You didn't say what model you were hoping to emulate.

Certainly clear off the "Read Instruction Manual Blackpowder Only". I don't think the barrel armorer and proof markings should be added as that goes beyond "defarbing" to "defrauding"

 

[colmoultrie]

Before you attempt to remove any markings, get or peruse a copy of the new book on the Brown Bess by Goldstein and Mowbray. They clear up a lot of misinformation that I've heard over the years about Bess markings with detailed color photographs.

You will have to decide which pattern you are trying to recreate, and take it from there. "Grice" would be correct for some patterns, but incorrect for the Pattern 1756 or later. If you're trying to make it look more like a Long Land, then the "Grice" marking may be correct, but the shape of the lockplate may itself be wrong - something that would be hard to "fix," given the stock inletting. Do your research before attempting to change the markings, or you might regret it.

 

[spudnut]

Never thought about that.I was wanting to get the set of stamps from Track to mark my firelock.I never even thought about it to defraud anyone,but down the line I guess someone could.

 

[JV Puleo]

I appreciate your comment about the markings. In the last year I have seen at least 3 non-ordnance original guns that have been defaced with those fake stamps. These were all perfectly good, original arms made for the commercial trade but some ******/fraudster felt they could be improved with fake government acceptance marks. I'll add that they were incorrectly done in all cases so no really knowledgable collector would have been fooled by them. But, a new collector might be very easily fooled and disappointed and lost to collecting as well as having good reason to speak very poorly of the ethics of gun collectors and the muzzleloading world in general.

The Mowbray/Goldstein book is an excellent recommendation. There is a huge amount of misinformation out there on land pattern arms and there is nothing better on the subject - and virtually all of the reproductions have some flaws, which I don't feel is a bad thing.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Certainly fraudulent to place false markings on an original to make a sale.
I do not believe it to be fraud though by using markings on contemporary pieces if trying to get a more authentic look.
Yes, someone down the road can use it for the purpose of fraud but my sporting gun could be used at some point down the road as weapon also. I do not intend for either to happen. :grin:

I do believe in signing and dating somewhere on the barrel.

Just like the others, mine is nothing more than an opinion. :thumbsup:

 

[JOHN F]

i have the grice model but i got the entire gun marked.. the track stamps are a bit$% to use and dont mark the hard pedersoli barrel thart well. had mine done by a reanactor with GOOD stamps that marked well with one strike..keep in mind that soem older locks were used on newer guns.. although in 1764 (i think)they stopped dating the locks..hope this helps ..

 

[Stumpkiller]

Not that I was accusing anyone of fraud - but I know well that a firearm in the house gets a "history" that can differ from reality in a single generation. And, if a firearm is sold, the next owner may be less "thorough" in determination.

Also, a proof mark means something beyond a historical cartouche. It would be like placing a "UL" or "CE" mark on electronics that did not carry them.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Also, a proof mark means something beyond a historical cartouche.

I personally don't put a lot of confidence in the meaning of a 300 year old proof.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Ah, but we are talking about a recent made gun. Possibly adding proofs to a barrel without. Some are wall-hangers of dubious backgound - not to mention any countries.

You don't trust the originals on sight alone - which is wise.

 

[spudnut]

Ive shot mine for about thirty years now(non Italian) I have no thought of selling it and I think my stepson will hold onto it after I'm gone, I just would like to mark it to make it look more realistic.