Defarbing Barrel

[Calum]

”˜morning,

While I don’t particularly ascribe to it, defarbed wepons (the whole deal, not just the barrel) are popular with the more authentic ACW reenactors. I can see reshaping and refinishing the stock, etc, but using an out of the box rifle has never bothered me. For those that do it, they tend to move the serial number to the bottom of the barrel, where it won’t be seen without disassembly. Where I tend to "modify" is if the weapon has reliability issues.

Going off on a slight ff tangent here, what I do find makes a difference is using original bayonets on my muskets and rifles. They are lighter than the repros, and because they are better quality steel, they are considerably less likely to bend if one lands on them wrong.

Calum

 

[54ball]

Fred I see your point. I don't mind the markings on my Lyman. They have a period flare that looks OK.

On the other hand, Traditions and some others in that price market have taken to using what looks like a 5 dollar electric scratch engraver. It is absolutely horrible and the ones I have seen are done after the finish. It looks like a bare metal open wound.

I can see removing that unsightly mess.

 

[necchi]

don't understand why defarbing a factory gun makes the gun "less factory"?

very little will change their appearance and make them look less "factory

Nobody is trying to fool anyone,
It just looks "cleaner".
If folks are going to bother browning a barrel, might just as well clean it up.

 

[bangfxr]

I defarbed my 1863 Springfield by removing the DGW and Japan leaving the serial number by using a draw file and several grads of oil stones to a smooth finish with no troubles. Now it looks better in a stack of muskets. Without hearing visitors saying " When did Japan make rifles for the civil war".

 

[Loyalist Dave]

they tend to move the serial number to the bottom of the barrel, where it won’t be seen without disassembly.

Unfortunately, Johnny Law doesn't know to disassemble a musket to look at the barrel where it's covered by the stock, let alone knowing how to do that if they wished.

LD

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Never saw the need to defarb anything. Tells me what company to go to for parts, Deer don't care whether the gun has writing on the barrel or not. Neither do targets. As for more authentic? You have a gun with modern steel, modern precision rifling, and a mass produced lock and stock. Who are you trying to fool? You want authentic, bang out an iron barrel and custom lock parts. Wear linen undergarments to be historically correct and lose the partial dentures, hearing aids and contacts. Ditch the modern canvas and don't consume any non=period correct foods when camped out. Nothing like walking down the row at a Rondy and seeing a skillet full of beans and weenies on the fire. Or spaghetti and hear the camp occupants arguing about something being HC.

 

[cowboysteve]

You gotta love these forums. A poor guy asks a simple question on how to remove the factory lettering on his rifle, and we've devolved into the pros and cons of lowly production rifles and everything period correct. As I stated earlier, to each their own. Some of folks like clean lines with out safety warnings and location of manufacture stamped all over things. Others don't care.

 

[mooman76]

I don't care either way. Like stated, to each his own. Lots of opinions here and you will always get them when asking a question. It might or might not have saved some opinions if you just stated a reason., Not that you have to but they are trying to help and mean well.

 

[Mean Gene]

:hatsoff: :metoo: I've enjoyed visiting the forum every day since I signed up for it, but sometimes some folks get carried away and off track on subjects.

 

[Black Hand]

Yes - it can be done.
I just don't understand why someone would go through all the effort for something insignificant..?

 

[tenngun]

Well I am put in mind of a Hawken copy. One that has a strieght barrel a per cast cap too much or to little of a drop ect and a true copy with tapered barrel correct drop ect.sode by side you might not see the difference right off. What can you accept? Some of the more popular repos come to mind. Pede's trate gun vs North Star west.one is near perfect the other not as much but would make no difference in use.little difference in general look,most won't notice the differences until pointed out. What can you live with?

 

[Black Hand]

Well I am put in mind of a Hawken copy. One that has a strieght barrel a per cast cap too much or to little of a drop ect and a true copy with tapered barrel correct drop ect.sode by side you might not see the difference right off. What can you accept? Some of the more popular repos come to mind. Pede's trate gun vs North Star west.one is near perfect the other not as much but would make no difference in use.little difference in general look,most won't notice the differences until pointed out. What can you live with?

???

 

[Eric Krewson]

This is the rifle that I didn't want a company logo on the barrel, I think most of you would agree;



I am playing around with a collection of random parts trying to put together a TC Renegade. I feel leaving the logo could possible identify the gun to the uninformed and possible newbie buyers, name recognition, the logo stays.

 

[Billnpatti]

Okay, all the yea saying and nay saying aside, the choice to remove the markings is yours to make, and yours alone. After all, it is your rifle.

I think about any good gunsmith can remove the markings for you and refinish the barrel with brown or blue. However, let me assure you that you can do it yourself and it doesn't take expensive tools nor great skill to do it. You will need (1) a new medium size fine mill bastard file, (2) a package of assorted grit emery paper, (3) some chalk and (4) a small steel brush, called a file card, to clean the teeth of your file. Oh, and (5) you will need some cold bluing or browning solution. All of this stuff will cost a lot less than having a gunsmith do the job for you. Read up on how to properly draw file. It isn't hard, you just need to know how to do it properly. Use the chalk to rub on the teeth of your file to keep them from clogging with metal. Cut only in one direction by pulling the file toward yourself (that's why it is called draw filing). Do not move it back and forth as this will dull the teeth. Brush and re-chalk the file often. File the full length of the flat not just the area with the unwanted markings. If you file just the markings, the barrel will end up with a dip in that area of the flat. After draw filing, use the various grades of emery paper wrapped around the file to polish out the flats and you are ready for the final finish. You need to draw file only those flats that show. Skip the bottom flats as they won't show. I had to draw file my first barrel and I had absolutely no experience with draw filing. It came out just fine so it ain't "rocket surgery". Take a deep breath and go for it. You can do it and you will be proud of yourself for having done it. What the heck, if it doesn't look just right, a highly unlikely event, you can then take it to a gunsmith. But give it a try yourself first....trust me, you can do it.

If you have any questions, ask someone like flehto. He has built quite a few rifles and will know all of the "secrets" to draw filing.

 

[tenngun]

When you look at a modern made gun there will be some differences from an original. Unless you make s true copy your gun will be different. You can make a good looking neat Hawken, or in the case of the pede trade fusil it's an 'almost'.
but
I have nylon in some of my wool cloth,too much cotton and not enough linen, my cooking kit is hc but more then a single man would carry to a camp.
Is your experience different with a GPR vs a hand made copy of a henery 'English style ' trade rifle? Will your food taste better cooked in copper over garnet ware?
No we choose tin and copper over time frame. Should 'Black Powder Only' effect your enjoyment remove it. It is just a. choice on how you want your stuff to look.
I know you go all out to be as hc/pc as possibe. You would be my go to guy along with Spence to ask about something I was unsure about. However I bet you have something in your kit that is not Hc,you live with it. What can you live with? Can you live with marks on your barrel? I can,some want to defarb. That was my point.

 

I just don't understand why someone would go through all the effort for something insignificant..?

I don't think the original poster was asking for, or cares about your understanding. I think he is looking for help if it can be done, not whether you think it's a good idea or not.

Why is it, whenever someone asks about something, so many have to chime in with why they are against it?

 

[coloradoclyde]

This is the rifle that I didn't want a company logo on the barrel, I think most of you would agree.

Totally agree....Do you have an "after" photo?

 

[tenngun]

I don't think any one tells him not to I think we were just chiming in on changing. The bottom line is it's his gun and he can do what he wants with it. What makes the owner happier with his gun?
A owner who wants to tack the gun , it's his,but people will chime in on tacks on a white man owned gun. Nobody would say he can't do it. Same with a sawn off Bess or TC patch box, or what have you.

 

[Billnpatti]

Clyde, I think he was talking about the rifle in the top photo, not the one in the bottom photo. I think the one in the one in the bottom photo was his example of one that he wouldn't bother removing the modern markings from. They are not the same gun. At least, I don't think they are the same. But, I could be wrong. :idunno: We'll just have to wait for his answer.

 

[Billnpatti]

Why is it, whenever someone asks about something, so many have to chime in with why they are against it?

It brings to mind a question of why someone with well over a thousand postings can not have made any positive or helpful answers. They just make detracting remarks about what others have had to say. :hmm: It makes one think that such a person may have absolutely no knowledge about the subject that is worth contributing. Oh well, I guess the best thing is to just ignore the poor soul.