Have you defarbed your percussion revolver?

[sheriff john]

Even possession of a defaced firearm is a federal violation. Since our topic doesn't include "Firearms" as defined in current regulations, I only offer this for discussion. During my career of 40+ years, I've only seen two cases where this was an issue - both had serial numbers altered to be unreadable. Hint-even if ground off, most stamped numbers can be brought to the surface temporarily. Stamped with a tool is harder to do. Highway Patrol firearms lab tech allowed me to see him do this once.

Faked Civil War Stuff - guns, swords, leather, and most anything you can name was pretty common in the 60's and 70's. Nazi "collectibles" are still common today. Where, at one time, parts were hard to come by, today with a few mouse clicks, they are not. Same with metal-stamping tools, "how to" videos, and foreign companies cranking out about anything they can sell.

What a person does to his own stuff is interesting. Passing it off as something it's not to an unsuspecting buyer is just wrong.

 

[springfield art]

View attachment 81620

I "antiqued" this Uberti London Navy because my basement flooded and the humidity put a haze rust on some of the bluing. I removed all the blue and fake color casing with vinegar. I love it , I think it looks great. It has that "saw 20 years of carry " look

View attachment 81621

These Piettas I deblued just because I think the white gunmetal and brass looks good. I was going to polish the steel but I thought the patina looked better. The metal has an uneven color and looks aged. As the brass darkens I think they will look better. Two have unengraved cylinders and are pretty much Schneider & Glassicks , 2 have engraved cylinders but I'm just leaving them in. Still looks ok if not "correct".

Did not know I could use Vinegar to remove bluing! I'll give it a try next time, not a caustic as the Naval Jelly, maybe.

 

[Wolfman0125]

Not many people can fake a firearm to appear as authentic to someone who knows their stuff. The dimensions, materials, weight and tool fonts are not the same. Anyone paying a high price for an authentic piece would undoubtedly have it appraised by an expert. They would look for and easily spot a forgery. Usually provenance and chain of ownership accompanies such pieces. Most people Defarb only for aesthetic purposes and not to defraud anyone.

 

[springfield art]

Even possession of a defaced firearm is a federal violation. Since our topic doesn't include "Firearms" as defined in current regulations, I only offer this for discussion. During my career of 40+ years, I've only seen two cases where this was an issue - both had serial numbers altered to be unreadable. Hint-even if ground off, most stamped numbers can be brought to the surface temporarily. Stamped with a tool is harder to do. Highway Patrol firearms lab tech allowed me to see him do this once.

Faked Civil War Stuff - guns, swords, leather, and most anything you can name was pretty common in the 60's and 70's. Nazi "collectibles" are still common today. Where, at one time, parts were hard to come by, today with a few mouse clicks, they are not. Same with metal-stamping tools, "how to" videos, and foreign companies cranking out about anything they can sell.

What a person does to his own stuff is interesting. Passing it off as something it's not to an unsuspecting buyer is just wrong.

Remember, percussion guns are not Firearms under Federal Law. States may treat them as such, of course. If it has a SN, don't remove that! The trend towards hiding such info on repro guns is a good one, and is a result of re-enactors and cowboy-shooters calling for more authentic-appearing guns. Oh, wow, the Metal Stamping dies, the Stencils, all that stuff! The parts availability, with clicks, yes, that's a great development. Thanks.

 

[springfield art]

Modern replica guns are much different from originals, No serious collector would ever be fooled.

Yes, back in the early '60's the "real" collectors objected to repros being made. But the market and historical re-enacting bug caught on, now we have a good selection of guns to experience how the earlier times shot.

 

[TFoley]

American guns of the same vintage probably saw more use in range wars and regular hunting to feed the family...Did you ever see any stories involving so much gun play in Europe as there was on the Frontier in the U.S. during the 19th Century?

Well, there were wars all over Europe for much of the time leading up to the cut-off date for this forum - of course, they continued afterwards, but with more modern weaponry. If course there was no such thing as a range war, where one bunch of civilians took a hate to another bunch for a any one of a number of reasons - ALL of Europe was already divied up into countries and there were no endless prairies or gigantic cattle ranches, let alone a cattle drive like the one in 'Lonesome Dove'. Going into the local woods to 'hunt' a deer' would likely get you arrested - even here in UK where many country folks used and still use a shotgun, the law prevents you from taking that shotgun to anything larger than a rabbit, or, if you are REALLY hungry, a fox. The 'Wild West' never happened here - nor anything like it.

For these complex reasons, as noted, most guns, especially handguns, appear to have been lightly used, if at all in some cases. Just look at Feltwad's beautiful shotguns for long arms.

 

[Auldjin]

In earlier days shooting a fox was considered very bad form as it denied the local hunt of their sport.

 

[TFoley]

In earlier days shooting a fox was considered very bad form as it denied the local hunt of their sport.

Added to that, they taste just plain awful, far worse than badger, for instance.

 

[Bad Karma]

Added to that, they taste just plain awful, far worse than badger, for instance.

Why is it that fox and coyote taste so nasty and dog tastes so gooood!??!

 

[TFoley]

Why is it that fox and coyote taste so nasty and dog tastes so gooood!??!

I bow your greater knowledge there, Sir. Not having any Korean restaurants, as far as I know, in this part of UK, in which to discover the relative tastiness of ol' Fido, I'm happy to give it a miss.

 

[FishDFly]

I’ve noticed often European antique handguns are in much better condition than American guns of the same vintage. Not sure what that means but it’s an observation.

It means they took better care of them back then.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Those European percussion handguns didn't have to survive the rigors of several years of combat before being relegated to safe storage.

 

[springfield art]

In earlier days shooting a fox was considered very bad form as it denied the local hunt of their sport.

Game was considered actual property of the liege, lord, or king. You could get executed or similar for "stealing" his stuff!

 

[springfield art]

Remember, percussion guns are not Firearms under Federal Law. States may treat them as such, of course. If it has a SN, don't remove that! The trend towards hiding such info on repro guns is a good one, and is a result of re-enactors and cowboy-shooters calling for more authentic-appearing guns. Oh, wow, the Metal Stamping dies, the Stencils, all that stuff! The parts availability, with clicks, yes, that's a great development. Thanks.

Think of a Brown Bess with the SN on the barrel; remove the barrel from the stock, what do you have? A steel tube, sealed at one end, with a small hole drilled in the side. That's not a firearm. Of course, states like NJ require SN's, and treat muzzleloaders as 'firearms' that have to go thru a FFL. If you defarb, you should re-mark the SN on the underside of the barrel; that's what many 'de-farbers' do.

 

[SPQR70AD]

His was not an honest statement. He is a troll and likes to stir the pot and see if anything floats to the top. Ignore him.

are you telling me all the warnings of firearms and every other thing is not because of lawsuits? the guy above says I am wrong then says it is the lawyers forcing the companies to do that CAUSE OF LAWSUITS. nobody is telling me that if a guy uses smokeless powder in a BP pistol or does something else to get injured he will not sue the company. the ones that talk the loudest about warnings will be the first to sue

 

[FishDFly]

Game was considered actual property of the liege, lord, or king. You could get executed or similar for "stealing" his stuff!

Good way to stop trespassing, wonder if we could get that passed here?

 

[Bad Karma]

It means they took better care of them back then.

Obviously. But why?

 

[Bad Karma]

I bow your greater knowledge there, Sir. Not having any Korean restaurants, as far as I know, in this part of UK, in which to discover the relative tastiness of ol' Fido, I'm happy to give it a miss.

There’s nothing like a fat puppy.

 

[FishDFly]

Obviously. But why?

My guess is pride of ownership. Folks had to work hard a long time to buy a firearm, thus they took care of things to make them last.

Years past folks might have 1 or 2 guns, now they have them by the safe full.

In today's society everything is disposable. If it breaks, throw it away and go buy a new one. This is especially true with BP arms, look how many are not cleaned after firing and left to ruin.

 

[Bad Karma]

My guess is pride of ownership. Folks had to work hard a long time to buy a firearm, thus they took care of things to make them last.

Years past folks might have 1 or 2 guns, now they have them by the safe full.

In today's society everything is disposable. If it breaks, throw it away and go buy a new one. This is especially true with BP arms, look how many are not cleaned after firing and left to ruin.

I see that. Not sure it explains the difference in condition between European and American arms of the same vintage. I wonder if it’s partially because European gun owners tended to be wealthier and of a more educated class than the average American gun owner. Dunno why but I’ve see quite a few antique European guns still carrying 75% or more original finish with fine bores. It’s remarkable to come across a Colt in such condition. Quien sabes?