High polished brass on new build

[Harry Marinakis]

Use Nevr Dull to polish

Use Renaissance Wax to protect the shiny brass

You will still need to polish after every shoot

 

[Eric Krewson]

There are buffing wheels and then there are buffing wheels, different compounds as well. A Dremel with a 1" buffing wheel is pretty easy on brass and steel, I only lightly touch any edges, it does clean things up a bit.

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

This buttcap was formed from sheet brass. I started the finished look using 220 grit, then 380, 600, and a final jump to 1,500.

 

[RocketMan58]

Well, it seems clear that most folks don't like high polished brass on their own guns but this is your gun. If you want something different and like high polish then go that route. To each their on. Remember, your not married to your choice. You can always dull it down or treat with something like Jax Black if you change your mind. FWIW, I have two of my five rifles ( and several revolvers) that wear high polish brass finish's. I use wax on them to keep them from tarnishing.

 

[reddogge]

I built this rifle for my 11 yo son in 1980 and told him NEVER polish the brass. Let it age naturally. Although he doesn't shoot it much anymore he has never polished the brass. I don't like highly polished brass or artificially aged brass.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

I built this rifle for my 11 yo son in 1980 and told him NEVER polish the brass. Let it age naturally. Although he doesn't shoot it much anymore he has never polished the brass. I don't like highly polished brass or artificially aged brass.

View attachment 391363

Nice gun!
You need new candles!

 

[yellowhammer]

I don't have the pathological dislike for highly polished brass some have. But, I tire of maintaining it (that's an understatement). I do sort of dislike the look of brass that was originally polished and then just left to go "mustard", which to me exudes inattention and lack of maintenance. From here on I'm doing the easier-to-maintain Jax/cut-back technique that @James Kibler shows in his vids.

It's a sort of Zen balance of both viewpoints, don't you think?

 

[longcruise]

I guess SOMEBODY has to look like the greenhorn.

Hah, there's another small branch on the tree of hunters and I happen to occupy it!. We are those with such highly developed skills, instincts and experience that NOT having highly polished brass is a violation of our fair chase ethics.

 

[tenngun]

I guess SOMEBODY has to look like the greenhorn.

I THINK brass was kept polished in the old days.
I used to let it tarnish, but now I buff it with cleaning

 

[Tumbledown]

I don't like highly polished (polished beyond say 400-600 grit). I find that it doesn't look like most originals and I also find the shine to be overpowering and distracting. Further, if you want a high polish it really needs to be done by working up to very fine grits of backed wet / dry paper and not a buffer etc. Buffing wheels round over edges that should be sharp and degrade the overall appearance.

Was brass furniture originally highly polished, and what we see today is accumulated wear and fine scratches? More importantly, would you know what was used to polish brass?

Me, I go to 600-800, then use #0000 steel wool. Anything finer and it will show *every* little scratch and fingerprint.

Dittos on the buffing wheels. I learned that the hard way.

 

[Tumbledown]

For cleaning brass on a gun, try a paste of flour and vinegar. Rub on with fingertip, buff off with cotton cloth (an old sock is great for this.) Cheap and effective, and no chemicals to discolor the stock.

 

[bldtrailer]

 

[sportster73hp]

My bess and all Kibler’s were polished including the smr. TC s were just cleaned . Percussion Investarms was used as a match rifle and cleaned after use. It was the only one that turned a super dull finish.

 

[tenngun]

Brick dust was common, sandpaper was known

 

[Clark Badgett]

Was brass furniture originally highly polished, and what we see today is accumulated wear and fine scratches? More importantly, would you know what was used to polish brass?

Me, I go to 600-800, then use #0000 steel wool. Anything finer and it will show *every* little scratch and fingerprint.

Dittos on the buffing wheels. I learned that the hard way.

Depends on where it was polished and how high a grit count whoever polished it had. Some had emory powder available, as well as brick dust, which I hope was sifted because some of it is about 30 grit, some 600. I’ve read accounts of soldiers polishing buttons with wood ash.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Can anyone send me a period reference to someone ordering a brand new, gun maker original of the period, asking for the brass to be tarnished or looking old or used? makes no sense to me. I am not talking about an iron mounted gun, but a brass mounted gun. I know that museum pieces and originals in current condition may have dark, tarnished, or "patina" finishes, but new guns? I am willing to change my opinion.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Clark Badgett]

Brick dust was common, sandpaper was known

Sandpaper was known, was also wildly expensive and was inconsistent. I used brick dust a few years ago (made from 19th century bricks) and the metal looked like garbage. I plan to sift what I have left for further experimentation.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

Can anyone send me a period reference to someone ordering a brand new, gun maker original of the period, asking for the brass to be tarnished or looking old or used? makes no sense to me. I am not talking about an iron mounted gun, but a brass mounted gun. I know that museum pieces and originals in current condition may have dark, tarnished, or "patina" finishes, but new guns? I am willing to change my opinion.

ADK Bigfoot

I would have to agree with you that a new rifle would have been polished. The question is what would that rifle look like a year later? You point out you portray a gentleman of the time period so your rifle is highly polished. That is understandable, you would have had servants who took care of that. Plus how often would you have even carried the rifle vs. someone on the frontier who carried a rifle every day. over the years I have had people ask me to build a rifle and then make it look 200 years old which I refuse to do. The originals got that look over time from being used. You also have to consider that many of the originals that still exist have been restored.

 

[yellowhammer]

I would have to agree with you that a new rifle would have been polished. The question is what would that rifle look like a year later? You point out you portray a gentleman of the time period so your rifle is highly polished. That is understandable, you would have had servants who took care of that. Plus how often would you have even carried the rifle vs. someone on the frontier who carried a rifle every day. over the years I have had people ask me to build a rifle and then make it look 200 years old which I refuse to do. The originals got that look over time from being used. You also have to consider that many of the originals that still exist have been restored.

@ronaldrothb49 , Perfect synopsis.

 

[LeeC.]

I don't have the pathological dislike for highly polished brass some have. But, I tire of maintaining it (that's an understatement). I do sort of dislike the look of brass that was originally polished and then just left to go "mustard", which to me exudes inattention and lack of maintenance. From here on I'm doing the easier-to-maintain Jax/cut-back technique that @James Kibler shows in his vids.

View attachment 391382

It's a sort of Zen balance of both viewpoints, don't you think?

That's just what I did as well.


By the way, your looks about as perfect as can be done