How was brass cleaned in the “old days”?

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

I use good old SimiChrome - works quickly. Also, placing some on a flat piece of leather, it makes a great hone for sharp-edged tools.

 

[MAPMFF]

They damaged in the old days too. Besses had an active life of about a dozen years. Due in part to briquing the barrel to paper thin.

No question modern practices are better than original in this instance.