Is it wrong

[Mike W Terry]

In an earlier post i was asking about a polished lock for a Kentucky pistol i am making. It is a hardened lock and i have polished it the best i can along with the plate . There is still pock marks in it from the casting. In now way is it chrome. I have done a few but have browned the locks and browning hides so much. I have not seen enough of these guns to know what the locks really look like.Did they have pits and marks in them or where they like chrome?? Thank you so much for your input. Mike T

 

[tenngun]

A lot I have seen were smooth but not like chrome. After a few shots and storage and carry afield it would grey. Many gunmakers used imported locks and hand forged locks became rarer as time went by. That said I like browned but that's just taste.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

This is how I am finishing my locks, they are case hardened and polished back to 600 grit. I don't use sand paper anymore as I get more mileage out of polishing stones.

Here are a few shots of some original pistol locks.

 

[54ball]

Clay Smith Carolina


Starting point with lots of work to go

 

[don hepler]

I used cold bluing and steel wool to rub back to the patina I wanted.

 

[MSW]

nice looking work!

:hatsoff:

 

[Mike W Terry]

That is a beautiful gun. I can only hope the one i am doing will look like that.Also thank you all so very much for your input.Mike T

 

[Pete G]

A high polish is not wrong, but it isn't necessarily right either, although more right than brown. Many, if not most locks were finished in what is called Armory bright. I like the effect of phosphoric acid on a polished surface. It ends up as sort of a dull gray and gives a little (but not very much) rust resistance. It is sold in most hardware and marine supply stores as a rust remover.