Keeping Armory Bright, bright

[MountainRanger]

Have heard those Mojave Green rattlers were born PO'd and just look for the unwary muzzle loader fella so's they can take a big plug out of their leg or butt or something :barf:

 

[Many Klatch]

I have a few guns that were left in the white. All I do is oil them and rub off any red rust. After a few years I get a nice "Steel Gray" color that is hard to fake. It's also hard to mess up. Just takes patience.

 

[azmntman]

Have heard those Mojave Green rattlers were born PO'd and just look for the unwary muzzle loader fella so's they can take a big plug out of their leg or butt or something :barf:

ff

One, when me boy was a lad, I though how nice to get him a rattle from a coiled up snake in the road (in the desert near marble canyon). I promptly ran over him, parked, whiped out the ol pocket knife and approached the dead snake. Dead he was not, green Mohave he was!. The thing struck like 4-5 times and literally chased me back to the car where I promptly ran over him 6 more times and then went home, doors locked. Me boy was unhappy, pop learned not to mess with a green Mohave, "dead" or alive.

 

[SgtErv]

Im learning about this real fast with my Bess. I think one of the tricks is to not touch any of the steel once polished like Gus said. I had it out today at the fort and anywhere I touched had a fine red dust on it.

Mine has a sort of smoky, cloudy look to it now that's very cool looking. I would like to get it brighter, or else let it get that steel grey like has been mentioned. That's a cool look

 

[jbwilliams3]

I picked up some 18th century bricks in the woods near my home a number of years ago. They were near by an old homestead that burned down over a hundred years ago. Those few bricks gave me a lifetime supply of brick dust - I've seen brick dust for sale at a number of vendors, though I don't recall who.

This blog post has some great tips for period gun maintenance in a military context.

I have used brick dust and it really does work, but my favorite and most consistent method for maintaining bright metal is the grey scotchbrite pad along with gun oil (I use breakfree).

 

[Vaino]

If a person had 3-4 "armory bright" MLers, it seems to me that it could be a full time job preventing rust and maintaining the finish.

Could someone explain to me the reason or purpose "back then" for having MLers w/ "armory bright" metal parts?....Fred

 

[SgtErv]

Couple of reasons I've surmised. Artificer and a couple of others will correct me if I'm wrong.

-It saved the manufacturer the extra labor involved in applying a finish to the barrel and hardware, and, thus, the cost to the government.

-Spit and polish. 18th century armies and navies were notorious for these spit and polish appearances, even to the detriment of practicality. A good example is the British Army's use of white pipe clay to whiten their wool breeches. It turned into a pasty mess when they got rained on and was none too comfortable.

Of course, back then, (and even now in modern militaries) a sharp, polished appearance was akin to professionalism and discipline. If one's combat boots had a mirror like shine and a uniform a crisp, starched pressing, it reflected on a soldier's attention to detail and pride.

 

[Artificer]

We used to do Battle Demonstrations on Constitution Avenue in DC, right out in front of the National Archives on July 4th every year. One year it was so hot, we actually lost burned finger and palm skin on the "bright" barrels of our Brown Bess Muskets. Man, if you think cleaning a daily amount of rust off a barrel is tough, try getting burned skin off a barrel! :haha:

Gus

 

[Zonie]

If a person had 3-4 "armory bright" MLers, it seems to me that it could be a full time job preventing rust and maintaining the finish.

Could someone explain to me the reason or purpose "back then" for having MLers w/ "armory bright" metal parts?....Fred

I think SgtErv hit on the main reason. Professionalism.

Also, those were different times from today.

Back then the idea was for an army to be as bright and conspicuous as possible to intimidate the enemy at long distances.

Seeing huge numbers of brightly dressed soldiers with bright shiny muskets marching shoulder to shoulder in lockstep towards your position was an awesome thing to behold.
They would look invincible, especially to a few small group of soldiers standing before them.

In more than a few cases I think the British won the battle before it even really began and it was due to their bright uniforms and polished steel weapons they were carrying.

At least, that's the way I see it.

 

[SgtErv]

Yep. My girlfriend and I were watching the Al Pacino 80s movie, "Revolution." The pristine British regiment is advancing upon the hastily constructed earthworks of the Continentals, a rag tag bunch to be sure, but they're delivering vollies that the British are absorbing.

She says, "How the hell did anyone win these battles?"

My reply: "One side always runs away. Especially the side facing a row of shiny bayonets"

The side that looks like it knows what it's doing...usually does know what it's doing. It would have been terrifying to see those perfect ranks marching steadily into fire, because, well, how do you stop an enemy willing to march into fire? Professionalism mattered a great deal.

 

how do you stop an enemy willing to march into fire

Lee's men did it at Fredricksburg, and Meade's men did it at Gettysburg. The real question is how do you get a body of men to march into volley after volley of fire.

 

[Vaino]

Thanks for the logical explanation...never thought of the psychological advantage imparted by "shiny weapons"....although did know of the intimidating effect of the bagpipes. As was said....marching ranks w/ shiny weapons and also to some extent, the bagpipes blaring, must have cowed the enemy in many battles.....Fred

 

[Artificer]

how do you stop an enemy willing to march into fire

Lee's men did it at Fredricksburg, and Meade's men did it at Gettysburg. The real question is how do you get a body of men to march into volley after volley of fire.

Don't forget the REALLY poorly trained American Militia/Army did it at Breed's (Bunker) Hill until they ran out of powder.

Gus

 

[Artificer]

Thanks for the logical explanation...never thought of the psychological advantage imparted by "shiny weapons"....although did know of the intimidating effect of the bagpipes. As was said....marching ranks w/ shiny weapons and also to some extent, the bagpipes blaring, must have cowed the enemy in many battles.....Fred

The most modern example I can think of is the Falklands. Scared the "You Know What" out of the Argentinian troops, who threw down their arms and surrendered after hearing it from advancing British troops. The Argentinians thought Ghurka troops were attacking them.

BTW, British Courts declared Bagpipes to have been "Weapons of War" and so outlawed them after Culloden along with basket hilt swords, dirks, true claymores, wearing of "Plaid" or Tartan, and many Highland items and dress; except for Scottish Regiments in the British Army. This as a result of the 1747 Act of Proscription that was intended to destroy most Highland culture, until it was lifted in 1782.

Gus

 

[George]

The military were apparently not the only ones with bright guns.

The Pennsylvania Gazette
January 13, 1730
.... a Vest lined with Red, his other Cloaths uncertain. They have with them a small new Gun, the Barrel bright, and Stock yellowish.

The South-Carolina GAZETTE
February 12, 1753
CHARLES-TOWN
Lost between Charles-Town and Ashley-ferry in December last, a bright barrel gun, Wilson's make. Bring it to the Printer, and he will give, you a reward.

Frontier Memories, John Dabney Shane interview of a Woman in Cincinnati: "He saw three Indians standing by the fire looking at his gun, which he always kept very bright and he could see it shine by the fire."

Spence