Polished brass?

[ord sgt]

From the get-go, I never polished the brass parts. I prefer to let the brass age with use. A natural patina is preferred. Besides, shiny brass with a rust browned barrel and furniture? Two contrasting features.

 

[nchawkeye]

I’m sure Daniel Boone was taking time to polish his brass in Kentucky in 1769…

 

[Old-Duckman]

Hey whatever the owner of the firearm in question likes is what he or she should do. Shiny or dull…who cares. Chocolate vs vanilla IMO.

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

If you want to knock the shine off shiny brass, wet a paper towel with Plum Brown Barrel Finish....let it set on the brass for a few minutes....check it frequently to where you are satisfied....puts a nice antique look to your brass quickly, then let it age naturally. You can always polish it back...but why?

 

[ord sgt]

I’m sure Daniel Boone was taking time to polish his brass in Kentucky in 1769…

Here it comes......If he had the brass polish with him, I am totally sure he would have used it.

 

[Pete G]

Here it comes......If he had the brass polish with him, I am totally sure he would have used it.

Ashes were used for brass items rather often .

 

[tenngun]

Tarnish is good....polish/high shine on brass is not on a flinter! Shiny brass equates to a novice, beginner, not an experienced shooter/hunter.

In ‘77 I lived six weeks in the bookend Mt of Utah and Colorado hunting with my ml. Then in 81 in Wyoming, just using a ml rifle and a ml sawn off bess. Spent a lot of time putting meat on the table since with ml. Fact isn’t I haven’t hunted with a breechloader since ‘76.
I only shoot one deer per year now but did it with my shinny brass Lancaster smooth rifle.
Close to fifty years hunting experience with ml.
When do I get to be an experienced hunter?

 

[tenngun]

I’m sure Daniel Boone was taking time to polish his brass in Kentucky in 1769…

Maybe not. However there is a fair chance his barrel was not brown or blue, most guns of his day were white barrels. Do you reckon he let it rust, or kept it clean?
I used to think he would have left the brass go, and I sure can’t prove he didn’t or did.
How did a man care for goods that cost him a months wagers or more?

 

[nchawkeye]

Maybe not. However there is a fair chance his barrel was not brown or blue, most guns of his day were white barrels. Do you reckon he let it rust, or kept it clean?
I used to think he would have left the brass go, and I sure can’t prove he didn’t or did.
How did a man care for goods that cost him a months wagers or more?

After living with it in the elements for a couple of years it sure wasn't bright and shiny, so, yep it was a bit rusty...

Ever seen farmers leave their expensive equipment in the field?? Tools used outside tend to get a bit of rust on them after a few years...

 

[rkg1]

All that shiney flash scares the game. Don't polish mine after the first time.

 

[oldwood]

I'm assembling an all copper hardware backwoods smooth long rifle. Can't wait to see how quick the copper parts turn black , from use. Will probably look like an old penny in one season.

 

[tenngun]

All that shiney flash scares the game. Don't polish mine after the first time.

Have you ever seen that?
Find some boys with shinny guns and browned iron mounts. Have them hang out in the tall timber. And you walk through and see how easy it is to see a flash of brass, vs find the dark soul with his brown gun.
I’m not being smart here, I don’t make a prediction as to what you would see.
I just haven’t noticed brass scaring off game.
And on woods walks where I’ve not notes any difference with boys and their shiny guns
Maybe it can happen. I don’t know.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

I just haven’t noticed brass scaring off game.

Guess that's a good excuse if you can't hit what you're shooting at.
Everybody has an excuse.

 

[SOLANCO]

Colonial is building me an iron mounted rifle. Enough said.

 

[necchi]

In garrison it's one thing. In the field it's another.
It may have been different in ye olden days, but I doubt it.

B.S. Bright and shiney is/was all about care for and clean.
It's no different today, there were idiots then in the military that had never touched a gun and there is today.
Cleaning is about care and function.
You make a point about shiny in the field, valid,,
,,but that's about gorilla and what soot is for,, any idiot can take the shine off,, it still needs to be clean.
(through a fresh pine bow on a hot fire,, too easy)

I do not like shiny, I like tarnish,, but military is and has been all about clean and bright.