Proper Metal Finish for 1864 Springfield

[Rokon]

Have a nice 1864 Springfield musket with some minor surface rust on places along the barrel and on the lock plate.

Am considering using 0000 steel wool and oil to remove it.

What was the degree of polish given the Springfields
at the arsenal--220, 320 400?

 

[dondiego]

Scrub the spots with a real copper penny made before 1982 and some oil. It will remove the rust and not damage any steel.

 

[Zonie]

If this is an original Springfield you might be best off using some light oil and a piece of denim or other course material to remove the loose rust.

The most agressive material I would use is bronze wool. It is less likely to damage the existing finish on the metal parts.

I do not recommend using sandpaper of any type as it will damage the patina the gun has developed over the years.

Also, do not use harsh chemicals on the wood if it looks damaged.
Mild soapy water can be used to clean any loose dirt and a coat of linseed oil can be used to refresh the wood.

 

[hawkeye2]

Go with Zonie said. Any attempt to "restore" the current finish beyond removing loose rust and taking steps to prevent further rusting will drastically lower its value. If you wish to see what the original polish looks like remove the barrel from the stock which is a very simple task and look at the part protected by the wood. Almost all CW firearms exhibit a very high degree of polish and the wood almost without exception preserves it intact.