putting a finish on a lock...

[bladegrinder]

I'm building a Kibler .58 colonial and nearing completion, the one thing I keep looking at is the lock...I need to do something with it.
I'm thinking #1 polish and leave a satin brushed finish
#2 polish and cold brown the whole thing
#3 polish, cold brown the lock and cold blue the screw
#4 polish and cold blue the whole thing

I know this is a personal preference kind of thing and I'm leaning towards #4, the barrel has been cold browned
What do you all think?

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Beats me. Do what you want.

 

[simonbeans]

Heavily browned, rubbed back to a gray, aged, used look.

 

[bladegrinder]

Beats me. Do what you want. That's what the wife said...

 

[Phil Coffins]

I color case hardened this one then polished the color off. It’s corrosion resistant and looks right.
IMG_0541 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[bladegrinder]

I like that Phil, lots of contrast with the barrel, stock and brass.

 

[sheriff john]

I color case hardened this one then polished the color off. It’s corrosion resistant and looks right.
IMG_0541 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

How do you do your case hardening? Casenit? Old timey bone? That's a super looking job.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I do the wood and bone charcoal case hardening. Starts out like this.
IMG_0256 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[sheriff john]

I do the wood and bone charcoal case hardening. Starts out like this.
IMG_0256 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

It's been over 50 years since I saw that done, honestly don't recall much about it. Friend did it in his coal-fired forge while I turned the crank for the blower. He said "Casenit" (sp?) was not as durable as the old-timey method. Don't know. His turned out really nice.

 

[tenngun]

It’s your gun and you need be happy with it. Generally in the time frame locks were in the white

 

[DuncNZ]

If you don't finish it , it will slowly age , and not in the way you may like or want .
I'd suggest you finish it the way you like then age it the way you like .
I am not a fan of cold blue , but I do this . Blue with cold blue then put a cloth soaked with chlorine bleach over the part you want to age will age very quickly ,keep an eye on it , when it reaches the level you want , wash it off in hot water then card back the surface with 0000 steel wool , then oil . I have used this on an axe and a knife and new parts fitted to old guns , it worked perfectly .

 

[Fly Navy]

Polish, leave it in the white, and blue all of the screws.

 

[oldhunter1954]

I would be very curious what Kibler would do with the lock???

 

[Coinneach]

Heavily browned, rubbed back to a gray, aged, used look.
View attachment 127980

I too like that finish.

 

[Coinneach]

How do you do your case hardening? Casenit? Old timey bone? That's a super looking job.

I've case hardened Frizzens with ground Bone powder, works a treat it its done right.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Locks on American guns from the period Kibler's colonial rifle represents would be either polished bright, fire blued, or charcoal blued. The barrels were the same. Browning did not become popular in America until the 19th century. At the very least stone off any casting lines and the textured as cast surface. For guns of this period, I usually cold blue and rub it off to tarnish the polished metal or temper blue (fire blue) the parts.

dave

 

[Snooterpup]

Good morning Bladegrinder,
Dave’s Cold blue and rub back works good and looks good. Works good for me. Just keep it dry and oiled!
Just a stock hint from my experience...stay far away from Permalyn. It is a urethane finish and a misery to correct.

 

[Pete G]

Phosphoric acid, sold as rust remover. Leaves an antique gray that is rust resistant.

 

[LSB]

This is an example of a TC lock that was stripped of its' finish and then browned with Plum Brown finish. I sure can't say it is historically correct BUT I like the slightly mottled look. Each to his own.

 

[Pipercub]

I Fire blued this one.