Stain on maple stocked American muskets

[dave_person]

Hi OG,
There is a wonderful book called "On Divers Arts" which was written in about 1200 AD. It describes many vegetable and mineral based stains like madder, logwood, saffron, , cinnabar, etc. It also describes using nitric acid-based stains with heat.

dave

 

[Artificer]

Hi OG,

I have studied what they used at the REAL Springfield Armory in MA through the years for stain and they used logwood right up to the first part of WWII, until they could no longer get it during the War.

British Loggers began harvesting logwood for dyes as early as 1638 and continued to do so throughout the 18th century. Though the Spanish drove them off many times, for a while each time, the British just returned each time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Belize_(1506–1862)

So, yes, logwood was readily available throughout most of the Colonial era and right up to modern times.

Gus

 

[Black Hand]

So, yes, logwood was readily available throughout most of the Colonial era and right up to modern times.

Sold as Trap Dye (Logwood powder - Bought a package at Sportsman's Warehouse) or as dye material for fabrics.

 

[Artificer]

Thanks. Good info. :thumbsup:


Gus

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Yes, logwood in boiling water turns traps purple-black.

dave