Tips on "antiquing" that gun just right?

[rabjr]

Looking for tricks from those who make guns look like they have been in the family for 200+ years. I'm working on a fowler that from the outset, wanted it to look old but well maintained. I chose a plain grade 1 maple stock that will be stained with Nitrate of Iron and chose all Iron furniture. I hope to try it out on Turkeys so no shiny parts. The plan is to brown all parts to a rich dark brown, hopefully. The stock I decided should be just scraped, no sandpaper if I can help it. But I'm not sure if the Nitrate of Iron will darken the stock to my liking so I'm looking for suggestions from those who "antigue" their guns, mostly on wood preperation.

 

[rich pierce]

you'll want the wear areas to be lighter and areas that get less handling to be lighter. I lightly aged one recently. Basically stain dark all over and rub some off on the high points. I used AQF then potassium permanganate, got almost black, then took it back some.
I tried to post pix and URL but am too retarded. look here (paste into browser):
http://tinypic.com/17wrxz

 

[Slowpoke]

Get ready for a laugh.. .. I decided to put a little age of one of my rifles, so I got 15-20 foot of rope and hooked it to the back of a tractor. I drove it 5-10 minutes down a dirt road. It dinged it up pretty good, then took acetone/steel wool and rubbed down the wrist and forearm. It turn out pretty nice, I wish I still had it.

SP

 

[BLAHMAN]

I know a guy who uses black spray paint and a propanr torch.

 

Get ready for a laugh.. .. I decided to put a little age of one of my rifles, so I got 15-20 foot of rope and hooked it to the back of a tractor. I drove it 5-10 minutes down a dirt road. It dinged it up pretty good, then took acetone/steel wool and rubbed down the wrist and forearm. It turn out pretty nice, I wish I still had it.

SP

I sure hope ya removed the barrel and furnishings before ya did that !
Slowpoke <------<< :youcrazy: :crackup: :crackup:


Woody

 

Get ready for a laugh.. .. I decided to put a little age of one of my rifles, so I got 15-20 foot of rope and hooked it to the back of a tractor. I drove it 5-10 minutes down a dirt road. It dinged it up pretty good, then took acetone/steel wool and rubbed down the wrist and forearm. It turn out pretty nice, I wish I still had it.

SP

I sure hope ya removed the barrel and furnishings before ya did that !
Slowpoke <------<< :youcrazy: :crackup: :crackup:


Woody

no no NO! if you remove the barrel and furniture, your stock will shatter. the barrel holds everything together!

 

Swamp, we just did a whole piece on this including step by step instructions. You'll see it in the issue that should be in your mail box next week.

eace:

 

[Slowpoke]

I sure hope ya removed the barrel and furnishings before ya did that !

Nope, I left everything on it. If I remember correctly, I did it with a yellow water ski rope and a coat hanger. I put the hanger through the trigger guard.

I wasn't driving to get away from a yellow jacket nest or anything, just lazy little 1st gear.

If anyone want's it done to their rifle, I'll give you my shipping address. Wonder if Stumpkiller wants his new rifle antique'd a little.

SP

 

[rabjr]

Oh good Stumblin Buffler, I'll be watchin for that for sure.

Not sure if I can bring myself to ding/dent/carve the stock up lol. Maybe...we'll see. I like the idea of lighter and darker areas as Rich P suggested.

 

Letting someone like me build a kit for you would result in some "antiqueing" for sure. I added a few years to mine just by my lack of gunbuilding skills.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Wonder if Stumpkiller wants his new rifle antique'd a little.

:shocking:

Ummm. I sure appreciate the offer, but . . .

I figure 20 some years from now I'll have it looking about right. I prefer to use loving hands and time to "age" my muzzleloaders. If I wanted a used gun I'd a bought a used gun. :winking:

I had a week old Eagle Claw fiberglass fishing rod 25 years ago that my wife "aged" the last five inches off in our screen door when returning from a camping trip.

I did take one hunting pouch and lay it in the driveway (crushed shale) and jump up and down on it to give it some "honest" wear.

Last weekend I examined one of L.E. Williams' flintlock muskets next to an original 1848 percussion musket and they appeared pretty similar in the amount of wear and pitting.

 

[Zonie]

Of course, you don't want to forget the Bleach.

There are several posts on using bleach to pit and rust the metal parts if that is what you want to do.
Just go easy with it because it works fast and make sure all surfaces you don't want aged are well protected.

 

I don't usually antique preferring honest wear and tear but when I do I use black pastel chalks on the low areas after staining or coloring. Flat black enamel feathered in with a soft cloth also works. Hit the high spots with a little 400 paper and apply your finish. Cool. :redthumb: