What caused this barrel finish?

[brazosland]

Picked this .44 pistol up last year very inexpensively. It’s a kit that someone put very little effort into building...gonna fix that here shortly.

The interesting thing is the finish on the barrel. I assume this was done with a chemical of some sort. I really like it and may try to use the process on another project if I can figure it out.

Can somebody tell me the secret?

 

[jdw276]

Cheap mustard?

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Perhaps failure to degrease prior to the application of an agent.

 

[Kozmo]

If this was a certain military surplus forum ( i won't name names), we would all tell you it is blood pitting from Napoleon when he was wounded at Waterloo, and that the gun is clearly worth millions. But since this is the real world and we are more practical over here, I would speculate that the barrel wasn't properly degreased. Every time I've produced a blotchy or smeared blue, it was due to improper degreasing/prep. just my guess though.

 

[TNGhost]

Those splotches definitely indicate it was not cleaned/degreased properly before applying the blueing/browning.

As to whether that was intentional or not???? It almost seems to be over much of the barrel but there are "gaps".

 

[SDSmlf]

I have seen folks wrapping something (twine or rope for example) around a barrel during the finishing process to give it a faux Damascus finish. Maybe a failed attempt?

 

[Phil Coffins]

If it wasn’t a mistake then he may of been trying for a Damascus look. Looks like a q tip was used to paint on stripes of cold blue or some thing. I’ve read of using twine or string having chemicals on them and wrapped around to get a pattern.
SD is a step ahead of me.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Mistake or on purpose, I like the finished barrel.

 

[bang]

Not cleaned to glove handling clean.

 

[brazosland]

Mistake or on purpose, I like the finished barrel.

Indeed. It has to have been an accident since it’s the only appealing thing that was done to this kit. The rear sight is even mounted backwards...

 

[LANEY REECE]

To me it looks good.

 

[Carbon 6]

I have seen folks wrapping something (twine or rope for example) around a barrel during the finishing process to give it a faux Damascus finish. Maybe a failed attempt?

That's my guess, a vinegar finish, but it also looks like it might have been placed on plastic to dry, (causing the blotching) I wonder if both sides of the barrel have that pattern.

I like it, whatever it is.

 

[dave_person]

Hi.
He probably tried to do this:

But did not manage it very well. Simply etching by some sort of acid pattern either painted on using etching ground in reverse or wrapped with something dipped in acid. Then the etched pattern is colored with bluing or browning.

dave

 

[SDSmlf]

He probably tried to do this:

Thinking about it for a bit, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Possibility original builder got the results they were aiming for. Ultimately, would base my would not base my final decision on whether I liked or not only after seeing in person, not just a photograph.

Interesting piece, though I am not sure I care for the look. Almost looks too fabricated, if that makes sense. Just my opinion.

 

[Tobie]

Cheap mustard?

That's exactly what I thought- I've done a bunch of knives that way. Just clean the surface and dob on mustard- I left mine overnight. Wash it off the next day.

 

[Eric Krewson]

Clorox on a strip of cloth wrapped around the barrel, seems like it was the rage for faux aging a while back.

 

[Tobie]

Clorox on a strip of cloth wrapped around the barrel, seems like it was the rage for faux aging a while back.

I've never heard of that method, thanks.

 

[Carbon 6]

I've never heard of that method, thanks.

Just don't drink or inject it.

 

[Jay Templin]

Would the mustard trick work to darken stainless?

 

[JakeGa]

I have one that looks like that. I did it by wrapping cotton clothesline rope and rags around the gun barrel, parts etc and soaking it in vinegar. The pattern depends on the material used. It was a custom .45 caliber barrel and I was thinking I would age it and blue it or age it and brown it...or maybe I didn't think it through at all. At any rate, I liked it so I left it alone. I'll post a picture of that gun soon. Not my prettiest rifle but one of my most shootable rifles. Now for the surprising part. The bluing came off as it should have and it is basically in the white. It darkened but has never rusted. And I ain't that good at cleaning them. I also like the way it looks on you pistol.