What metal finish for new build?

[RocketMan58]

So I've started my SMR build and am pretty well set on the wood finish I'll use ( Iron Nitrate stain, Tannic Acid treatment and Oil finish). I'm still stuck on what finish to use on the barrel, lock and other steel parts though. I'm not wanting a Modern blue job but would like something that rubs down to a medium grey. I'd also like something fairly durable to hold up to cleaning. The only references I can find in the Kibler vids are 5 years old and for a private label brass blackening solution. So is there a standard recommendation from the group here? Advice (and pics ) greatly appreciated.

 

[wiscoaster]

I used Jax Black on mine and this is what the iron looks like after about a year and a half. It could be steel-wooled back to a greyer finish if that's what you want:

 

[olskool]

what I do mostly is what would have been done in the 18th century, I temper bronze my metal. what I do is cold blue everything. then I rub most off with 0000 steel wool. then I put my metal parts in the oven at about 350 for 45 min. it gives a nice bronze look with a grey base. then I heat the cold blued rubbed back barrel slow with a torch, it will take on the same bronze look. just don't hold the heat in one spot to long, keep it moving. you don't want to blue the barrel or get it to hot, just bronze. sometimes I will put burnt oil on the hot metal if I want a darker aged look,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

I used Perma-blue on several barrels. I did 4 coats, which was dark and rich. Then a light rub back with WD-40 and red Scotchbrite. Gave it a grey color in the end. Very easy to get good results. Just be sure its triple scrubbed clean with Dawn before starting and use gloves to keep your hand oils off it.

 

[olskool]

the Perma-blue rubbed back is the easiest to do and it looks good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[kansas_volunteer]

the Perma-blue rubbed back is the easiest to do and it looks good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

You could get the same result using Brownell's Oxpho cold blue. The gel version is easier to work with than the liquid.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

what I do mostly is what would have been done in the 18th century, I temper bronze my metal. what I do is cold blue everything. then I rub most off with 0000 steel wool. then I put my metal parts in the oven at about 350 for 45 min. it gives a nice bronze look with a grey base. then I heat the cold blued rubbed back barrel slow with a torch, it will take on the same bronze look. just don't hold the heat in one spot to long, keep it moving. you don't want to blue the barrel or get it to hot, just bronze. sometimes I will put burnt oil on the hot metal if I want a darker aged look,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I want to see images of these…that sounds amazing

 

[James Kibler]

I want to see images of these…that sounds amazing

What makes you think this was done in the 18th century? Just because it could have been done doesn't mean it was.

 

[olskool]

What makes you think this was done in the 18th century? Just because it could have been done doesn't mean it was.

because Dave pearson said it was, he knows way more than I do,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Rock Home Isle]

What makes you think this was done in the 18th century? Just because it could have been done doesn't mean it was.

I just wanted to see images of what was being described…nothing about historic, I hadn’t seen a bronzed metal finish, as described by the poster.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Back when I finished my Kibler SMR, I used Jax Black. I ordered it from Kibler. The finish has proven to be very durable.

I have a Kibler Fowler on order, and I’ll finish the metal parts on that kit in the same fashion.

But I’ve never seen a metal finish that gives a bronzish hue to the metal….if you can, post a couple images. I would very much like to see those.

 

[olskool]

I want to see images of these…that sounds amazing

here are a couple of photos, but you will have to clock on them,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
View attachment kibler #18 (18).JPGView attachment kibler #18 (26).JPGView attachment kibler #18 (28).JPGView attachment kibler #18 (6).JPGView attachment kibler #18 (30).JPGView attachment kibler #18 (4).JPGView attachment kibler #18 (17).JPG

 

[Rock Home Isle]

here are a couple of photos, but you will have to clock on them,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
View attachment 371108View attachment 371109View attachment 371110View attachment 371111View attachment 371112View attachment 371115View attachment 371116

Yes…you can see that faint bronzish hue….thank you

 

[reddogge]

I would think historically on that style and era of rifle a brown finish would work.

 

[RocketMan58]

I used Jax Black on mine and this is what the iron looks like after about a year and a half. It could be steel-wooled back to a greyer finish if that's what you want:
View attachment 371037View attachment 371038View attachment 371039

I'm liking that allot. Just what I was thinking really. So can I ask what your process was? # of coats? Steel wool in between or at the end?

 

[RocketMan58]

Thank you for all the input. Given I already ahve both Birchwood casy Blue and Oxpho Blue, I think I'm going to pick up some Jax Black and run a small experiment on some scrap steel. I need to place an order for a rifle case at the Kibler anyway so I'll just get some there.

 

[wiscoaster]

..... So can I ask what your process was? # of coats? Steel wool in between or at the end?

Sorry. I don't remember. Too long ago. It does take multiple coats with steel-wooling in between to get a uniform finish.

 

[Tumbledown]

what I do mostly is what would have been done in the 18th century, I temper bronze my metal. what I do is cold blue everything. then I rub most off with 0000 steel wool. then I put my metal parts in the oven at about 350 for 45 min. it gives a nice bronze look with a grey base. then I heat the cold blued rubbed back barrel slow with a torch, it will take on the same bronze look. just don't hold the heat in one spot to long, keep it moving. you don't want to blue the barrel or get it to hot, just bronze. sometimes I will put burnt oil on the hot metal if I want a darker aged look,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

What evidence do you have that American gunsmiths did that in the 18th century?

 

[Tumbledown]

because Dave pearson said it was, he knows way more than I do,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I haven't read anything from Dave saying that. There has been lengthy discussions about bluing or browning, on this site and ALR, with the conclusion American gunsmiths finished steel/iron either bright or gray. Any "brown" finish has come with age, and there are no known examples of barrels browned at the time the gun was made.

 

[wiscoaster]

What evidence do you have that American gunsmiths did that in the 18th century?

Hmmmm .... these firearms aren't period vintage. They're only new representations of same. Why should methods to make them representative also be period vintage? Use and do whatever works to achieve the desired end results.