Who else polishes their brass over the winter?
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I prefer naturally aged patina.....All it takes to screw up freshly polished brass is a greasy potato chip finger print....and then you have to re-polish it....
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It's what I do as well! To each his own. Knowing both of our back grounds I think it's perfectly normal for the both of us!SgtErv said:
Respectfully, Cowboy
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When I first started out I polished brass. Then came military service and it broke me of the habit.
I have not polished brass in decades.
I have not polished brass in decades.
Walks with fire
54 Cal.
I don't because I don't have any rifles with brass. I like them plain and simple looking; more like a hammer being plain and functional. I never cared to own a rifle that is all dressed up with brass, inlays and patch boxes. I love the look of them though and if I did own one I would keep it polished up for sure. Your rifle looks good; love the plate screws too.
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For me tarnished brass falls in the category of "honest wear and tear" right along with the various bruises and scrapes my guns earn in the field. Along with those on my body! :grin:
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X2 :thumbsup: . I like the look of tarnished. Its an honest look. Plus polished brass may alert the deer.
We need to change your name to Crow! :haha:
Nit Wit
Nit Wit
The lock plate screws are too cool. I thought it was a neat embellishment. It's a fairly plain rifle with a wooden patchbox, with the only brass being nosecap, thimbles, and trigger guard. They're a soft, almost silvery brass. It'll get a patina again after a couple trips to the range. Nice to have it like new to start the season!
Crow as in "caw caw?" Haha. Crazy Crow might be more accurate :haha:
Crow as in "caw caw?" Haha. Crazy Crow might be more accurate :haha:
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Have never polished the brass on mine since I got it in the mid nineties. It shines where it get handled, and that's it.
I think the unpolished brass gives it character.
Because of all the mandatory brass polishing when in the Army, I really like that "cruddy but nice look" which slowly transforms a boring, shiny surface into a thing of beauty...especially the engraving.
But, some like the shiny brass and will spend the time to maintain that look...which in the end is what they want and that's a good thing for them.....Fred
But, some like the shiny brass and will spend the time to maintain that look...which in the end is what they want and that's a good thing for them.....Fred
I only polish the brass, and the steel, on property belonging to His Royal Britannic Majesty. One has to set an example for the lads, and idle hands are the devil's own tools.
GOD SAVE THE KING!
LD
GOD SAVE THE KING!
LD
I'm with the others on the 'don't polish' philosophy.
Plus, for rifles with beautiful engraving, polishing will wear off the engraving. I have seen plenty of old rifles in private hands and museums where the engraving was polished away. My fine Rev. style rifle has had the engraved brass polished maybe twice since 1976.
Plus, for rifles with beautiful engraving, polishing will wear off the engraving. I have seen plenty of old rifles in private hands and museums where the engraving was polished away. My fine Rev. style rifle has had the engraved brass polished maybe twice since 1976.
hanshi
Cannon
SgtErv, I long ago found that if I polished the brass once, it would need it again, and again and again. I'm too lazy to spend my time in idle polishing of bling. Mine are nicely patina'd and I leave them alone. It makes them look good, IMHO.
DOUBLEDEUCE 1
69 Cal.
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I think your side plate and stock are both beautiful. And then again I like the unpolished look too. If I feel like polishing my brass, I'll do it, especially if I don't have to... :idunno:
ApprenticeBuilder
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Nope, not on mine.
Every time you polish, the crisp edges get a little bit smoother.
Every time you polish, the crisp edges get a little bit smoother.
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Loyalist Dave said:
When I did a Private Soldier in the Major’s Coy of the 42nd RHR, I shined the Brass and Steel of my Bess before an event, and daily during the event. I never wanted to fall out for morning inspection looking like a Sloppy or “Awkward Soldier” (period name for a recruit), even though I never aspired to being a Non Commissioned Officer. Most of the time it was fun just being a “Professional Private.”
When I awoke around dawn, I would first prepare a large cup of “chocolate,”(actually Swiss Mocha Coffee) even though that would have been a rare delicacy for a Private Soldier. As a Scot, I never acquired the taste, nor could I afford Tea. Then as I waited for my oat meal to boil, I shined my Bess and other Brass.
This normally worked well for morning inspection, though one time my freshly shined shoe buckles got me in some trouble. When my Captain inspected me, he remarked about my shoe buckles being so expensive for a Private Soldier and how did I afford them? Now, they were the exact same style of plain square military buckles everyone else used, but since I have such large feet, I use the larger of the two sizes of buckles. No one had ever noticed mine were a little larger than most others, before. I could only imagine that since mine were shined, my Captain may have thought they were “gilded,” instead of plain brass.
OK, so I decided to play along and replied, “Sir, I decided after all my years of throwing money away on loose women and too many a drop of the heather, that I should have something to show for my service. So I purchased something that I hoped my Officers would be pleased I would wear, to make the Company look better”¦..SIR!” Now my Captain was in real life a retired Army Captain, who had begun his service as an enlisted soldier. At first he didn’t know what to say, then he grinned and stepped closer and whispered, “I never know what to expect from you Marines.” Then he stepped back and said, “Well, that would indeed be a good trend for the Company to emulate.”
Gus
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