Any muzzleloader builders out there?

[longhunter1757]

Not sure how many are into primitive weapons but here's my dilema.
I've built a few flintlocks both for myself and a few others and until now all the steel parts were browned. Now I'm going to build one for my 9 yr old son and he has his mind set on an antique finish like many custom builders use.
The one example of builder being Allen Martin and in particular the metal finish on his Lehigh Schimmel.

http://www.allenmartinrifles.com/html/pa.html

To me this almost looks like a browning process that was stopped short and then brushed off or perhaps a rust blue process also stopped short.
Does anybody have any idea how this finish is produced?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Longhunter1757

[daschnoz]

There are a couple of guys here at work that are building muzzloaders, so I asked them.

You want this stuff

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport/...t=5&prodcat=73

Plumb Brown (tm) barrel finish.

What you do to the barrel during and after applying the solution will determine what the finished product will look like. As for how to get the "stressed" look, you'll need to do some research. I'm sure there is a ton of information about it on this here high tech inter-web gadget thingy. Ask the Google. He knows EVERYTHING.

[justashooter]

looks like a fake "patina". try browning maybe twice and carding with 000 or 00 steel wool and waxing.

[brian]

you finish as you normally would.
then remove the finish from high spots and other high use areas.
scotchbrite and steel wool. teh brite will easily remove finish and the wool will blend everything togther.
i've been working on this type of finish on several guns.
i have a thompson with an aged look, an ak with a well worn look an and a 1873 colt clone that is well on it's way to actually looking 130 years old.
getting wood to match the steel is a hurtle i've not cleared yet....those long rifles are the same way...well aged steel, but the wood looks brandy new.

uberti offers a finsh on their 1873 colt clone, that actually is a finish, that looks 130 years old, and they beat the wood up as well. it makes a gun that truly looks the part.
usfa has a similar finish, but the uberti beats it hands down.

[dud]

yeah you just stop short with the browning process.i have better luck with aqua fortis browning solution.

[longhunter1757]

Thanks gentleman!
Your answers are exactly what I was thinking.

Longhunter1757

[BigMikeM31]

The father of a girl I used to date built tons of flinters and when I was in the process of putting together a kit, he gave me a half hour info session on finishing barrels with the patina finish. The details escape me except he mentioned something about randomly blotting the barrel with bleach. You may want to check out a forum www.muzzleloadingforum.com they have lots of gun building and smithing information.

[knight0334]

Since someone drew the attention of the muzzleloader builders.... ....does anyone know where I can order a 75cal/12bore/10bore/bigger RIFLED front stuffer barrel?

[dud]

try getz barrels in beavertown pa.he makes great barrels