Hi, Thanks for considering my question. I have volunteered to engrave [for my local gun club for a fund raiser], a reblued, pitted Winchester 1873 cal 32. I have polished out most of he rust pits,the barrel is getting relined. Will be engraving it in a period type engraving, sign and date it. The stock has seen 120 years of service so it will not look new. There was another 1873, no blueing left on it but it had more apeal because of the pateina [sorry no spell check] and didn't have dark blueing on top of the rust pits.
So to get that old look what would you think?
I could slow rust blue and use mild acid to lighten it while keeping the engraving dark. But that would be muddy looking and not worn shiny like.
Send it out to get tempered blued, that rubs off and leaves a worn look.
Send it out and get it silver plated and tarnish it. But that would leave the barrel, butt plate to age.
Blast it with a real fine abrasive, makes a great gun metal gray but not aged.
Any questions, comments,will be appreciated. If you think it is a dumb, waste of time, could be sleeping, there is better things to do with my time, or anything else, Let Me Know. I might agree with you. Mark

Mark Hoechst
2/13/2006 12:02:02 AM

I wouldn't consider doing it antique. You are engraving it, so why not do more of a restoration? Needless to say, the stocks won't be new but if you did a French Gray or Silver plate on the action and lever and blued the rest it would have a nice look. You could do a light blast on the metal to give it more of a matte finish however. Maybe others have a good way to produce an aged finish but most ones I have seen look just like that.

Rex Pedersen
2/13/2006 1:46:45 PM

Thanks Rex, that is what I needed, some common sense. Maybe Gun Metal Gray would be the way to go. Thanks again, Mark

Mark Hoechst
2/15/2006 9:40:33 PM