Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Ageing a new blued rifle

Anyone have any advice on how to make my bright new Browning model 1895 Winchester look old. Don't tell me to use it for years and let it age natural because at 81 years old I don't have the time to do that. Someone told me to apply mustard to the blued metal and that would give it a gray patina...anyone have any suggestions?

I can't imagine doing that to a rifle. YMMV...

[quoteI can't imagine doing that to a rifle. YMMV...][/quote]

I wouldn't do it to just any new rifle either but this is a reproduction of an old rifle. I have an original made in 1912 and I want this new shiny gun to look like it's been used awhile.

Long long ago in a land nearby, someone posted their rifle break in procedure. Form memory, I think it included tossing it around on some asphalt.

Might ask on the cowboy action shooters form.

Just did that to a New Vaquero. Vinegar and coarse steel wool, followed by some 0000 steel wool. Stainless hammer & trigger were heat/oil colored to resemble casehardening; grips by Western & Wildlife Wonders.

Before http://www.armslist.com/posts/58539...ale--ruger-new-vaquero--45-colt-revolver

After

Leave it in the bed of your truck for a month.

Now that's what I'm talkin about....looks good Sarge.

If you can find it, buy some pumice powder. Mix it with some 5/10 weight motor oil and make a "loose" paste. Apply to the rifle with a soft cotton cloth rubbing GENTLY until you get the bluing patina you want.

That is the concoction and system used by the firearms restorers at Williamsburg, on antique rifles to remove any rust and bluing before they refinish the firearm.

L.W.

Loan it out to a relative or grand kid it will age quickly!

Thanks Longhunter. If you go the distilled vinegar route, rinse it off after 10-15 minutes and see what you've got. You can always give it another dose if you wish. If you leave the stuff on too long it will etch the metal a tad.

You could loan it to Ed Stevenson for a season of hunting, I remembered this article among others of his hunt camp.
Article link here for the Rifle magazine article.

Longhunter!

How's this project coming along? Get sight installed too?

I saw 2 1895s at a gun show today, one was a carbine in 30-40 the other was a 3006 both had been refinished and reblued, not very good Jobs 1900.00 the other was $900.00

Wear leather gloves, get some fine dirt on them and carry that thing hunting. The bluing will shoe the right kind of wear, in the right places, in a few days. I went on a 12 day huntil when it was real dry and dusty. We used the vehicles to move several times a day, getting covered with dust in the open bed. After that hunt, my pre-Garcia 7 mag showed more wear on the blue in than it had acquired over 20 some years.

I knew a guy who developed a patina on a rifle by pissing on it

I just got back from my annual bow hunting trip to my deer camp and picked up the Browning from the gunsmith who put the replica Lyman sight on it, I haven't had a chance to do any ageing on it yet;. It looks better already

Let my brother in law borrow it.

I didn't know Lyman still made that 'Climin' Lyman" sight.

I bought a nib 94 that someone had dismantled and ran something like a dreamer buff tool on the high spots, corners, edges etc. to "age" it.

It's nib but looks used and somewhat worn.

Looks great I always liked those sights. I can't wait to see it when you get it aged.