![]() I haven't had to decide on any of my long rifles, the one I have with inlays, they look pretty good already, so I didn't touch them. So any 200 year old rifle you see with shiny brass, has been polished many times. Brass, if left alone, turns dark in just a few years, especially if handled. On Northern rifles with more brass, I've seen several world class collectors that I know polish the brass. I get the dust and crud out of the nooks, with a soft brush, if needed. I then may put a coat of Johnsons wax on the wood, and a light coat of oil on the metal, and leave the rest showing it's age. I don't touch the wood with anything abrasive or solvents either, other than just wiping the stock with warm water with detergent, rinsing, then when dry rubbing on a little boiled linseed oil. The "browning" or patina was just natural aging. Another interesting thing is some people believe that the locks and perhaps barrels were left in the white when the rifles were made. ![]() Other times it was not, during their period of use. ![]() I'm not a big believer in polishing brass on these antiques, though I know it was done for generations, at times. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |