slightly aging 92 receiver

[robtlah]

I have a new Rossi 92 short rifle with case-hardened receiver. It's pretty ,but I'd like to age it a little, as if to show about ten years of wear or so. I don't want to ruin the case-coloring, but I'd like to tone down the dark blue background a little. I'll no doubt have to sacrifice a little of the C-H finish. Any suggestions on how to proceed without overdoing it? Anybody hae any photos to share? Thanks for your input.
Lawdog Bob

[Stu Kettle]

I would handle it, carry it, shoot it, & clean it . . . for about ten years.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Nothin' like good ol' "time-in"!  (And that is not a chemical formula!)

[Fox Creek Kid]

Grease the bore heavily & then lay it in the garden for a month. 

[Deadeye Dick]

Try these forum topics:    http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,32642.0.html  Forty Rod gives some good ideas.
     
                                      http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,5505.0.html

You can search the forum for more by searching "antiquing" and "original finish".
Deadeye Dick

[Dances With Coyotes]

I'd carry the Hell out of it in a unlined leather case, and let it roll around in the back of a pickup for awhile.

[robtlah]

Thanks for the feedback. I started in with some light applications of vinegar and a little steel wool. It took the "newness" off the case hardening, which is the main thing I wanted. I applied some to the barrel as well...will work on that gradually until I have an acceptable, duller appearance. Same for the screw heads, loading gate, and magazine. I don't want to "antique" the gun, just make it look a little more used than I will possibly be able to achieve shooting the gun at occasional matches. ( I don't want to wait ten yeas!) As for the wood, I'll "ding" it and "dent" a little. maybe refinish it, although the color isn't too bad. The unlined leather case idea sounds interesting!
Lawdog Bob

[Rube Burrows]

Any pics?

Before, maybe during and after?

[robtlah]

I haven't worked on the rifle for a few weeks due to a busy schedule, but will try to go back to it after our next club shoot. I don't want to overdo the weathering, but certainly want to age it a bit, especially the wood. There's an interesting photo of the Big Loop 92 that John Wayne used in True Grit in the book Peacemakers. The prop people did a fabulous job of aging the gun, especially the wood. I'm not sure I want to go that far with it but it looks like a gun that's been used hard and often.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I haven't worked on the rifle for a few weeks due to a busy schedule, but will try to go back to it after our next club shoot. I don't want to overdo the weathering, but certainly want to age it a bit, especially the wood. There's an interesting photo of the Big Loop 92 that John Wayne used in True Grit in the book Peacemakers. The prop people did a fabulous job of aging the gun, especially the wood. I'm not sure I want to go that far with it but it looks like a gun that's been used hard and often.

Isn't that kinda "oxy-moronic"?  Aging a firearm that hasn't been invented yet, at least it didn't exist at the time the story was set.

[St. George]

There's that.

There's also the fact that men tried to take 'some' care of their weapons and would wipe them with an oily rag, if nothing else.

At the time, these weapons were 'new' - not 'antiqued' artfully - and by the time the 1892 Winchester came about , there weren't long cattle drives and Indian fights and stagecoach chases for the user to contend with.

The Frontier had changed.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[GunClick Rick]

Plumb Blue?

[Branding Iron Bill]

Robtlah
I notice every time this topic comes up, someone is always there to rag on you for doing it, or just plain try to make you look or feel foolish.  Pay em no mind.  If you want to do it, it's your business.  I did a very foolish thing and did mine, and now it's one of my favorites.  All I used was 400 and 600 grit sandpaper.  No chemicals, no major disassembly.  I also distressed and reworked the wood a bit.  I like to think of it as my definative 'John Wayne movie rifle'.  44wcf of course.  I love it, can't get enough of it, sames as a beautiful woman.  She's mine, and I'm real proud of her.  Go for it.

[GunClick Rick]

WAA HAA