Dulling Brass - 1866 Uberti

[Samuel Kiteman Cody]

I am wanting to make my Uberti 1866 have the same dull glow that my 1872 manufactured Winchester 1866 has. Any suggestions. My new one has the look of a cheap hussy with it's brassy blond compared to the elegant glow of the original.

Thanks in advance


Samuel "kiteman" Cody
CAS
NCOWS
Good for nothing nobody

[Carolina Lead Foot]

You may not like my answer, but shoot BP in it.  Both my 66 and 60 have the nicest patina as the direct result of shooting GOEX through them.  I have pards that shoot smokless and they have nice shiney rifles, no visible patina at all.  This is theonlt way I know of and I hope it helps a little.

Carolina Lead Foot who is not trying to give a smart a$$ response just his own experience.

[Black River Smith]

The first step is to buy a solvent such as Acetone if you do not already have some.  Acetone can be bought in most any hardware store.  Use this solvent to remove the lacquer like coating on the frame.  After several hard rubbings that coating will be gone.  Be sure not to hit the wood unless you want to remove the urethane and fake coloring.

Then just handle the metal or rub your hands on the metal several, several times without wiping or cleaning.  Do this and also let it sit out in house/basement atmosphere.  It will eventually dull out or obtain a tarnish.

Shooting BP after this treatment will speed up the process.

[Samuel Kiteman Cody]

Thanks to both of you. I have been using smokeless.  I think I will do the light removal on the brass then it looks like it is time to smoke it up a bit.

Cheers

Samuel  "kiteman" Cody

[Singing Bear]

"kiteman", just curious.  Do you actually go out and fly replicas of Cody's kites?  Sorry for OT question, but it's in his name. 

[Yankee John]

Most cold blueing solutions will turn brass to dark brown quickly. Then use 0000 steel wool to take the finish to the level where you are satisfied. If it doesn't turn out to your liking the first time- do it again!

John

[Samuel Kiteman Cody]

"kiteman", just curious.  Do you actually go out and fly replicas of Cody's kites?  Sorry for OT question, but it's in his name. 

You have hit my other passion. If I knew it would not cause such a commotion I would fly one of my 'man-lifters' at a SASS or similar CAS event. I have a total of 15 kites. 4 are Codys. I have a Cody compound which has a 7 foot wingspan. I also have a regular Cody which has a 6 ft span. They both require 500 lb test. I have told some of my friends that I like to fly kites. I think they do not realize what a work-out a "man-lifter" is with Kansas breezes . I have litterally been lifted once with a gust of 30 knots.
A friend who fishes said it was like holding on to a 100 lb Channelcat.

Cheers

Samuel "kiteman" Cody

[Abilene]

Samuel,
I'd agree with shooting BP in the yellowboy to give it that patina.  Takes a while, though. BP substitutes won't do it, at least not APP, which I used to shoot in my '66 and it does stain and streak the brass but not evenly.

But you can give it a headstart by taking a patch that has BP fouling on it and rubbing that on the brass.  Even unfired BP can be used, just mix a tad of it with water to make a paste, and rub that into the brass with a patch or rag. 

There used to be a guy who posted on one of the discussion groups about using ammonia, I think.  He'd fill a pan with ammonia and place the receiver of the rifle over the pan, with a towel covering it to concentrate the fumes.  He said it worked real well.  But I'm not sure about the details and certainly wouldn't want to recommend it without reservation, but it might give you some food for thought.

Gooid luck.

[44caliberkid]

If you are capable of stripping (disassembling) the action, then take the bare reciever to a shop that does Media Blasting (stripping).  You can protect the barrel and mag tube with masking tape, then have them bead blast the reciever with either plastic or glass beads.  The shop owner will know which to use to get the finish you want. It will give a nice eggshell finish that closely resembles a new oringinal.

[docgoodluck]

use the acetone then find some shooting real black. borrow wet used cleaning patches. works great.

[docgoodluck]

after the cleaning process find some pard cleaning his real black. borrow his used wet patches. wipe the brass presto dull used look. may take several applications to get the effect you want.

[Ransom Gaer]

I think real BP residue either on a cleaning patch or through shooting the stuff is going to give the best results.   Blackpowder is what got that original '66 to look the way it does.  I shoot real BP in my Uberti '66 all the time and it did take some time to get that patina.  Took about a year of use to get that patina I think for me.  But I love it.

There is a forum on this here CASCITY wire about the '60 Henry and the '66 Improved Henry.  One of the threads was about keeping them shiny.  A few of us reponded that ours had this nice dull patina (complete with pictures) and that was the way we wanted them.  Better to sneak up on the bad guys with.

Ransom Gaer

[Be-A-triss Bandit]

This is kind a pricey to ship:  Van Dykes brass darkener.  http://www.vandykes.com/product/02249614/  Van Dykes Restorationis owned by Cabela's (a Nebraska company!)
dirty BP cleaning patches, ammonia box, ammonia and salt, urine are all cheaper and no wait for shipping hazardous ground UPS.  Gotta watch 'em all though.
I've also used Brownells' Oxpho Blue to discolor copper/brass.