Antiquing "How-To"

andy42s · May 17, 2010, 07:34:53 PM

Here's an updated picture of my new vaquero. I flitzed the ferric chloride finish, and finally tarnished the brass grip frame, and dulled the grips

Alphawolf45 · July 17, 2010, 05:22:05 AM

My first post here..Great forum.
.
I colorcasehardened this new receiver last week and the color pattern looked garish and didnt suit me..Remembering having recently read this thread and admired some of the 'antiqued ' guns .. I rubbed off the colors with 400 grit wet and dri and I like the appearance of worn off color case hardening...I see some of you fellers prefer the dull appearance ..I like some shine however as I think a cared for gun would be rubbed with rags frequently and wear to a shine going in and out of holster and scabbord.

andy42s · April 25, 2011, 03:50:48 PM

My 1851 navy

My stoeger

n4sir45 · July 09, 2011, 05:40:27 PM

Can someone Antique a Stainless Ruger Vaquero? I have 2 Shiny Stainless Ruger Vaquero's that I'd like to look like they were from the old west. One of the 2 is an old model and the other is brand new model.
Anyone who wants to write me about it you can here or at n4sir45(at)msn(dot)com with instructions.
any are appreciated.

Roscoe Coles · October 22, 2011, 11:33:33 AM

The problem with the dip methods is that guns come out looking like they have obviously been "antiqued". Old guns always loose their finish at the high pints and have traces of finish in the low spots and protected areas. The dip method removes the finish everywhere, which makes them look wrong. But hey, I have always followed the "use it to make it look old" school of thought.

Junkman · October 23, 2011, 09:42:57 PM

Quote from: andy42s on April 25, 2011, 03:50:48 PM

My 1851 navy

I hope you realize that the wedge on that '51 is upside down!

Mako · October 28, 2011, 09:32:54 PM

Quote from: Junkman on October 23, 2011, 09:42:57 PM
I hope you realize that the wedge on that '51 is upside down!

Junkman,
My question is how that could be done if the wedge retention screw is in place. "You can't get there from here..."

~Mako

Junkman · October 31, 2011, 10:25:25 AM

C'mon Mako. I do not understand your question, since I do not see a picture that indicates the wedge retention screw is installed! You know damned well the wedge is upside down.

Mako · October 31, 2011, 11:25:20 AM

Quote from: Junkman on October 31, 2011, 10:25:25 AM
C'mon Mako. I do not understand your question, since I do not see a picture that indicates the wedge retention screw is installed! You know damned well the wedge is upside down.

Calm down... My point is that you are correct, furthermore the wedge retention screw can't be in place because you can't put a wedge in upside down if it is. It was a rhetorical question. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was disagreeing with you.

Regards,
Mako

Junkman · October 31, 2011, 12:02:49 PM

Mako,

I'm calm. I knew the screw could not be installed due to the lip on the wedge. I just didn't understand your rhetoric. Sorry. Sometimes the written word doesn't come off as it would have face to face. No harm/no foul, as they say.

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · October 31, 2011, 04:21:56 PM

Back about three pages, I figured we had this one run inta the ground. Anyway, since we're here, how about some aphorisms. They are a great way of aging things quickly!

"S-it happens!"

"Time flies when you're havin fun"

So the conclusion is; Have more fun and everything will acquire the patina of experience much more quickly!

PJ Hardtack · October 31, 2011, 09:41:43 PM

The pickled frame on my early blued .44 mag Vaquero is wearing nicely, looking great with the rest of the blued gun. The stainless Vaquero I bought at the same time is not aging as well, retaining most of it's lustre, but I like it just fine.

One of my Uberti .45s from the same era has that odd 'fire blued' finish that is aging nicely. It doesn't wear well and I've let it happen naturally. Some enhancement might actually improve it. It's companion is the standard dark blue and just starting to show wear.

I've never quite understood 'antiquing' a gun, as in the historic era, it would have looked like what it was - a fairly new and valued tool that saw daily or frequent use. The more service, the more marks. Honourably earned 'hash marks', like some scars, add character, each one a chapter in a story. But, I admit that some 'antiqued' guns look interesting.

Where I have problems is when it accentuates wear like a lot of 'tuning' and 'actions jobs' I've seen. I'm a believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."; letting things wear in naturally rather than speeding up the process. I like my women (wife) and my guns to look too damn young for me .... ;>)

Riot Earp · November 07, 2011, 08:00:30 AM

Quote from: PJ Hardtack on October 31, 2011, 09:41:43 PM
I've never quite understood 'antiquing' a gun, as in the historic era, it would have looked like what it was - a fairly new and valued tool that saw daily or frequent use.

There is always someone in every antiquing thread, on every gun-related site, who expresses this view. $:-\$

Antiquing isn't for everyone. But surely a gun carried on horseback in the elements would have aged rather quickly. Rain does nasty things to carbon steel. (Please, let's not extend the debate over this point, and thereby ruin this thread.)

Indian Outlaw · January 20, 2012, 01:19:47 PM

I am going to try the following method on a new Uberti London Navy:

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=208184;article=296881

I think this method ages the gun more realistically than the vinegar-dip and acid-etch methods.

I refuse to bugger-up the screws, however.

Gbeathar · March 17, 2012, 02:39:15 PM

If you have any pitting or dings in the metal a French Grey finish will look pretty antique. Some mentioned toilet bowl cleaner to remove blueing. I use Brownells Blue and Rust Remover. The put the French Gray on with a product like PPG's Metal Conditioner. The longer you leave the in the conditioner, the darker they will be. You can then rub on and off rust oleum flat black. Any dings and pits will retain the black. It is a nice permanent antique look.

Gerry
BeathardEngraving.Com

Boothill Bob · August 11, 2012, 02:34:55 AM

Howdy..
I will trye this way on my uberti
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Antiquing_SAA_Revolver.pdf

Boothill Bob · August 13, 2012, 02:24:39 PM

It come out like this.. Looks like it been on the trail for a year without oil

Forty Rod · August 13, 2012, 02:41:27 PM

Helluva a cylinder gap there, Bill.

Boothill Bob · August 16, 2012, 04:49:24 AM

Quote from: Forty Rod on August 13, 2012, 02:41:27 PM
Helluva a cylinder gap there, Bill.

Its a blank fireing gun that I use in shows

Curley Cole · August 16, 2012, 03:23:19 PM

To be honest I am not that fond of the "antiqwuing" that much. Esp. if it makes it look like it was stuck in a boot for a year. The reason I antiqued my gun was because it was a kit gun, AND I couldn't afford a full hot blue. AND I did want it to look some what worn.

I reposted this pix because someone asked about simulating the wear points ie holster etc. I did a cold blue on my gun, and with cold blue it is a fairly thin finish so the wear points come very quickly...suck as a cylinder drag mark and the holster wear on the bbl.l

I think my gun looks fairly authentic. looks much like the photo od Docs gun..

some of ya should give it a try..(the grips were already looking a bit worn they were in a bin of parts at EMF for about 20 years and banged around in there before I got them to replace the brass...

curley