getting an aged dark grey patina look on barrel

cowboys1062 · April 5, 2015, 09:22 AM

I have a muzzleloader barrel that I want to put a dark grey aged patina look to it. I still have some old bluing that I will have to remove first. My question is how do I go about putting a dark grey aged patina look on the barrel? Does anyone have any home remedies or tricks of the trade that I could try? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Respectfully, cowboys1062.

**4V50 Gary** · April 5, 2015, 09:29 AM

We removed our old bluing jobs with toilet bowl cleaner. The metal was left with a grey color. If we wanted to reblue it, we'd start polishing.

Nickel Plated · April 5, 2015, 10:21 AM

Distilled white vinegar that you can get at any supermarket gets rid of bluing very well. I stripped my 1858 Remington clone with it. Took about 10 minutes for the whole pistol.

Hawg · April 5, 2015, 10:54 AM

Naval Jelly will remove bluing and leave the metal gray.

kwhi43 · April 5, 2015, 11:46 AM

Here is how mine turned out.

denster · April 5, 2015, 01:05 PM

Very nice. That is the exact look everyone is after. Well done.

kwhi43 · April 5, 2015, 02:00 PM

I used vinegar soaked paper towels and let it sit overnight. Then took 000
steel wool to blend it all in. I never oil it. Just shoot it and clean with water.
I do put WD40 in the barrel and inside the chambers. Other than that no oil
This is a old Euroarms made in 1974. I think the steel is different than whats
being used in Piettas and Uberties now days. It shoots well enough to have won
me a couple gold medals at the Nationals at at Friendship

AKexpat · April 5, 2015, 04:09 PM

I guess I can understand why some folks want to take a perfectly good blued firearm and create something akin to an "aged" gun. I just have a problem with how corrosion control is entertained.

Has anyone ever done a light/medium grey parkerized job on such a gun?

Disassemble the pistol completely, remove the nipples, plug all of the cylinder holes, plug the barrel, and just do the frame, barrel, load lever, and cylinder. I would not do any screws as park jobs remove a bit of metal.

That would be interesting as all get out, IMO!

And it would protect the steel against the elements.

Comments?

Jim

Bishop Creek · April 5, 2015, 07:04 PM

I "antiqued" this Pietta Shooters model over a decade ago using vinegar to remove the bluing, then put on some flintlock barrel browning solution and after baking it in the oven hand finished it with gun polish. Gave a worn look as opposed to an all bare metal look. I thought it came out really well. Only had to lightly oil it to prevent rust. No corrosion problems at all.

cowboys1062 · April 7, 2015, 02:51 AM

I took some BC's Blue remover and degreaser and took the old bluing off the barrel. Then took some 0000 steel wool and went over the barrel and got it nice and clean. I then ReBlued the barrel evening out any streaks with 0000 steel wool. I took back the dark finish until I got an even grey look. I then wiped down the barrel with an alcohol patch. I then mixed some mustard with vinegar and applied that to the barrel. I let it sit for a couple hours until it was good and dried on. I then took a washcloth and wiped the barrel down real good. It was a real dark grey in color. I then took some WD40 and soaked the barrel while using 0000 steel wool and blended and evened out the finish. The barrel now has a nice aged dark grey patina look with an even finish. Looks just the way I was hoping for. The last step was putting a light coat of gun oil on her and putting it away. I want to thank everyone for the suggestions,replies and pics. It gave me alot of options to think about and helped me with the end result. Respectfully, cowboys1062.

Hardy · April 9, 2015, 05:33 PM

I stripped a few but I could not keep them from rusting unless oiled all the time. I finally took a sig 3rd gen 51 Navy and sent it to Taylors & co. They reblued it and looks great. I have an old cva rem 44 that I took down to raw steel--looked great/ kept rusting/ but I went ahead later and put a coat of oxpho blue and it has a blended look . Has color rainbow along frames w subtle gray and shines with a mirror finish with yellow gold color along the oct ridges. I will not sell it

and I like it. What's fun with these guns is that you can have
a lot of fun personalizing them with your own artistic touch.

wbh

kwhi43 · April 9, 2015, 06:40 PM

I don't know what kind of steel my old Euroarms is made of, but it won't rust.
I have even tried when I left it in the rain . Still won't rust. I never oil it. Mebby
the steel has a high content of nickle or chrome. Anybody know??

Shotput79 · April 10, 2015, 01:04 AM

Try putting it in the ground for bout a month see if that will help you get some rust started.

Hardy · April 10, 2015, 06:53 PM

well if k's gun doesn't rust even with rain and moisture, he has something! Merlin -probably told king arthur to keep the sword x caliber oiled

hey - exposed raw steel rusts if not lubricated. Even finished steel will.

April 5, 2015, 09:22 AM	#1
cowboys1062 Member Join Date: January 24, 2015 Posts: 35	getting an aged dark grey patina look on barrel I have a muzzleloader barrel that I want to put a dark grey aged patina look to it. I still have some old bluing that I will have to remove first. My question is how do I go about putting a dark grey aged patina look on the barrel? Does anyone have any home remedies or tricks of the trade that I could try? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Respectfully, cowboys1062.

April 5, 2015, 09:29 AM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	We removed our old bluing jobs with toilet bowl cleaner. The metal was left with a grey color. If we wanted to reblue it, we'd start polishing. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 5, 2015, 04:09 PM	#8
AKexpat Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2014 Location: SW WA State Posts: 490	Noob Here... I guess I can understand why some folks want to take a perfectly good blued firearm and create something akin to an "aged" gun. I just have a problem with how corrosion control is entertained. Has anyone ever done a light/medium grey parkerized job on such a gun? Disassemble the pistol completely, remove the nipples, plug all of the cylinder holes, plug the barrel, and just do the frame, barrel, load lever, and cylinder. I would not do any screws as park jobs remove a bit of metal. That would be interesting as all get out, IMO! And it would protect the steel against the elements. Comments? Jim __________________ To be governed – is to be watched, inspected, directed, indoctrinated, numbered, estimated, regulated, commanded, controlled, law-driven, preached at, spied upon, censured, checked, valued, enrolled – by creatures who have neither the right, nor the wisdom, nor the virtue to do so. - Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

April 7, 2015, 02:51 AM	#10
cowboys1062 Member Join Date: January 24, 2015 Posts: 35	Achieved the look I wanted! I took some BC's Blue remover and degreaser and took the old bluing off the barrel. Then took some 0000 steel wool and went over the barrel and got it nice and clean. I then ReBlued the barrel evening out any streaks with 0000 steel wool. I took back the dark finish until I got an even grey look. I then wiped down the barrel with an alcohol patch. I then mixed some mustard with vinegar and applied that to the barrel. I let it sit for a couple hours until it was good and dried on. I then took a washcloth and wiped the barrel down real good. It was a real dark grey in color. I then took some WD40 and soaked the barrel while using 0000 steel wool and blended and evened out the finish. The barrel now has a nice aged dark grey patina look with an even finish. Looks just the way I was hoping for. The last step was putting a light coat of gun oil on her and putting it away. I want to thank everyone for the suggestions,replies and pics. It gave me alot of options to think about and helped me with the end result. Respectfully, cowboys1062.

April 5, 2015, 10:21 AM	#3
Nickel Plated Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NYC Posts: 610	Distilled white vinegar that you can get at any supermarket gets rid of bluing very well. I stripped my 1858 Remington clone with it. Took about 10 minutes for the whole pistol.

April 5, 2015, 10:54 AM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Naval Jelly will remove bluing and leave the metal gray.

April 5, 2015, 11:46 AM	#5
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	Here is how mine turned out.

April 5, 2015, 01:05 PM	#6
denster Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 581	Very nice. That is the exact look everyone is after. Well done.

April 5, 2015, 02:00 PM	#7
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	I used vinegar soaked paper towels and let it sit overnight. Then took 000 steel wool to blend it all in. I never oil it. Just shoot it and clean with water. I do put WD40 in the barrel and inside the chambers. Other than that no oil This is a old Euroarms made in 1974. I think the steel is different than whats being used in Piettas and Uberties now days. It shoots well enough to have won me a couple gold medals at the Nationals at at Friendship

April 5, 2015, 07:04 PM	#9
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 566	I "antiqued" this Pietta Shooters model over a decade ago using vinegar to remove the bluing, then put on some flintlock barrel browning solution and after baking it in the oven hand finished it with gun polish. Gave a worn look as opposed to an all bare metal look. I thought it came out really well. Only had to lightly oil it to prevent rust. No corrosion problems at all.

April 9, 2015, 05:33 PM	#11
Hardy Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 709	I stripped a few but I could not keep them from rusting unless oiled all the time. I finally took a sig 3rd gen 51 Navy and sent it to Taylors & co. They reblued it and looks great. I have an old cva rem 44 that I took down to raw steel--looked great/ kept rusting/ but I went ahead later and put a coat of oxpho blue and it has a blended look . Has color rainbow along frames w subtle gray and shines with a mirror finish with yellow gold color along the oct ridges. I will not sell it and I like it. What's fun with these guns is that you can have a lot of fun personalizing them with your own artistic touch. wbh

April 9, 2015, 06:40 PM	#12
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	I don't know what kind of steel my old Euroarms is made of, but it won't rust. I have even tried when I left it in the rain . Still won't rust. I never oil it. Mebby the steel has a high content of nickle or chrome. Anybody know??

April 10, 2015, 01:04 AM	#13
Shotput79 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 186	Try putting it in the ground for bout a month see if that will help you get some rust started.

April 10, 2015, 06:53 PM	#14
Hardy Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 709	well if k's gun doesn't rust even with rain and moisture, he has something! Merlin -probably told king arthur to keep the sword x caliber oiled hey - exposed raw steel rusts if not lubricated. Even finished steel will.