Anyone ever antique gun?

Hawg · September 18, 2007, 08:49 PM

I've got an old Rigarmi 58 Remington Beals I bought new in 69 when I was 12. It's been thru hell and hi water. After being severly used and abused and stored for a buncha years due to a broken loading lever It was looking pretty scruffy. I found parts I could fit to it and get it working again but it looked funny with a new lever so I decided to defarb it and antique it. I coated the bore and chambers with bore butter after removing the grips and internals and sprayed it down with a vinegar and salt mix and let it sit a couple of days then buffed it off with steel wool. I buffed off the clear coating on the grips too(not that there was much left). Whacha think?

Finished product. I'd have preferred a more even brown coating but it'll do.

Old Dragoon · September 18, 2007, 09:06 PM

Looks Great!

Never heard of the mfg. that you speak of.
You sure it isn't an old Armi San Paolo? Looks like their frame.

Hawg · September 18, 2007, 09:10 PM

No it's Rigarmi. They went under in the mid 70's.

Raider2000 · September 19, 2007, 02:56 AM

Very interesting, it sure makes it look authentic enough to be a conversation piece hanging on the wall...

Hawg · September 19, 2007, 03:38 AM

It's no wall hanger.

Bill DeShivs · September 19, 2007, 10:51 PM

Guns weren't "antiqued" when the cowboys used them. They were closer to new then.

Hawg · September 20, 2007, 03:54 AM

That's true and if it had been a nice gun I wouldn't have done it. It could have probably passed for an antique as was but it looked funny with a new loading lever and it had a few pits already from being stored in a humid southern attic for a number of years. It could have been polished out and reblued but not really worth it so I decided to defarb and antique it. All that rust buildup from salt and vinegar was just surface rust. It would be no harder to polish and reblue later if I decide to but I like it the way it is. I've got a new looking 58 if I want pretty.

ForksLaPush · September 20, 2007, 05:48 PM

I like it. A cowboy would be shocked that there are city slickers who keep their guns in a safe and never shoot them. It wouldn't take long for rain, dew, and who know what else to "refinish" a gun that way. If you want to make it more authentic, pound a few fence staples in with the butt.

Hawg · September 20, 2007, 06:38 PM

You've been reading too many paperback westerns.

Pounding staples would be split grip city.

Jamie C. · September 20, 2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

You've been reading too many paperback westerns.

Nah... all you've gotta do is go to Cimarron's site, and you'll read the same thing:

"Conversion models remained popular with cowboys (many originals will be found with imprints of fence staples on the butt) even after the introduction of the Colt Peacemaker of 1873. This was due to the low cost of conversion models."
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/Con...ConvOpener.htm

Now granted, this is speaking of converted Colts, but there's no reason to assume one wouldn't use a Remmy the same way...

J.C.

Hawg · September 20, 2007, 08:40 PM

I still think I'll pass on pounding staples with it.

Jamie C. · September 20, 2007, 08:43 PM

Yeah, especially if it happened to be loaded at the time...

J.C.

September 18, 2007, 08:49 PM	#1
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Anyone ever antique gun? I've got an old Rigarmi 58 Remington Beals I bought new in 69 when I was 12. It's been thru hell and hi water. After being severly used and abused and stored for a buncha years due to a broken loading lever It was looking pretty scruffy. I found parts I could fit to it and get it working again but it looked funny with a new lever so I decided to defarb it and antique it. I coated the bore and chambers with bore butter after removing the grips and internals and sprayed it down with a vinegar and salt mix and let it sit a couple of days then buffed it off with steel wool. I buffed off the clear coating on the grips too(not that there was much left). Whacha think? Finished product. I'd have preferred a more even brown coating but it'll do.

September 19, 2007, 10:51 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,979	Guns weren't "antiqued" when the cowboys used them. They were closer to new then. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

September 20, 2007, 05:48 PM	#8
ForksLaPush Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: dar al-harb Posts: 240	I like it. A cowboy would be shocked that there are city slickers who keep their guns in a safe and never shoot them. It wouldn't take long for rain, dew, and who know what else to "refinish" a gun that way. If you want to make it more authentic, pound a few fence staples in with the butt. __________________ If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in having a charmer. Ecclesiastes 10:11

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September 18, 2007, 09:06 PM	#2
Old Dragoon Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2005 Location: The Republic of Californi Posts: 581	Looks Great! Never heard of the mfg. that you speak of. You sure it isn't an old Armi San Paolo? Looks like their frame.

September 18, 2007, 09:10 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	No it's Rigarmi. They went under in the mid 70's.

September 19, 2007, 02:56 AM	#4
Raider2000 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 719	Very interesting, it sure makes it look authentic enough to be a conversation piece hanging on the wall...

September 19, 2007, 03:38 AM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It's no wall hanger.

September 20, 2007, 03:54 AM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	That's true and if it had been a nice gun I wouldn't have done it. It could have probably passed for an antique as was but it looked funny with a new loading lever and it had a few pits already from being stored in a humid southern attic for a number of years. It could have been polished out and reblued but not really worth it so I decided to defarb and antique it. All that rust buildup from salt and vinegar was just surface rust. It would be no harder to polish and reblue later if I decide to but I like it the way it is. I've got a new looking 58 if I want pretty.

September 20, 2007, 06:38 PM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	You've been reading too many paperback westerns. Pounding staples would be split grip city.

September 20, 2007, 08:40 PM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I still think I'll pass on pounding staples with it.

September 20, 2007, 08:43 PM	#12
Jamie C. Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 46	Yeah, especially if it happened to be loaded at the time... J.C.