Scheintod Pistol

wuluf · December 10, 2014, 09:50 PM

I have a late 19th century Scheintod pistol that I want to sell on Gunbroker. It has some surface rust. Should I attempt to remove this, or is this " patina" more authentic?

James K · December 10, 2014, 10:54 PM

You can use fine steel wool or brass wool and oil to remove surface rust without doing harm to the finish. But don't try to remove long time patina; you can't do it without harming the gun from a collectors viewpoint.

Jim

RJay · December 10, 2014, 11:02 PM

Had to look it up, Gas pistol, do you have the 3 barrel type? Rust is not patina, if you have to put a name to rust call it a corrosive metal eater, because that is what it will do if not stopped. With out pictures we can't tell how bad the rust is but what I use for minor rust is a very good light gun oil and 0000 ( 4 0, very fine ) steel wool or even brass wool. Use it very lightly , like rubbing lotion on a baby's butt and then finish with a tooth brush, some use a copper penny ( one ot the older ones, the new penny's are Zinc ) rub out the rust . Others may have different methods or better ideals.

James K · December 10, 2014, 11:26 PM

I have always wondered about the origin of that term as applied to a pistol. "Scheintod" means "appearance of death", and is sometimes translated as suspended animation, coma, or even an appearance like that of a zombie. Nothing in common use that could be expelled by a pistol would cause a person to go into a coma. It is often written that they fired tear gas, but the most common cartridges expelled a cloud of powdered tobacco. I can imagine the effect that would have on the eyes and face, and it seems unlikely that it would cause anyone to take on the appearance of a corpse - just the opposite, I would think, with an extremely animated reaction.

Jim

December 10, 2014, 09:50 PM	#1
wuluf Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2006 Location: River City CA Posts: 228	Scheintod Pistol I have a late 19th century Scheintod pistol that I want to sell on Gunbroker. It has some surface rust. Should I attempt to remove this, or is this " patina" more authentic?

December 10, 2014, 11:02 PM	#3
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Had to look it up, Gas pistol, do you have the 3 barrel type? Rust is not patina, if you have to put a name to rust call it a corrosive metal eater, because that is what it will do if not stopped. With out pictures we can't tell how bad the rust is but what I use for minor rust is a very good light gun oil and 0000 ( 4 0, very fine ) steel wool or even brass wool. Use it very lightly , like rubbing lotion on a baby's butt and then finish with a tooth brush, some use a copper penny ( one ot the older ones, the new penny's are Zinc ) rub out the rust . Others may have different methods or better ideals. __________________ Ron James

December 10, 2014, 10:54 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	You can use fine steel wool or brass wool and oil to remove surface rust without doing harm to the finish. But don't try to remove long time patina; you can't do it without harming the gun from a collectors viewpoint. Jim

December 10, 2014, 11:26 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I have always wondered about the origin of that term as applied to a pistol. "Scheintod" means "appearance of death", and is sometimes translated as suspended animation, coma, or even an appearance like that of a zombie. Nothing in common use that could be expelled by a pistol would cause a person to go into a coma. It is often written that they fired tear gas, but the most common cartridges expelled a cloud of powdered tobacco. I can imagine the effect that would have on the eyes and face, and it seems unlikely that it would cause anyone to take on the appearance of a corpse - just the opposite, I would think, with an extremely animated reaction. Jim