Flintlock barrel finishing

[OEF-Vet]

Hey all I'm back Stateside and ready to start some of my projects.

I was lucky enough to be the recipient of a fine gift, a Traditions Frontier rifle kit to finish and assemble while I have some leave time.

My question for you all is I have seen some beautiful barrels on flintlocks but I have no idea on how to achieve such a finish. My barrel is in the white. I have done a little research and read about wrapping the barrel in cord, treating with vinegar or bleach to get a nice coloring, then oil.

Do any of you have experience with this or any other technique? I would love to hear a detailed explanation of the process you used, how it worked for you. Post pics of the steps and your finished project if you have them. For that matter I would love to see some pics of old school muzzle loaders you all might have purchased or had handed down.

Thanks in advance
Jim

 

[BPowderkeg]

i have made over 50 muzzle loaders, mostly flint lock some percussion, my method of browning was to heat the barrel to near sizzling when water was applied, then using a large cotton swab i dipped it in Nitric acid (wearing medical approved gloves) then in one full swipe from one end to the other the barrel instantly turned brown.., be careful not to breathe the fumes using this method, it was one of the ole timers way of browning, Birchwood Casey make a browning solution and it is basically thinned nitric acid, ooooh BTW after using the cotton swab and it is dry.., you have a bundle of "Gun Cotton" and will burn viciously.

if you have any further Q.'s just ask.

 

[Scorch]

There are many "original" metal finishing techniques for 17th Century guns. Most were one form or another of rust bluing, and involved chemicals available in frontier America. Ammonia fuming followed by boiling in water and carding was a common rust bluing technique. So was burying the barrel in the manure pile and retrieving it after a few days, carding it, then returning it to the manure pile for a few days more, repeat, etc. But browning was not a finish used at the time, the chemicals used for browning were not generally available. Browning is supposed to look like the patina formed when rust bluing degrades after many years, or "in the white" metal gets surface rust.

I don't know if it is still available or not, watch the "Williamsburg Gunsmith" video if you get a chance.