How to age bare metal

[butlersrangers]

The case hardened Krag receiver, side-plate and magazine-gate, can get rather 'silvery' from wear. The case-hardened Krag metal never had the vibrant colors we now associate with case-hardening.

attached photos show a model 1899 carbine with a worn finish, an armory refinished 1892/1896 Krag, and a presentation model 1899 carbine made for General Frederick Grant.

[butlersrangers]

The bottom of the worn model 1899 carbine receiver, still shows original coloring.

[oldfoneguy]

Well, like I said, the receiver had some cheap, improperly applied bluing applied to it when I got it. So, stripping that off did not cause any harm as I can tell. Case hardened metal, of that age, usually has a dark grey finish. That is what I am trying to replicate. Only the bolt body has been polished in any way. The extractor still has the fire blue.

---------- Post added at 07:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:19 PM ----------



It may have looked "better" but a glossy, cheap, modern bluing job is nothing close to original. That is why I took it off.

---------- Post added at 07:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------



Thanks. This rifle is put-together with donor pieces from all over. This is a cut-down rifle stock.

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------



Good catch! That is one of the things that I fixed on this restoration. It has not been drilled and tapped. Someone, somewhere along the line had a Buehler lever they weren't using, and it went on here. This rifle has been thru a lot of hands, each trying to "improve" it. I suppose I am too, but my improvements tend more toward the "restoring to original look."

Yes the metal will grey as the finish wears however its never complete there are always some of the darker blue spots that remain. When worn I've observed that it still retains a slighty mottled look as opposed to a uniform grey.

There are no-drill scope mounts for Krag rifles available. If there were 2 slots cut into the stock at the top on either side of the receiver ring it might have had one of those installed hence the reason for the Buehler.

[micmacman]

white vinegar , i have a couple Gewehr 88 rifles i couldnt find original cleaning rods for , white vinegar aged them or i should say gave them a head start , wiped them down , let them sit over night , wiped down repeated until i was satified

[daveboy]

white vinegar , i have a couple Gewehr 88 rifles i couldnt find original cleaning rods for , white vinegar aged them or i should say gave them a head start , wiped them down , let them sit over night , wiped down repeated until i was satified

I think I will give that a try. Thanks