Thanks Gentlemen, you humble me :bow:
It took a couple years to get it finished, many pressing issues kept putting it on hold. I DO plan on shooting it before long!
I believe Birddog6 was the one who put me onto the brass darkening (aging)solution that ALSO ages steel. I don't have the source/brand at hand but could come up with it anyone wants it. I have used it on two rifles and obtained two kinds of results.
The Wm. Antes
was LMF-browned in a humidity box for 2-3 days, then soaked in Brownell's 'Steel White', then scrubbed with fine stainless steel brush/steel wool, then the aging solution was applied.
It took on a light pitted more-aged deeper color. This one was polished to 400 grit then 'aged'. A median effect would be to use320 grit. Degreasing is important.
Permalyn stains (Lancaster over Cherry). I have a habit of applying Waterlox on the bare wood before staining [wasted effort?...don't know] Dry overnight. Two coats of Permalyn sealer/ 0000 steel wool take-down/ coat of Lancaster stain with some Cherry mixed in. Let it dry overnight. Permalyn sealer, dry overnight. Light steel-wooling and coat of Permalyn (regular) finish, dry overnight. Light steel wooling and four more coats of Permalyn sealer applied two coats per day. Hand rub the devil out of every Permalyn application. Permalyn was put on with piece of old T-shirt cotton material by dobbing and rubbing in well (some call it a "rub -off" application).
Very little Permalyn sealer is used. Follow LMF's instructions, I believe the Permalyn Sealer on maple is the way to go. Less chance for screw-up! If careful it is almost foolproof; at least it works for me.
Engraving is NOT my forte'. The Wm. Antes is also waiting to be engraved.[there was a post on the Antes 10-19-07 but photos are now gone; can repost them if anyone wants to see it again] One of these days I will get confident enough to tackle that little engraving chore!
Apologies for the ramble; :yakyak: just trying to answer the inquiries....
