Aging a Pietta 1860

Phase I of aging this Pietta 1860 and sort of a practice run. It dates 2005 and was one of the first two percussion guns I ever bought. Stripped the finish with vinegar, etched with ferric chloride and let it rust in bleach for 30mins. I thought the screws and loading lever were going to be close enough but I need to go back and strip them as well. I also want to work on the frame, it doesn't look quite right. Probably end up cold bluing the whole thing and then rubbing it back with steel wool. Might beat up the grips a little bit and re-oil them. Probably should've defarbed it first but whatever.

Not quite there yet. The barrel may respond to the cold blue treatment but you are right, the frame needs work. May I suggest you batter the screw slots some. An aged gun might show evidence of being repaired in its life. The wedge screw is off to a good start. The barrel lug might use some dings around the wedge on both sides where it was removed with whatever was at hand. I used to pick up a rock to use for that on one of my revolvers.

Yep you need to bugger up the screw slots and maybe chip a chunk out of the grip to give that neglected look.

Yep, it does need some attention on the grips and the screw heads. Probably not hard with soft Italian screws.

A little heavy handed for my taste but looking good just the same. I have worked over a few revolvers to “age” them but not to make them look hard used. Here’s a couple I did some time ago: DIY Defarbing and Refinishing

Drag it down a dirt road behind a bike for a mile or two, that's the ticket.

Always wondered about "DeFarbing" trying to make it look older when it was new it looked new, i.e. WBS
I cab see all the Lawyer marks, that is just plain ugly, but I don't need to beat up my grips

Packrat said:

Always wondered about "DeFarbing" trying to make it look older when it was new it looked new, i.e. WBS
I cab see all the Lawyer marks, that is just plain ugly, but I don't need to beat up my grips

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Defarbing isn't too look old, it's too look more real Auth pepper markings and details. This is just abuse to make it look old.

is it possible that the OP's 1860 has monkeypox?

I banged up the grips a little bit and darkened the dings with black dye, before photographing a new holster.

GYJ said:

Phase I of aging this Pietta 1860 and sort of a practice run. It dates 2005 and was one of the first two percussion guns I ever bought. Stripped the finish with vinegar, etched with ferric chloride and let it rust in bleach for 30mins. I thought the screws and loading lever were going to be close enough but I need to go back and strip them as well. I also want to work on the frame, it doesn't look quite right. Probably end up cold bluing the whole thing and then rubbing it back with steel wool. Might beat up the grips a little bit and re-oil them. Probably should've defarbed it first but whatever.

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Well hook her up to a long chain and drag her down the road with your pick -up why don't yah !

Looks good so far and you can do more as you go. I would definitely file off the writing on the barrel since you’re committed.
Doesn’t require much if done properly. Most of all have fun.

I, for one, like the look of your 1860. And that holster is the cat’s meow, very nice!

Agree with above. That holster is perfect as is. I would not change a thing holsterwise. Anxious to see it after the measles are cured. The grips look great.

Looks like you are havin a blast with it.

Revolvers age on their own. This one only took 150 years.

CyrusP said:

Looks good so far and you can do more as you go. I would definitely file off the writing on the barrel since you’re committed.
Doesn’t require much if done properly. Most of all have fun.

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Yeah, I realized halfway through it that I should've cleaned that manure off the barrel before getting started. I probably should just do that and start over on the barrel.

Nobody85 said:

Revolvers age on their own. This one only took 150 years.

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Don't really have that kind of time.

How do you get around removing the serial numbers from a modern firearm? I thought that was a federal offence/offence.

TFoley said:

How do you get around removing the serial numbers from a modern firearm? I thought that was a federal offence/offence.

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Feds don't consider them guns.

Whitworth said:

Feds don't consider them guns.

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Not true in all States, so I would not remove the serial number unless you check with your State and make certain they do not consider them firearms etc. It is not just Federal law you have to worry about.

TFoley said:

How do you get around removing the serial numbers from a modern firearm? I thought that was a federal offence/offence.

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Where did that come from? I have certainly not done it to the gun above or anything else. In fact, I'd ask you to delete your post due to the implication.