how do modern finishes hold up to black powder fouling and residue?

[hrt4me]

just wondering, in the event one were to hypothetically ponder refinishing a black poweder cap-and-ball revolver in anodizing Cerakote, plating, etc...

 

[leadhoarder]

I would wager cerakote for sure would hold up well but revolvers coated in them are not very popular. Maybe the finish causes issues with a revolver.

A hard chromed one might not look too bad and I would wager it would hold up well but I honestly do not know.

 

[Woody Morgan]

The brown Cerakote on my Deerhunter is bulletproof so far. I have a number of Cerakoted unmentionables and it's indeed very sturdy stuff.

wm

 

[No second place]

I have a open division Caplock & Flintlock Muzzleloader pistols I have used in matches for many years with anodized frames. Under my normal use BP fouling has had no affect on the finish. Applying a modern finish to a traditional gun seems like a nightmare of ugly to me. The traditional finish for low maintenance is in the white.Like most Military issue BP guns. My Lepage Cap & Flint still look great in the white since 1996 as working match guns...c

 

[Kansas Jake]

I have a 40+ Year old Navy Arms 1858 I finished as a kit gun all those years ago with a boiled browned finish that turned black from the boiling. It has held up great. It is the middle revolver. The one on the right is no spring chicken either.

 

[hrt4me]

I have a 40+ Year old Navy Arms 1858 I finished as a kit gun all those years ago with a boiled browned finish that turned black from the boiling. It has held up great. It is the middle revolver. The one on the right is no spring chicken either. View attachment 72196

I have the same Navy Arms version of the Remington NMA

 

[TreeMan]

I have a 40+ Year old Navy Arms 1858 I finished as a kit gun all those years ago with a boiled browned finish that turned black from the boiling. It has held up great. It is the middle revolver. The one on the right is no spring chicken either. View attachment 72196

I have a pietta remington I bought 20 years ago. The finish was terrible so I browned it. It’s actual brown I didn’t boil it. I wonder if I boiled it now if it would turn black? I’d almost guess the browning solution would still need to be active. I might boil it and find out. Won’t hurt anything lol. Yours looks awesome!

 

[Kansas Jake]

I wish I could remember the process I used to do the pistol but it has been too many years ago and I don't remember what product I used. I think it was similar to using a browning solution and then boiling it. I remember boiling it in a hog pan on a Coleman stove.