The "Order of Assembly" Question

[CuNosecap]

I have some questions pertaining to the order of assembly of some specific parts in relationship to finishes. This touches on compatibility of different parts, different metals with potentially caustic or nasty chemicals.

1. When do you add rear sight to barrel? Before or after browning? Consider if there is no "controlled rusting" beneath sight, is that ever a problem with unwanted rust? Underlugs are hidden so not quite the same problem.

2. Similar question for front sight which is often a dissimilar metal (brass, German silver, copper). Do you add sight after browning?

3. And is there ever a consideration for the fixed nose cap placed before aqua fortis application? Or brass, GS inlays? Are inlays always placed after finish?

4. Last questions. Is this being over thought and there is no worry about browning or bluing around (iron) sights with the dovetail being covered already? Does aqua fortis color brass at all if handled properly?

Thank you in advance. I think I know these answers but thought I'd pose them to those who do this a lot more than I do.

Rick

 

[appalichian hunter]

Have a rifle that was built, 50. cal. got it shooting really well (all load development, and sighting in was broad daylight) Took it deer hunting, early one morning that time when its legal shooting light but not yet daylight, Big buck at around 50 yards straight on broad side shot, eased back the cock lined up the sights on his vitals and was thinking this is going to be over quick, could not find the front sight(and looked hard through the rear notch) as I did not want to wound the deer left him walk, un-shouldered the rifle and yep the site was there, By now it was daylight enough to figure out the problem. The builder had browned the barrel with the sight on it, got the gun home and re-placed the sight with a silver blade.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I do all finishing on disassembled parts metal or wood. A inlay that is fixed stays in place, like a pewder nose cap or a pinned inlay. Sometimes a fixed part needs a bit of work after finish. A pinned on inlay and aqua fortis stain.
IMG_1295 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[CuNosecap]

Thank you for the story and for the pointers, both of you. I have done it both ways. I have always left the front sight off while browning. I usually place both sights later in assembly. I do not do a lot of inlays, but when I have, they were difficult to place after the finish swelled the wood. But it looks like the aqua fortis on brass is not so big a concern.
thanks.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I do all finishing on disassembled parts metal or wood. A inlay that is fixed stays in place, like a pewder nose cap or a pinned inlay. Sometimes a fixed part needs a bit of work after finish. A pinned on inlay and aqua fortis stain.
IMG_1295 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

Phil, that looks nice and all, but you made the gun upside-down.

 

[bptactical]

Phil, that looks nice and all, but you made the gun upside-down.

He built it fer one of dem Aussie fellers

 

[Phil Coffins]

I shoot left or right hand guns and it seemed an upside down one is next logical step.

 

[Kansas Kid]

I think I own that rifle now.

I do all finishing on disassembled parts metal or wood. A inlay that is fixed stays in place, like a pewder nose cap or a pinned inlay. Sometimes a fixed part needs a bit of work after finish. A pinned on inlay and aqua fortis stain.
IMG_1295 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[hectorintca]

I do all finishing on disassembled parts metal or wood. A inlay that is fixed stays in place, like a pewder nose cap or a pinned inlay. Sometimes a fixed part needs a bit of work after finish. A pinned on inlay and aqua fortis stain.
IMG_1295 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

Outstanding work on the inlay and stock finish!

 

[Phil Coffins]

I think I own that rifle now.

Then the rest of it looks like this.
IMG_0197 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[PathfinderNC]

Lovely!

 

[Kansas Kid]

Yep that’s it.