What caused this barrel finish?

[tenngun]

Just don't drink or inject it.

Not every one is as stupid as a CNN reporter.
I saw similar on a guy who made southren style rifles back in the 80s. His guns were made to look a hundred years old.
I saw his work thinking they were antiques. He wasn’t trying to fool anyone and had a sticky note on the check plate with the date of manufacture.
I just asked at the time how he got such a neat old looking finish. He just smiled and said secret recipe handed down at the dark of the moon by three croons with a cauldron.
His stocks looked worn and some had repairs.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
The maker of that kit gun was not trying to age anything. He was trying to fake a damascus twist.

dave

 

[old ugly]

experimenting
here is my attempt trying the mustard trick.

 

[ZUG]

Apply small dabs of mustard and wrap with Saran Wrap - let stand for 12 to 24 hours - remove wrap and wash down ---see how it looks if you like it oil it and move on.

 

[LuVerne Schumann]

experimenting
here is my attempt trying the mustard trick.

You dun gud with that one. Really like how it turned out.

 

[smo]

Mustard or Vinegar will give you a similar finish ...Depending on how it's applied.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Would the mustard trick work to darken stainless?

No not at all.

The vinegar in the mustard stains the steel because it's a carbon steel, not a stainless steel.

LD

 

[Jay Templin]

No not at all.

The vinegar in the mustard stains the steel because it's a carbon steel, not a stainless steel.

LD

Dang. I have a stainless spoon that has acquired a lovely deep grey patina over the years, and I was hoping to figure out how to do it on purpose.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Dang. I have a stainless spoon that has acquired a lovely deep grey patina over the years, and I was hoping to figure out how to do it on purpose.

Yeah, now that you mention it..., one of the stainless table spoons in my home eating set has done the same thing. DANG if I know why it happened to only that one..., they all get cleaned the same way.

LD

 

[Bob McBride]

You can get that effect using something like LMF browning solution and wrapping the barrel in Saran Wrap but I agree with Rich. The pattern is too regular to not have been a Damascus attempt.

 

[Art Caputo]

Whether the splotches were intended with the supplemental use of white vinegar, mustard, etc, or the result of improper metal prep, the background finish/color appears quite similar to the metal aging solution available on Jim Kiblers website. It performs equally well on brass or carbon steel. It has little, if any effect on case hardened steel and no effect on stainless steel. Applying heat to a lock plate prior to application can produce an aged case color effect.

 

[RB POWELL]

Interesting ideas. I like it: I think...