[Sneaky Potato]

Two of my buddies picked up their Hombres today that came from Tanners, and one of them antiqued the matte black finish. It greatly improved the look of the gun. What do you think? :D

Anybody have any suggestions for the brass? He doesn't want them looking like the statue of liberty, as salt and vinegar will do.


http://i.imgur.com/PvUea.jpg

[1858remington]

I like it!!!

[Rail Driver]

I can dig it. I'd probably put it in and out of a good stiff leather holster a few hundred times to wear down the high points and give it a more natural look if it were mine.

[Sneaky Potato]

I can dig it. I'd probably put it in and out of a good stiff leather holster a few hundred times to wear down the high points and give it a more natural look if it were mine.
I like the more natural look too, but I'll admit I was amazed how much better the finish was after even a quick couple swipes with the synthetic steel wool. It looked like a totally different gun in sixty seconds. Personally I have a Uberti El Patron, blued and case hardened. I think I'll stick it in the ol' holster and let nature take it's course :D

[bannockburn]

Sneaky Potato

I like the "new" look too. Just the right amount of wear on the surface finish to give it that used but not abused appearance.

[Sneaky Potato]

Here is the difference in the two guns. :what: It's amazing what you can do with three bucks and a good hour!


http://i.imgur.com/sN9cf.jpg

[Jaxondog]

Will it rust where it was scuffed with the steel wool?

[BCCL]

Just let the brass darken naturally.

I may have to do this to one of mine, I bought a Uberti Gunfighter that's all steel with that matte finish and I just cannot get used to it on a single action. That "aged" look is much better IMO.

[bannockburn]

Most definitely, side by side like that, the aged SAA is much more aesthetically pleasing than the matte black model. I would leave the brass grip frame to age naturally so as to match the rest of the gun.

[CraigC]

I like it, particularly on that model. I agree on the brass, just let it turn naturally.

[Old Fuff]

I have examined antique SSA model 1873 revolvers where someone, for what ever reason, replaced the steel backstrap and trigger guard with a brass set off of an 1851 Navy, or steel/brass backstrap and trigger guard off of an 1860 Army - likely because they wanted a longer grip.

Anyway your brass parts are to a degree period correct. I would leave them as they are and let nature take is course.

[BBQLS1]

That looks way better. Steel wool eh? I could own one like that.

[mesinge2]

I love the way that looks!! Nice job!

[Hammerdown77]

That looks MUCH better! I like any blued gun that's worn through on all the high spots from honest use. I may have to pick one of those up. I'd always been put off by the matte finish, but if they can be made to look like that with a little scrubbing, that would be well worth it.

You need to rub on the trigger face and edges a little, too!

[icanthitabarn]

I think it would be tough to do that to a new gun, but I really don't blame him, I think it looks much better. I did this on a very old Uberti. Boiled in vinegar, bluing and oven cleaner. :what:

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/g5uis23ft5h/001-3.jpg

[Salmoneye]

Forgive me, but what?

People buy a new gun, and instead of simply using it for a decade or two, they intentionally 'age' it?

I feel so old...

*sigh*

[CraigC]

If what you want is an old Colt that you can shoot, you can either buy a new $250-$400 replica and make it look like an old Colt, or you can pay $1500-$3000 for the real thing.

[Sneaky Potato]

Forgive me, but what?

People buy a new gun, and instead of simply using it for a decade or two, they intentionally 'age' it?

I feel so old...

*sigh*
Crazy thing, isn't it? :) I'm not so sure I would go "extreme" lengths to age the gun. Some people completely tear the gun apart and chemically change the appearance of each piece of steel. The reason for what you see above is simply that the gun was $250, but it really looks like a toy pop gun in person. With just a few swipes of synthetic steel wool, it will start to glow. It looks much more like metal with a little finish rubbed off. We went a little farther and wore out spots in certain areas to highlight "holster wear", but you can be much more uniform and just get a even tone though out the gun. It's very beautiful.

Mind you, I wouldn't do this on my Uberti El Patron. There's no need. The gun is shiny, blued, and color case hardened. It's just a creative way to spice up guns that have that matte bead blasted finish. :D

[Sneaky Potato]

Will it rust where it was scuffed with the steel wool?
I had this concern originally, but I've been informed by several good people on these forums that it won't rust any more than any other gun. As long as you keep a wipe of oil on the gun (like you should with all guns) it won't have any problems :D

[Sneaky Potato]

I think it would be tough to do that to a new gun, but I really don't blame him, I think it looks much better. I did this on a very old Uberti. Boiled in vinegar, bluing and oven cleaner. :what:

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/g5uis23ft5h/001-3.jpg
This is great! I love seeing these antiquing projects. I suppose one day if my El Patron starts to show too much wear I might strip the gun and do something like this to it. Thanks for sharing :D

[Sneaky Potato]

Just let the brass darken naturally.

I may have to do this to one of mine, I bought a Uberti Gunfighter that's all steel with that matte finish and I just cannot get used to it on a single action. That "aged" look is much better IMO.
Do it to your gunfighter. You won't be disappointed. Just make sure to use synthetic steel wool and not real steel wool. I've never been a fan of these matte black guns, especially when we're dealing with colt clones. You never saw Clint Eastwood with a matte black gun :)

[Sneaky Potato]

I have examined antique SSA model 1873 revolvers where someone, for what ever reason, replaced the steel backstrap and trigger guard with a brass set off of an 1851 Navy, or steel/brass backstrap and trigger guard off of an 1860 Army - likely because they wanted a longer grip.

Anyway your brass parts are to a degree period correct. I would leave them as they are and let nature take is course.
Good to know! I really like the brass. It compliments the silver and black colors. The backstrap has a matte finish on it as well, and I don't think it will really "age" with that on there. Should I remove the finish to let it start to patina naturally?

[DMH]

When you look at the photo, I would prefer the worn revolver over the matte finished revolver. I like the look you achieved and think that you have done a great job. It looks like you thought this out well and highlighted areas that you would expect to see the wear. Nice job! What counts is what you like and want.

DMH

[35 Whelen]

Two of my buddies picked up their Hombres today that came from Tanners, and one of them antiqued the matte black finish. It greatly improved the look of the gun. What do you think? :D

Anybody have any suggestions for the brass? He doesn't want them looking like the statue of liberty, as salt and vinegar will do.


http://i.imgur.com/PvUea.jpg
I'm going to order a pair of these. Can you elaborate a bit on how the finish was acheived?

35W

[Jaymo]

Synthetic steel wool sounds like Scotchbrite.
The following are my personal preferences, nothing more. Feel free to agree or disagree.

I'm not a huge fan of the antiqued look. If I came into a good deal on one of these revolvers, I'd probably have it polished and reblued. I'd also polish and wax the brass grip frame.
I don't like tarnished brass.

I'm thinking about having my new Ruger flattop .44 special polished and reblued, because I don't like that crappy matte blue.

[ChasMack]

I have one of Tanners Ubertis in 45lc. I used 0000 steel wool to antique mine. I did not go as far as the above pics show...mine is like mid way between the OP and what it looks like from the factory. I left the brass alone and it's fairly dark now ( have had the gun about 1 1/2 yrs). I'll try to post pics later. I kind of like the way the gun above looks like....I might go over mine some more. Any reason to use synthetic steel wool over real steel wool?

[CraigC]

I don't like that crappy matte blue.
Me neither, I wish they'd put a good polish on them before bluing. Like the Old Model Supers.

[ChasMack]

Here is mine done with steel wool but I may have only put 1/2 hour into it. Taking the gun apart and reassembly took longer. I may do some more work to it...not sure how it will look in pics compared to the OP's.

[ChasMack]

Now that I see the pics, mine does need more work. Funny in the pic the brass looks quite light but in real life it looks dark...much darker than when I first got it. Only other thing I don't care for is the texture of the frame. I don't think it comes out in the pic, but it's rough. For $250.00 it's a fine gun though and shoots very well.

[Old Fuff]

The frame was investment cast (like Ruger's) but then bead-blasted and blued rather then first polished and then blued. You may have to hand-polish it, and then age it again.

One solution not so far mentioned for treating the brass parts is to electroless chrome plate them, which come out looking much like silver. The supplies and equipment are available from Brownell's (www.brownells.com) and too expensive to do "a" gun. But doing several is another matter. Perhaps those interest in a particular area or club (not to mention a shop with a gunsmithing operation) might get together and make it a team project or additional business.

[C5rider]

Now I WANT one!

Very nice. And like others have posted, I'd love to see a little bit more about doing this, you know, just in case someone else might want to try it.

Hmmm? 45 Colt? Lookin like that? YEAH!

[BluEyes]

Do something to the shiny wood grip and you're really on to something! Maybe strip the finish, bang 'em around in a box full of bolts and nails then a linseed oil finish?

[Cocked & Locked]

10-4 on the boiled linseed oil finish. That stuff smells so good I'm often tempted to pour some on the basement floor and roll in it. That and a splash of Hoppes #9 and I would be good to go. :p

[ChasMack]

That is an idea...not like I couldn't get other grips, wood of course. But the grips are actually not as shiny and smooth as on a Uberti cattleman or probably any other Uberti that is a step up from the Hombre. It's almost like the grips on a Hombre were meant to be used hard. I almost cringe when anything other than my hand touches the grips of my other Ubertis :(

[CraigC]

The frame was investment cast (like Ruger's)...
Uberti uses forgings. There's a video on YouTube from the show "How It's Made" showing them forging frames for SAA replicas.

[Old Fuff]

Maybe on some, but a close examination of the revolver that's pictured will show that it's cast.

[1KPerDay]

I'm not a huge fan of the fake antique finish, but it does look better than the matt black, IMO. Nice work.