Black Powder Customization?

[gobsauce]

Howdy Folks,

I picked up a Pietta 1851 Navy with a steel frame recently, and I just got done polishing a few contact surfaces. For one reason or another, I got to thinking about how to make it stand out ( for lack of better words). I have some machining/manufacturing experience, so I thought about making a compensator or muzzle break, but that sounds downright ridiculous. I made a holster for it, I'm relatively happy with it, I can make a few changes to it if I want. Thing is, I don't know what else I could do. So I'm reaching out to All Y'all to see what Y'all have done to make your black powder firearms stand out.

NOTE: I'm not trying to limit it to just revolvers, I genuinely would love to see what Y'all have done to anything. Whether it be flintlock, percussion cap, six iron or rifle.

 

[troy fairweather]

Could make a steam punk gun or a futuristic gun.
Funny I just posted about a 51 I'm getting and how to Finnish it lol.

 

[gobsauce]

Could make a steam punk gun or a futuristic gun.

I suppose I can copper plate some parts, maybe the screws or such.

 

[J-Bar]

I refinished my Ruger Old Armies because I didn’t like the factory finish; it looked like black paint. Some, maybe many, will say I made a mistake. But I love’em and compete with ‘em and if the time ever comes to sell them I think I will be OK. By the way, this is mostly a mustard finish.

 

[gobsauce]

That's legit, J-Bar. I thought about doing that, but I kinda like the finish it came with.

 

[expat_alaska]

It amazes me how good ole boys like y'all living in the former Confederacy don't entertain the idea of creating Confederate revolvers using Pietta 1851 Navy .36 steel frame revolvers as "donor" guns. Any produced by Pietta after ~2002 all are CNC machined and are a parts-changers delight as little or no fitting of parts are involved. I am guilty of doing so on several accounts: Leech & Rigdon, Rigdon & Ansley, Augusta Machine Works, J.H. Dance & Brothers, et al.

Augusta Machine Works



Leech & Rigdon



J.H. Dance and Rigdon & Ansley (my avatar)



These can be achieved using several methods. One can order a part round/part octagon barrel and a smooth plain cylinder from VTI, or one can turn down the octagon part of the barrel on a lathe. An engraved cylinder can be sanded down to eliminate the engraving.

The Dance can be created by removing the recoil shields. A machinist can mill an extra 6-stop-slots in the cylinder for the AMW and the R&A.

Basically, it can all be done fairly easily if one has the want.

Regards,

Jim

 

[J-Bar]

That's legit, J-Bar. I thought about doing that, but I kinda like the finish it came with.

Then I would be looking for some classy grips. Maybe Elk antlers from Patrick Grashorn:


https://www.grashornsgunworks.com/

 

[PapaG]

Maybe a red dot or scope? I say, enjoy it for what it is.

 

[gobsauce]

I could make the grips, I have some antlers and bones lying around. As for making it more like a confederate replica, I might get a brass trigger guard. Any other ideas ?

 

[gobsauce]

Maybe a red dot or scope? I say, enjoy it for what it is.

I suppose I meant more in an artistic way. But I could definitely mount a sight onto the barrel, but I dunno how much zero it'd retain.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I suppose I can copper plate some parts, maybe the screws or such.

Recently saw a video about a custom P38 with "strawed" parts. This is a form of heat treating that produces a "straw" or dull yellow color. I assume it is just tempering the parts until the specific color is obtained. Even deep rich blues and purples can be obtained with higher temps.



Currently im customizing a ruger wrangler. Swapped to a single six birds head grip in stainless. Fitted and highly polished. Hammer, trigger, and new stainless SS loading gate are also highly polished.

The pins, cylinder pin, and latch pin are all also stainless. Cylinder is staying black. Frame is going to be a custom grayish brown duracoat. Grips will be carved from actual pre-export-ban cuban mahogany. Not sure how the mahogany will look with the brown so the brown frame may change.

 

[gobsauce]

BigBlue 94, I can dig all that. I'm really keen on seeing how it all turns out. I like the idea of heat treating some parts, I wonder if it can be done in an oven?

 

[gobsauce]

"pre-export ban Cuban Mahogany"

That's a mouthfull, I'm lucky enough to live right on the border. I had Cuban cigars when i turned 18 a a few years ago, and once had a decorated Communist Cuban Revolutionary make me some Mojitos. Mexico is great.

 

[troy fairweather]

I've done heat bluing on a bunch of stuff, it looks cool if you can get the colors right. If you have a lathe make some chips from brass and use a container to hold them, put the part in the chips and heat with a torch. The color is a lot easier to control that way.

 

[gobsauce]

If you have a lathe make some chips from brass and use a container to hold them, put the part in the chips and heat with a torch. The color is a lot easier to control that way.

I just might. I don't have a lathe, but I have a decent drill press. Interesting.

 

[troy fairweather]

I just might. I don't have a lathe, but I have a decent drill press. Interesting.

Ya go drill a bunch of holes in some brass, those mini cast iron pans the ones for decoration work good to hold the chips.

 

[BigBlue 94]

BigBlue 94, I can dig all that. I'm really keen on seeing how it all turns out. I like the idea of heat treating some parts, I wonder if it can be done in an oven?

At least to get the straw colors, a normal oven will work. I cant recall the tempering process from school, but its easier to do than a full heat treat that requires a a proper oven and 1500°+.

The video i watched was forgotten weapons; John Martz custom P38. This is the gun in question

https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...stom-walther-p38-pistol-chambered-in-38-super


Lol I could've thrown another qualifier in there for the mahogany: reclaimed. It spent about 90 years or so as bleachers in a gymnasium in central Missouri. My dad did a job, building an office for a large architectural firm. They have hundreds of board feet of it encasing columns and forming "clouds" hanging from the ceiling. He brought home some scraps. They burned in a shop fire, but I have some precious scrap cutoffs id taken to work left.

Mexico has its own true mahogany species that would make some gnarly looking grips

 

[TheOutlawKid]

I live in south texas a couple miles from the border...i dont really go to mexico but lately ive been crossing to get tons of medicine such as antibiotics, heart medication and lidocaine for stitches/wound care etc...basically medical supplies and medication you would need a license to buy or have a prescription for. Got some friends further north that are worried about the condition the worlds getting in so they like to be prepapred...so i take the order and send them stuff. Its all legal to cross and possess too. Been helpin older friends with their blood pressure meds etc as its way cheaper than what they pay for here in the states.

 

[gobsauce]

as its way cheaper than what they pay for here in the states.

Yeah, I've never been to an American Healthcare Facility for that reason. $1 for a doctor's consultation? $10 for all the meds I need?

Anyways, I was thinking of adding a lanyard loop to the bottom of the 1851 I bought. It'd be a matter of drilling a hole through the brass and either tapping and screwing a lanyard loop or welding it in. Not really for a lanyard, I have a good friend who's a witch doctor in a First Nation who makes charms for me. Most of my firearms have them, My cz-52,Mosin Nagant, SKS, and even a couple knives.

I like the idea of soldering some target sights on the barrel; irons, not a red dot. But then I couldn't use the holster. Another thing I thought of cutting some decorative notches on the backstrap with a file or so, but I dunno.