I’ve been a Firefly fan for quite awhile now. Devoted enough, in fact, to have built Serenity several times from paper & cardboard. Got another, bigger version, 21" finished length, under construction as I write. But this is about the guns used in the show. I’ve wanted something similar since the first episode, and at long last I’m gonna have one.
Picked up this Uberti 1862 Rebel Confederate in .36 caliber last year. Only shot her once because loading conicals with the cylinder in the gun is sloooooow going. Gotta either get me a round ball mold or a loading stand. Anywho, I figgered this’d be a good piece to make my Firefly blaster out of. Time to start making some mods.
I’ve never been a fan of sharp edges on plow handle grips. First thing to get dinged up is that bottom edge whenever it’s in the holster. Also don’t like that slight kick out at the bottom of the front grip strap. Took her apart to make sure there was enough meat in the grip frame then spent a couple hours with files and sandpaper to radius the corners. Fits my hand much better now.
The one piece wood grip was some kinda pinkish brown color and that just had to go. Since I’d sanded everything while adjusting the grip shape I thought to try staining the wood to look like walnut. Utter failure.
Whatever the wood is it don’t like MinWax stain. In desperation I threw on some USMC black leather dye. That got it. A little light oil and a rag took the excess off so now the wood looks more like horn. That I can live with.
The sights on the gun sucked, being a notch in the hammer and a teeny post up front. I wanted something a bit easier to pick up even though she’s basically a point & shoot gun. A rummage through the parts bin turned up several things that’d kinda work, but didn’t really have the look I was after.
Then I came across the shotgun rib. Hmmmmm. A little file and fit and it looks right at home on the barrel. The rear sight I fabbed is a bit blocky, might change it later. Won’t know for sure until the add-ons are in place and see if it all looks “right” together. Front sight is just a chunk of 1/8" brass soldered straight on to the rib. Prolly a bit tall, but it’s easier to file ‘em down once they’re in place.
And finally, a little patina to the brass. Casey’s Super Blue liquid applied multiple times until the brass was a dark brown, almost black. Then WD-40 liberally applied and repeated scrubbing with a flannel rag to brighten her back up. Just enough patina to dull it out some and make it look used and old. That bright polish it came with was near blinding in bright sun.
Still playing around with various brass bits for the add-ons. Might be awhile before I get anywhere on that. Stay tooned.........
Picked up this Uberti 1862 Rebel Confederate in .36 caliber last year. Only shot her once because loading conicals with the cylinder in the gun is sloooooow going. Gotta either get me a round ball mold or a loading stand. Anywho, I figgered this’d be a good piece to make my Firefly blaster out of. Time to start making some mods.
I’ve never been a fan of sharp edges on plow handle grips. First thing to get dinged up is that bottom edge whenever it’s in the holster. Also don’t like that slight kick out at the bottom of the front grip strap. Took her apart to make sure there was enough meat in the grip frame then spent a couple hours with files and sandpaper to radius the corners. Fits my hand much better now.
The one piece wood grip was some kinda pinkish brown color and that just had to go. Since I’d sanded everything while adjusting the grip shape I thought to try staining the wood to look like walnut. Utter failure.
Whatever the wood is it don’t like MinWax stain. In desperation I threw on some USMC black leather dye. That got it. A little light oil and a rag took the excess off so now the wood looks more like horn. That I can live with.
The sights on the gun sucked, being a notch in the hammer and a teeny post up front. I wanted something a bit easier to pick up even though she’s basically a point & shoot gun. A rummage through the parts bin turned up several things that’d kinda work, but didn’t really have the look I was after.
Then I came across the shotgun rib. Hmmmmm. A little file and fit and it looks right at home on the barrel. The rear sight I fabbed is a bit blocky, might change it later. Won’t know for sure until the add-ons are in place and see if it all looks “right” together. Front sight is just a chunk of 1/8" brass soldered straight on to the rib. Prolly a bit tall, but it’s easier to file ‘em down once they’re in place.
And finally, a little patina to the brass. Casey’s Super Blue liquid applied multiple times until the brass was a dark brown, almost black. Then WD-40 liberally applied and repeated scrubbing with a flannel rag to brighten her back up. Just enough patina to dull it out some and make it look used and old. That bright polish it came with was near blinding in bright sun.
Still playing around with various brass bits for the add-ons. Might be awhile before I get anywhere on that. Stay tooned.........
