Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

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Tactical Lever
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Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

Considering some brass blackening on a Big Boy. I am not after a total black or blue finish. I would like a case hardened kind of
look. Considering different options like cold blue, and found that Birchwood Casey Super Blue will sure give it blue and purple on a
small spot that I tested, but not sure if I want to do the whole thing or how I would get a mottled, varied pattern with it.
Heard of aging with ammonia, and not sure that I just want it dull either. Some guys have done a little surface heat treating with oil,
but have not seen what that looks like.

Wondering what guys have done, and be willing to show some pictures of. Thanks guys!
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Pete44ru »

.

I no longer have the pics, but I got a nice CCH look on the brass bits (TG, BP, FE tip & estucheons) of a T/C Hawken frontstuffer.

I removed the brass' protective clear coat, then daubed the brass, willy-nilly, with a bunched-up Kleenex tissue wet with cold blue solution.

I used Formula 44/40 Instant Cold Blue (Brownell's), but IDK how/if other cold blue solutions would give the same results on a Henry's receiver, or even work at all on it.

Image


.
Last edited by Pete44ru on Tue Feb 23, 2016 10:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by 2571 »

Sacrilege.
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marlinman93
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by marlinman93 »

Birchwood Casey Brass Black.

Image
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by donw »

i don't know why anyone would want to 'black' a brass Henry... :roll: ...but...i would have it done professionally if i were to have it done.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

Well I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea. But it is a current production gun. Not a historically accurate reproduction either. I imagine there were a few guys (and gals) who probably took some shine off a new Henry.

I find the bright gold a little gaudy. I'm out to age it, or give it something of a case hardened look.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by J Miller »

Age it with sweat and handling. Spend a summer in Arizona or the south west desert somewhere. Get a pair of real leather work gloves and carry and use the rifle outdoors daily. Sweat on it, get it dirty, handle it constantly with the dirty hard used sweaty leather gloves.

That will age it.

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cas
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by cas »

Strip the clear coat and rub black powder fouling all over it. Give it a nice dull fuzzy finish. :D
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

J Miller wrote:Age it with sweat and handling. Spend a summer in Arizona or the south west desert somewhere. Get a pair of real leather work gloves and carry and use the rifle outdoors daily. Sweat on it, get it dirty, handle it constantly with the dirty hard used sweaty leather gloves.

That will age it.

Joe
Sounds good! Anyone want to sponsor a zany Canuck? I don't eat that much, and I'm always up for adventure! Where you at, J? I liked Southern California more than I thought, but really want to explore Arizona and Texas, too. I'm flexible, though! :lol:

I have the leather ropers, but this thing doesn't seem to pick up anything but fingerprints. I think it has a little something else in it besides iron and copper that resists that. Aluminum? I kind of want some interesting colours in it, too. Someone must have done something like this.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by J Miller »

Tactical Lever wrote:
J Miller wrote:Age it with sweat and handling. Spend a summer in Arizona or the south west desert somewhere. Get a pair of real leather work gloves and carry and use the rifle outdoors daily. Sweat on it, get it dirty, handle it constantly with the dirty hard used sweaty leather gloves.

That will age it.

Joe
Sounds good! Anyone want to sponsor a zany Canuck? I don't eat that much, and I'm always up for adventure! Where you at, J? I liked Southern California more than I thought, but really want to explore Arizona and Texas, too. I'm flexible, though! :lol:

I have the leather ropers, but this thing doesn't seem to pick up anything but fingerprints. I think it has a little something else in it besides iron and copper that resists that. Aluminum? I kind of want some interesting colours in it, too. Someone must have done something like this.
Well, right now I'm in Indiana having just excaped from Illynoise. Were I in the SW I'm sure we could figure something out.

cas mentioned the clear coat and stripping that off. I'd forgotten about that.
My Cattleman SA originally had a clear coat on it. Once that was removed the original colors dulled and other colors kinda started showing.

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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by DPris »

It's a hardened bronze-aluminum alloy.
Can't give you percentages, but aluminum is a part of the formulation.
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mikld
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by mikld »

Anybody think of asking Mr. Imperato (Henry Arms boss)? :roll:

In my limited experiences with Henry, Mr. Imperato seems to keep a hand in on all the goings on at Henry, both "business" and technical...
Last edited by mikld on Wed Feb 24, 2016 1:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by DPris »

Doubt he'd know, but you might try calling their service department & asking.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by 2571 »

I bought a used .44 last month with supposedly only 14 rounds through it and a .357 a week later, which I ordered as brand new. Neither has 'clearcoat' on them. Both began tarnishing as soon as I began handling them. Disappointing.

Shooting buddy is a metallurgist. He says the 'brass' is an alloy

The tarnishing mine show is dull, lackluster appearance. Simichrome renews it to the look they had when they were bought.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Pete44ru »

.


I guess I'm not a "bling" type of guy, since I like aged brass.

Image

.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

Thanks guys. No clear coat on it. I dabbed a couple spots of Birchwood Casey Superblue on the bottom and that stuff is pretty good. Seems much better than a multi part blue
I tried on another gun once. I am a little worried about over-colouring it; but I suppose I can polish it off again, if I do.

Just working up the courage, and fishing for tips and tricks to get a nice mottled look. I will try to post pictures if it does not turn out too ugly.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by JReed »

I was going to sugest shooting BP loads in it. That would age the brass nicely.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

Tried dabbing and selectively rubbing the finish with cloth, and q-tips. Also tried soaking some bluing through a kleenex. Did not get the right kind of finish, then had an idea. I thought that using steel wool might create an interesting effect. So I rubbed the brass with fine steel wool and bluing. I was able to correct some awful fooling around on the other side using this method as well.

There was a little oil left on the finish when I tried again, but I found using the steel wool and keeping a wet surface ended up looking a lot more "organic" and smooth vs. using rags. I am not quite done, but this part looks alright.

What do you guys think?
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

This side did not turn out as well; it started off looking like I drew lines on it with a felt. :oops:

Forgive the clutter, I started to feel a little artsy fartsy. :lol:
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Pete44ru »

.

IMO, it looks just fine - me likey !

.
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2ndovc
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by 2ndovc »

Looks better!

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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Chuck 100 yd »

It looks just fine on both sides to me. Now get out there and make some smoke!
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

Thanks guys. I have to touch it up a little and do the butt plate (which does seem to have a clear coat) and the barrel band; but overall I'm happy with the way it's progressing.

And if I squint at it the right way, I can imagine it having a long and storied history. :D
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by DPris »

Plate & band may not react the same way, I believe different material.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by marlinman93 »

I'm not a fan of the highly polished brass receivers on any gun, so I think what you've done is a huge improvement! Makes it look older, and mellow.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by DPris »

Checked.
Buttplate & barrel band are what they're calling a "common brass alloy".
The frame is a bronze/aluminum alloy.

You may get a slightly different chemical reaction.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by plowboy 45 »

Looks real good to me
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

DPris wrote:Checked.
Buttplate & barrel band are what they're calling a "common brass alloy".
The frame is a bronze/aluminum alloy.

You may get a slightly different chemical reaction.
Denis
Polished the butt plate and barrel band with some steel wool and then treated both to the same treatment the receiver got. Turned out pretty similar.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Tactical Lever »

Thanks for the kind words and advice fellas!
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by .45colt »

For Me it looks WAY better than the shiny brass. I wonder if the same could be done to the Uberti Silverboy .22? I like them but hate the silver receiver. Jim.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by jazman »

I like what you have done a lot, I am not a "bright finish" guy either. Good job.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by AJMD429 »

Tactical Lever wrote:This side did not turn out as well; it started off looking like I drew lines on it with a felt. :oops:

Forgive the clutter, I started to feel a little artsy fartsy. :lol:
That looks really cool...!
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Daisyman »

Tactical Lever wrote:Tried dabbing and selectively rubbing the finish with cloth, and q-tips. Also tried soaking some bluing through a kleenex. Did not get the right kind of finish, then had an idea. I thought that using steel wool might create an interesting effect. So I rubbed the brass with fine steel wool and bluing. I was able to correct some awful fooling around on the other side using this method as well.

There was a little oil left on the finish when I tried again, but I found using the steel wool and keeping a wet surface ended up looking a lot more "organic" and smooth vs. using rags. I am not quite done, but this part looks alright.

What do you guys think?
I like it! :) I'm not much of a bling guy either.

For comparison, if you want to make it look like aged, here's a pic a my 66 with aged "gunmetal" and never polished.
But I DO like the casecolored mottling on your gun just fine.

Image
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by piller »

I am not a fan of the shiny guns, either. Glare bothers me more every year, and I am certain that the Henry would reflect a lot of glare when it looks new. I like the Henry .22 I have, and I think the quality is great. Shiny is just not my preference in a firearm I plan on using a lot. I am glad to know that there will be something which I can do if/when I get a Henry with that brass look.
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Re: Thinking of brass blackening on Henry

Post by Buck Elliott »

Brass is an alloy.. A mixture of copper and zinc.
The original 1860 Henry and 1866 Winchester had bronze - "gunmetal" frames.
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin..

Whatever the Henry Big Boy frame is made of, it is also magnetic..
Brass is not magnetic.. Neither is bronze..
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