French Grey

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:42 am

I like the looks of French Grey. I've wondered for years what it actually was. Googling it I just end up more confused. Some spray a coating to make it look grey, some acid etch..etc...Can someone tell me what the real French Grey process is. Looking at the Shiloh Sharps with French Greying and engraving really whet's my whistle. I'd like to know if it's a feasible finish on a using rifle.

Dewight · Post by **Dewight** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 1:14 pm

I have a 18 yr. old Shiloh Sharps Business Rifle with a French Grey receiver and lever. I haven't noticed it thinning or wearing. It has darkened in a fine mottled pattern.

copen · Post by **copen** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 2:06 pm

Try e-mailing Shiloh.They'er good about answering your questions.

jp · Post by jp » Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:27 pm

I had my 1894c completely French Greyed, except for the sights, at Eabco. I don't really know what this finish is but it is hard as can be. I had it done about 3 yrs. ago and use it hard. Still looks like it did when I first got it back. I'm sold on it.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:52 pm

Already emailed Shiloh. Just thought with all the knowledge on this forum I'd tap into it.

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:29 pm

This is what Eabco says about their French Grey finish:

"A soft looking, hard gray-metal finish which is superior to stainless steel in its corrosion resistance, wearability, and operational "slickness". We prepare the exterior metal surface by blasting with a blend of very fine aluminum oxide and glass bead media. This base surface preparation is actually what causes the deep "French Gray" look after plating is complete. The actual French Gray surface is a two-part metal plating process that bonds to steel at the molecular level. The result is a hermetic seal that protects against corrosion while beautifying the firearm itâ€™s applied to. Weâ€™ve done our French Gray Finish on all types of firearms from handguns to long guns."

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:35 pm

Bruce there in lies the rub. Eabco state it's "our French Grey finish". As I said looking on the web there's a number of different ways of applying a French Grey finish. Another source of information states that the original way of getting a French Grey finish was to Case Color Harden the part and then polish it to it's grey color. That's why I posed the question. Thanks for your reply.

CaptainFinn · Post by **CaptainFinn** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:41 pm

Dixie Gun Works has a chemical called 'Logwood' that is supposed to be used to apply a 'French' or 'Coin Finish'. I don't have their catalogue handy at the moment, but if memory serves me, you boil the part in the chemical to achieve the muted grey finish.

The process you described sounded more like a modern approximation of a French Gray finish, only (possibly) a plating process instead of a chemical treatment.

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:01 pm

Yeah, most references I found mention French Grey 'type' finishes. I understand there is a cyanide method of case hardening that imparts a grey finish. Whether this is true French Grey remains open to question.

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:25 pm

Bruce Scott wrote:This is what Eabco says about their French Grey finish:

"A soft looking, hard gray-metal finish which is superior to stainless steel in its corrosion resistance, wearability, and operational "slickness". We prepare the exterior metal surface by blasting with a blend of very fine aluminum oxide and glass bead media. This base surface preparation is actually what causes the deep "French Gray" look after plating is complete. The actual French Gray surface is a two-part metal plating process that bonds to steel at the molecular level. The result is a hermetic seal that protects against corrosion while beautifying the firearm itâ€™s applied to. Weâ€™ve done our French Gray Finish on all types of firearms from handguns to long guns."

That sounds like hard chrome.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:15 pm

Shiloh Sharps has it's own forum on a link from their web site. You'll probably get a faster answer there.

Rusty <><

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:22 pm

Rusty, already sent an email to Shiloh.

Craig, I think your on to at least one process for produrcing a French Grey finish. I think a matte grey hard chrome would produce a "French Grey" finish look. I'd like to know what an original finish was.

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:47 pm

I'm interested too, always wondered about that. I believe the receiver of my Fabarm double is advertised as a french gray finish but it looks like hard chrome. Though it seems like french gray has been around far longer than industrial hard chrome finishes. I'm sure there are several ways to do it. What interested me specifically is the finish on several different Winchester commemorative M94's.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:55 pm

Pictures anyone? I can't get the thought of moldy cheese out of my head when you say "French Grey"...

BoarHunter · Post by **BoarHunter** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:31 am

Bruce Scott wrote:Yeah, most references I found mention French Grey 'type' finishes. I understand there is a cyanide method of case hardening that imparts a grey finish. Whether this is true French Grey remains open to question.

You are right !

French side by side shotguns had their receiver usually made of soft iron, case hardened using cyanide bath and the process produced a uniform grey finish, not the usual colored one.

Currently it is made using chrome plating on a finely blasted surface.
Verney Caron uses this process.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:03 pm

Well guys here's the skinny on French Grey. Got a reply to my email to Shiloh.

From Heather at Shiloh:

The French grey finish goes through the same case hardening process as the others, then it is quenched differently so that the color is washed out. It is more prone to rust, you would need to baby it quite a bit and keep in very well oiled. Also, this finish does not look good unless it is engraved. It sort of looks like you forgot to finish the rifle.

Thank you Shiloh!

cas · Post by **cas** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:36 pm

Shilo's French gray. http://www.shilohrifle.com/engraving_room.html

http://www.shilohrifle.com/custom_featu ... 20FINISHES

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:42 pm

Isn't that a fancy term for "in the white"? I know Shiloh said it is finished (while a truly "in the white" gun is not), but heck, it doesn't look like it is (probably explains why it is "more prone to rust")!

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:12 am

Shiloh's reply goes along with a quote from Venturino I find in my notebook:

A French gray finish is accomplished by giving the receivers (and buttplates) their hardening process and then literally erasing the colors. French gray is popular with buyers when the rifle receivers are engraved, as it shows up better with the light-colored metal surface.

I recall reading a post on some forum (no notes, sorry) that indicated what little protection there is results from the surface being polished and hardened. The resulting surface is very smooth, and this somehow delays the onset of corrosion, but it will corrode eventually; the metal is basically bare.

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:21 am

I have to say that I like the way it looks but not the way it keeps.

French Grey

French Grey

French Gray finish.