Posted by Bill Graham on October 21, 2016, 11:17 pm
In another thread I'm striving to resurrect an old frame with a not as old barrel. The barrel is highly polished. The frame is pitted, and currently has a matte black oxide finish. I understand that color case would be appropriate, but this is a Frankengun and that kind of expense is not possible.
I had two thoughts on the finish of the frame. In either case, I'll try to deal with some of the pitting, but getting it all is not going to be practical.
1. Leave it matte black, and polish the pins. This would provide a contrast to the barrels which might look decent.
2. Blast it back to white, card it to give it a brushed look, and try to approximate a coin finish (faux) somehow. Not sure how to pull that off, but perhaps greying it with some naval jelly, and then card it again. The dark work, polished barrels, and a coined frame with blued pins, top lever, trigger guard and triggers might look nice.
I understand that this is not conventional or typical to LC Smith's, yet I would like it to look nice despite the evidence of past neglect.
Interesting in your thoughts, and tips on how to take something in the white and give it an older gun patina.