I thought maybe someone here could help me with this question .
Im working on a mid 18th century English percussion sxs .
While in the process of re finishing the barrels one of the gold inlay bands on one of the breeches popped . It wasn’t to thick in a couple places to start with .
I had assumed do to the color that it was yellow brass not gold .
However when I replaced the band with yellow brass it did not match at all after polishing .
So I took the piece that popped out down to a metal buyer and had them test it .
According to them it was 18-20 KG .
So I replaced the band with 18 KG
It matches better but still a couple shades off .
So here is my question .
Could the issue be that some other type of metal was mixed with the cold 150 years ago to make 18 KG ?
I have replaced these inlays on other SXS and had brass match very well but this one it did not . Was there another type of material used to substitute gold on lower grade barrels and has the gold alloy changed through the years ?
