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Forums10
Topics38,376
Posts544,025
Members14,391
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Most Online1,258 Mar 29th, 2024
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,693 Likes: 450
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,693 Likes: 450 |
Stan, there is a decent article on the website. https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine Lots of interesting things to read there. Talks about renewing case colors and does explain traditional original colors tended to be dark but with not the vivid colors we often see today. I think the best case color people can give you what ever you want and the average will give you what ever comes out on the other end.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
In my opinion the locks and action are best left alone. Some restorers insist on a full re-case colour hardening of the lock-plates and action. I think it is a mistake. Now, restoration is a personal thing, but as a professional, my job is to guide the customer towards what I believe is tasteful work. If he doesnt buy-in to my ideas, he is better off going elsewhere. Excellent article Jon. The above quote pretty well sums up my stand on "Re-Coloring" guns. I don't have mine re-colored.
Miller/TN I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,982 Likes: 397
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,982 Likes: 397 |
I rarely have a gun re-colored for colors alone. Usually restoration work such as repairing damage or picking up engraving is done which requires re-hardening.
Interesting colors on the AA Brown gun. I found what they said about plates to evenly distribute colors interesting.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,693 Likes: 450
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,693 Likes: 450 |
In my youth I did have several guns recolored when redoing them. I doubt I would these days unless it was a total upgrade complete with reshaping the metal and engraving. Even then I might go more for a French Grey finish. Classic guns like a nice double have the right to look a little old and well used.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 152
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 152 |
I had a Holland and Holland 8 BORE double rifle recolor hardened after some pitting was removed and engraving recut. The action came back with a small crack in the front slot where the front barrel lug went in. The hardener (who I will not name) welded the crack and recolored. Second time it came out fine. It seems the larger the action the more chance of it becoming warped. When having a rifle color hardened in the USA you get what you get. Some reds and oranges sometimes that aren't on English hardened guns.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38 |
Miss Martin, our art teacher, lectured us on discordant colour matches, and blue with brown was on top of the list. Those are the colours most often seen side in case colour hardening. It is a mystery to me how people can find the combination alluring!
Now when the colours fade, and they leave behind that soft grey, now that is worth having! Why anyone would want to lose that soft grey by rehardening is another mystery!
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,398 Likes: 307
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,398 Likes: 307 |
Scroll down to a .410 Westley Richards that was recolored. Unfortunately the author did not document the craftsman who did the work https://www.theexplora.com/page/27/
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 948 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 948 Likes: 2 |
That .410 Drop Lock looks beautiful. I need to get my furnace set up so that I can work on colors. I'm excited for winter!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,127 Likes: 1129
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,127 Likes: 1129 |
You and me both, Tinker. My furnace, charcoal, and crucible have been sitting in my shop for several years ........... and I've never gotten around to it. It's high time for it to be used.
SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 168 Likes: 57
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 168 Likes: 57 |
A few pictures of my vintage Birmingham Clabrough and Johnstone trade shotgun, built circa 1925, which still has it's original vivid case colors. I'm likely the third owner as far as I know. It was purchased by me from an Estate sale. The owner's son said it was purchased by his father in the 1950's and then basically sat in the back of a closet until I purchased it 40 years later. Obviously someone else must have owned it between circa 1925-1950's again with very little usage. ________ TC
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