Hal, glad you have joined the pinfire rabbit-hole! By all means, please post more pictures.
Unmarked Belgian/French guns are hard to place and date, but the proof marks and any other markings under the barrels might help. It is frequently easier to identify the barrel maker than the gunmaker.
For a gentle cleaning I usually start with a toothbrush and soapy water, and a normal bore brush for the barrel tubes. All too often the bores on pinfires look like sewer pipes, from corrosive primers, black powder, and cumulative neglect. To preserve patina on external metal parts, I also use a cotton rag and olive oil, and “elbow grease.” The mild acidity of the olive oil does a reasonable job of cleaning old grime while keeping the patina, and the cotton rag is non-abrasive - a trick I learned from museum restorers.
Last edited by Steve Nash; 05/01/21 11:28 PM.
