Black powder rifle kits
 

Thinking of making a "kit" muzzle loader....

What were the "original" finish on the old Pennsylvania black powder muzzle loaders? I some how don't think they had Hot Salts Bluing back then... So would it be Rust Brown/ Bluing? Also... the "furniture" on the old muzzle loaders... Brass... or Steel? I figured brass... cheaper? and easier to form / shape?

Thanks for any info,
Shawn

Re: Black powder rifle kits
 

Rust browning on the steel. Pennsylvania rifles did have brass furniture for the most part but many rifle makers used iron furniture.

Re: Black powder rifle kits
 

Go to www.trackofthewolf.com

They have all kinds of kits and everything else you need to complete the project.

Re: Black powder rifle kits
 

The originals generally had blued barrels and lockplates, with brass trigger guards, patch box covers and sideplates, and lock sideplates (on the other side of the stock). In some fancier guns, those parts were silver plated or of German silver.

The stocks were usually maple and the screws were iron, not brass. (As one old time rifle maker asked me when I asked why iron and not brass, "Did you ever try to drive a brass screw into rock maple?")

Some barrels were colored brown or plum.

Jim

Re: Black powder rifle kits
 

I had good luck with Birchwood Casey's Plum Brown on the iron hardware and barrel.

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-to...prod24772.aspx