1868/70 question

[BillF]

I recently acquired an 1868/70 rifle that has a strange golden glow on the "in the white" parts. This is not a thick grease like material and is a very even color over the whole barrel.

1868-70 resize.jpg (249.69 KiB) Viewed 2114 times

There is a spot by the breach that shows the color cleaned. When I cleaned the bore the solvent removed a little of that color by the muzzle. I wanted to see what the metal looked like under the barrel band so moved it and was amazed to see beautiful new metal. The rifle is in very good condition showing little use if any. Is the color oil that has dried on the metal? I have a few trapdoors and have not seen this before. Anyone seen any like it. Do I clean it off or leave it? If I am to clean it what would you use to do so?

[John S.]

My guess is that it is nicotine stains from tobacco smoke, which will leave a brown residue on metal and wood.
I have been searching for a SAFE way to remove tobacco smoke stains from guns for quite a while, and not really having much luck.

It is a common problem, and antique dealers and house restoration folks have all sorts of pet methods to remove it. BUT, most involve using vinegar, which is acidic and will also remove blue finish- something we would rather avoid. On a bright finished .50-70 I'd be willing to try it, or if bore cleaner seemed to remove some, go ahead and use that. I'd definitely try to remove whatever it is.

Good luck!

[carlsr]

I purchased an M68/70 last year in Baltimore with the exact color patina. I chose to clean it as there was some sort of residue around the front sight that prevented the bayonet from locking on to the sight.
This is how I clean my rusty, dirty, grimy rifles.
I use Kroil as a rust remover along with what's called a frontier pad. It's like steel wool but much heavier and it's guaranteed not to scratch metal, not even blued barrels.
I recently used it on a blued barrel to remove dried grease and it worked perfectly. You can also use 0000 steel wool.
Rub on the Kroil, let sit a while then use the frontier pad or steel wool in a muzzle to breech direction and that brown stain will disappear.
Again, this is my way of removing rust and old stains.
That one should clean up nicely.
Congratulations on your find!

[gew98]

I recently acquired an 1868/70 rifle that has a strange golden glow on the "in the white" parts. This is not a thick grease like material and is a very even color over the whole barrel. 1868-70 resize.jpgThere is a spot by the breach that shows the color cleaned. When I cleaned the bore the solvent removed a little of that color by the muzzle. I wanted to see what the metal looked like under the barrel band so moved it and was amazed to see beautiful new metal. The rifle is in very good condition showing little use if any. Is the color oil that has dried on the metal? I have a few trapdoors and have not seen this before. Anyone seen any like it. Do I clean it off or leave it? If I am to clean it what would you use to do so?

Seen that same effect from fireplaces and kitchens on guns,swords and the aforementioned smoke on similar ferrous metals from old homes.

[John S.]

Okay, we have a suggested method to remove the crud from the metal, but what about getting it off the wood?

[carlsr]

Okay, we have a suggested method to remove the crud from the metal, but what about getting it off the wood?

G-96 works well. Just spray the stock liberaly, let it soak overnight then wipe it down. That's all there is to it.

[gew98]

Okay, we have a suggested method to remove the crud from the metal, but what about getting it off the wood?

I would never use any "cleaner" on old original finish. I take vaseline and let it render in a high heat environment to get out most of the liquid 'oil" in it. You then have a thick pasty grease/wax. I then rub down old dirty wood like this and rub off in short order with old cotton T's or like material. This does not attack any original old patina finish under the grime. Anything else is just too aggressive.

[carlsr]

Okay, we have a suggested method to remove the crud from the metal, but what about getting it off the wood?

I would never use any "cleaner" on old original finish. I take vaseline and let it render in a high heat environment to get out most of the liquid 'oil" in it. You then have a thick pasty grease/wax. I then rub down old dirty wood like this and rub off in short order with old cotton T's or like material. This does not attack any original old patina finish under the grime. Anything else is just too aggressive.

Actually G-96 is not aggressive. I've used it ever since Al Frasca today me about it. It doesn't remove any finish, only dirt and grime buildup.

[daneal]

I have seen very similar staining when linseed oil was rubbed over metal parts in the course of wiping down an old stock. It dried to a varnish-like finish and was removable by one of several types of solvent. Might be worth a try.

[kenneth]

Yep, I have done it myself when rubbing down M1 and 1903 stocks with Linseed oil.