I have an old Winchester 1894 rifle with a hexagon barrel. All the metal on it is an even brown colour almost as if it is a brown bluing but I can't believe it wasn't originally blue. I know of the previous history dating back about 65 years and it wouldn't have been colour changed in that time. Is it just an even coating of rust from hanging on the wall for all those years and more? How can I tell for sure? If rust, and it is so even, should I attempt to remove it or leave it be?
Rust brown or brown blueing?
- Thread starter Greg S
- Start date
There's cases of some blue jobs turning a plum looking colour due to something in the metal. But if your barrel is also brown then likely it's a rust browned finish (there's no such thing as "brown bluing").
A factory or refinish job will show the browning to be smooth and rather polished feeling. If it's rust from sitting on hooks for too many years of neglect then the rust will be loose and rub off on your hands. It's also going to be uneven if its a rusted blue finish. If that's the case you should be able to see signs of the old blue. It's highly unlikely that it would have rusted 100% evenly and totally.
A factory or refinish job will show the browning to be smooth and rather polished feeling. If it's rust from sitting on hooks for too many years of neglect then the rust will be loose and rub off on your hands. It's also going to be uneven if its a rusted blue finish. If that's the case you should be able to see signs of the old blue. It's highly unlikely that it would have rusted 100% evenly and totally.
Like Kamlooky says, it's patina. Leave it alone. Rust will be flaky. Patina is just aging of the original blued finish. Over 100 years ago(assuming it is that old, but even early 20th Century 94's weren't blued like current rifles are blued.), bluing wasn't done the way it is now.
If it sat and became rusty to where it rubs off on his hands that is NOT patina. It's rust. And it needs to be dealt with. On the other hand if it's a smooth brown finish that does not rub off on his hands and the gun was oiled periodically like it should have been then it's a rust browned rifle and it's fine.
This is all guessing though. Without being able to see it or at least see good, well lit close up pictures we're all guessing.
This is all guessing though. Without being able to see it or at least see good, well lit close up pictures we're all guessing.
Back then Winchester did a lot of custom builds for customers that would order up from different options through a gun shop. It's possible that this is one such gun and it was ordered in the browned finish instead of the typical blued finish. Or it may have been re-finished to some older owner's wishes.
Any chance of pictures? I bet it looks classy done in the brown finish.
Any chance of pictures? I bet it looks classy done in the brown finish.
Phat Eagle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Fraser Valley, BC
Be glad then.. It's gorgeous original finish!
Yeah, that's old rust stopped with oil wipe downs from going any further. So I think you got it right with a mix of patina that removed much of the bluing and rust that slowly took over.
Having said that I actually like the look of it. As long as it's not so bad that it rubs off on your hands while handling I think I'd leave it as part of the history of this gun. It's got the same "hard knocks" look as some old timer folks that have a beauty of their own for the history they wear.
Assuming no internal issues and a reasonable bore I'd have no qualms over loading it up and letting the old girl speak again. It's one of the original guns intended from the outset for smokeless powders so no need to worry about black powder loads. Just buy or load up regular .30-30 or old gun respectful .38-55 and take it out for a day at the range.
Before that I'd likely tear it down fully and clean and lube all the internals. With particular attention paid to the magazine tube, follower and such. Folks seem to forget the magazine tubes for some reason.
Having said that I actually like the look of it. As long as it's not so bad that it rubs off on your hands while handling I think I'd leave it as part of the history of this gun. It's got the same "hard knocks" look as some old timer folks that have a beauty of their own for the history they wear.
Assuming no internal issues and a reasonable bore I'd have no qualms over loading it up and letting the old girl speak again. It's one of the original guns intended from the outset for smokeless powders so no need to worry about black powder loads. Just buy or load up regular .30-30 or old gun respectful .38-55 and take it out for a day at the range.
Before that I'd likely tear it down fully and clean and lube all the internals. With particular attention paid to the magazine tube, follower and such. Folks seem to forget the magazine tubes for some reason.
Oh, it gets used. No rust on the inside or in the barrel and it doesn't rub off. She shoots pretty accurately. The one time I really tried to get a good group it was about 1 1/2" at 100 m with open sights. I don't know if I'm that accurate or just flinched at the right times to fluke a tight group.
Got Juice?
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Peoples Republik of Kanukkistan
What a beauty!!!! Keep the finish as-is imho. it looks great!!!
I have re-browned a few 'vintage' guns, and honestly I tried to talk people out of re-browning... but as they say "when they pay.. they say"
I have re-browned a few 'vintage' guns, and honestly I tried to talk people out of re-browning... but as they say "when they pay.. they say"
As someone with "old guy eyes" that smiles when they can produce a 3" group I'd say it's a little of the gun and a little of you. That's DARN nice shooting for plain iron sights.
