ROBINSON: Browning, acid staining, torch work, ...

[geraldbergeron]

This is Mrs Robinson in a 54 cal with a Sharon barrel....

I bought her from a gentleman on this forum.

Those are my beginner experiences with browning, acid staining, fire torching,...


Here she is BEFORE:

AND after many hours... ( my first browning, first staining, first burning, first everything...... ):

[img525]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/geraldbergeron/Sharon/GB-3.jpg[/img]

This Robinson is a GREAT shooter !!


Gerald Bergeron

 

[BCRider]

Was the rust as heavy as it seems in that first picture? If so you've done a great job of bringing this arm back from its near death experience. The fact that this was your first go at many of the techniques is just that much more a feather in your cap.

What is the name of this rifle? When I googled for "robinson percussion rifle" it came up with an American cival war variety that doesn't look a whole lot like your example.

 

[Win 38-55]

You did nice work on that rifle. I'm not familiar with fire-torching. Is that what you did to get those beautiful colors on the steel buttplate?

 

[mooncoon]

What is the name of this rifle? When I googled for "robinson percussion rifle" it came up with an American cival war variety that doesn't look a whole lot like your example.

Robinson rifles were highly respected and fairly expensive rifles going back to at least the 1970s. I still see a few of them around at rondyvous although I don't think they have been made for at least 10 or 15 years.

cheers mooncoon

 

[geraldbergeron]

Was the rust as heavy as it seems in that first picture? If so you've done a great job of bringing this arm back from its near death experience. The fact that this was your first go at many of the techniques is just that much more a feather in your cap.

Yes, the rust is as heavy as the picture with the "Prince George" mention.

I has some difficulties to get the browning to get on: I then decided to let the barrel with the Laurel Mountain forge solution for 12 hours in a bathroom with some slowly boiling water... !!

OUF... I then realized that if I wanted "some" rusting effet, I HAD to add humidity ( or else it does not rust... ). Very basic for a beginner LOL LOL

But I am very happy with all that brown rust; I just love it.

What is the name of this rifle? When I googled for "robinson percussion rifle" it came up with an American cival war variety that doesn't look a whole lot like your example.

This is a Robinson 54 cal: No 90 of 185; she has half stock Hawken, Sharron barrel (slow twist) L&R loch, double set triggers.



She was made by Talor D Sapergia; this man is from British Columbia. Between 1979 and 1982 inclusive, he was employed by Robinson Firearms Mfg. Ltd., in Prince George BC.

The Sharon barrel is a competition winner barrel.

Here is some infos that I got for that man:

J. Hall Sharon was a native of Falmouth, KY. He lived in Sonora, CA for 22 years. He was a machinist and had worked at Cincinnati Milling Machine Co. from 1947-53, and Hughes Aircraft in Culver City from 1953-60.

He owned Sharon Rifle Barrel Co. in Kalispell, Mont., from 1960-70. He was a nationally known gunsmith and barrel maker. He manufactured a black powder rifle marked as Sharon Hawken Kit, which was used at black powder shoots nationwide. His barrels were well-known in the United States and 25 percent went to foreign countries, including one rifle to the King and Queen of England. In 1981, a Pennsylvania-style traditional flintlock with a Sharon Barrel was presented to President Ronald Reagan.

She has a great place in my home !!

Gerald

 

[geraldbergeron]

You did nice work on that rifle. I'm not familiar with fire-torching. Is that what you did to get those beautiful colors on the steel buttplate?

Well, I was very happy with a propane fire-torching...

I am sure that other members could advice better than me. As a beginner, I can just talk about my beginner experience...

First, IMO, the metal MUST be clean and polished, polished and polished to get the wanted colors.

I made some tests with the propane torch and I noticed that I HAD to let the fire on the SAME spot without moving too much.

Then, the colors go in THAT order ( do not ask me why..):

- nothing... just wait...

1 - pale yellow

2 - dark yellow

3- brown

4- purple

5- dark blue

6- dark blue

7- grey

8- black

9- dull red heat ( too late...)

I drop the metal part in water and FAST to stop the color process... at the color that I wanted.

But, what if I missed the wanted color, I sand and polish to metal and do it again...

do it again... do it again.... That is what I realized... No trouble to do it again if I missed the color that I wanted...

So, I learned not to be afraid to make a color that I do not like... Just sand and use the propane torch again.... and again... and again...

Sometimes just redoeing partial sections that I do not like...


Gerald Bergeron

...still learning.....

 

[Smokepole]

Talor Sapergia is still building rifles. He can usually be found at the Prince George gun shows and rondyvous. Nice fellow with great rifle building skills.

 

[nessy357]

Stunning Gerald, great job, not sure what I like the most ! I know I'm going to have to try the fire torching, What did you use to to stain it ? It's really brought the grain and colour out !
My son David is out to sea right now, but when he gets home he is going to be jealous He thinks he has the nicest Robinson .
Thanks for sharing

Cheers nessy.

 

[geraldbergeron]

Stunning Gerald, great job, not sure what I like the most ! I know I'm going to have to try the fire torching, What did you use to to stain it ? It's really brought the grain and colour out !
My son David is out to sea right now, but when he gets home he is going to be jealous He thinks he has the nicest Robinson .
Thanks for sharing

Cheers nessy.

Hi nessy,

I use 2 acid stains:

- Nitric acid (aquafortis)
- Chromic acid

3 layers of each with a neutralizing solution between each acid dried coating.

Then a layer of Laurel Mountain Forge "Cherry"; let it dry then wipe it.

Then oil and wax.


Thank you for your comments.

Gerald

 

[Beater]

a good blacksmith would be able to tell you why the colors change with heat

Colors Temperatures F (approx)


Pale yellow 400 – 420


Light Yellow 430 – 440


Yellow 450 – 460


Straw 470 – 480


Dark Straw 490


Bronze 500


Dark Brown 541 – 520


Light Purple 530


Purple 540


Dark Purple 550 – 560


Blue 570 – 580


Dark Blue 590 – 600


Light Blue 610 – 620


Blue Green 630 – 640


Grey 650