Indian Charleville Musket

stevejones

stevejones

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Location
Courtenay, BC
Here's my Indian Charleville musket.

s46x6g.jpg


I cant wait to take her out hunting this fall. I live in an area that has a shotgun with shot only (buckshot of course!) for deer. I want to antique the gun to remove all the shiny glare and I thought by posting this I could get some input.
I have been told Charleville's were not browned but...? So either some form of pickling solution using vinegar(?) or whatever...
In addition the glare from the stock has to go. I really like the stain on it so maybe something that will remove the sheen from it.

Thanks. Steve
 
French and English muskets of that time period were in the white or bright finished. They will age naturaly. I have an original 1763 French Dragoon Musket which started life bright and shiny but is now brown with age. For the stock I use furniture stripper to remove the finish on these muskets, don't sand them. BLO makes a nice oil finish.

Take a gander at these babies.
http://www.littlegun.be/arme francaise/collection fusils/a a collection fusils gb.htm
 
Steppenwolf said:
French and English muskets of that time period were in the white or bright finished. They will age naturaly. I have an original 1763 French Dragoon Musket which started life bright and shiny but is now brown with age. For the stock I use furniture stripper to remove the finish on these muskets, don't sand them. BLO makes a nice oil finish.

Take a gander at these babies.
http://www.littlegun.be/arme francaise/collection fusils/a a collection fusils gb.htm
Click to expand...

Well....ok. But I don't have 250 years for mine to age naturally. i'm kind of impatient I suppose...
 
stevejones said:
Well....ok. But I don't have 250 years for mine to age naturally. i'm kind of impatient I suppose...
Click to expand...

Very nice looking musket steve!

Dont worry about the brightness of the steel, after a few hundred rounds and some forest treks she will dull down considerably.
You could always use some cold buue on all the steel and then work it down with steel wool to take off the gleam.

Clp, steel wool and rubbing alcohol is soon to be in constant supply in your kit!!

Military flintlock smoothbores, my favourite firearm hands down!!!

A cartridge box might be a idea for a new purchase!

Cheers!

Rob
 
Musketfire said:
Very nice looking musket steve!

Dont worry about the brightness of the steel, after a few hundred rounds and some forest treks she will dull down considerably.
You could always use some cold buue on all the steel and then work it down with steel wool to take off the gleam.

Clp, steel wool and rubbing alcohol is soon to be in constant supply in your kit!!

Military flintlock smoothbores, my favourite firearm hands down!!!

A cartridge box might be a idea for a new purchase!

Cheers!

Rob
Click to expand...

What's clp...? I've fired at least 2oo rounds out of it between roundball, buckshot, and birdshot. The cold blue sounds ok.

Steve
 
stevejones said:
What's clp...? I've fired at least 2oo rounds out of it between roundball, buckshot, and birdshot. The cold blue sounds ok.

Steve
Click to expand...


C.L.P cleans, lubricates,protects "its gun oil the military uses" good stuff!!

I blue all my muskets, it inhibits bad rust and looks better to my eye.
if your charleville is blued all that brass is going to really pop!!!


I have a 30 yo navy arms kit 1766 that I assembeled last year that I just love.

The french were very foward thinking with their designs.


you could strip off the factory finish with steel wool and linseed oil finish her if you were of a mind to.

vive la revolution
 
Steppenwolf said:
Steve,

I have used this method to achieve a "French Grey" finish, blue or brown the metal parts. Now remove the bluing or browning with Navel Jelly. This grey is a dull "gunmetal" grey. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...

OK..I admit it...I don't know what naval jelly is either.....So I'll bite. What is it and were can I get it!

Thanks for your continued patience. Steve.
 
stevejones said:
OK..I admit it...I don't know what naval jelly is either.....So I'll bite. What is it and were can I get it!

Thanks for your continued patience. Steve.
Click to expand...

Go to any self respecting hardware store and ask the counter person for naval jelly, its a corrosive...jelly... that is used to eat rust.

Wear gloves and eye protection. Its not crazy powerful but I bet would really ruin your day if it got in your eyes.
 
Stock sheen

So that seems to cover the metal (no pun intended). I was thinking of trying some auto wax with a mild rubbing compound to dull the sheen off the stock. Maybe try a small area and see what happens.
Just an aside. My Charleville shoots very low. So much that if I filed the front sight down there would be nothing left! any thoughts?

Steve.
 
stevejones said:
So that seems to cover the metal (no pun intended). I was thinking of trying some auto wax with a mild rubbing compound to dull the sheen off the stock. Maybe try a small area and see what happens.
Just an aside. My Charleville shoots very low. So much that if I filed the front sight down there would be nothing left! any thoughts?

Steve.
Click to expand...

A little steel wool will dull down the sheen, take all that crappy factory finish off and use linseed oil /mineral spirits 50/50, it will take a week or so to dry but its worth it!

Now shooting low.....every musket has its sweet spot.
How far is the target your shooting at.
 
stevejones said:
So that seems to cover the metal (no pun intended). I was thinking of trying some auto wax with a mild rubbing compound to dull the sheen off the stock. Maybe try a small area and see what happens.
Just an aside. My Charleville shoots very low. So much that if I filed the front sight down there would be nothing left! any thoughts?
Click to expand...

The original method was polishing with brick dust so the cut wax method is probably similar. With the barrel, you might try bending it up. Support the barrel between two cradles on the cement floor and flex the middle of the barrel down. Start with about 1" gap and increase in small amounts. Obviously fire 4 or 5 shots after each try to see if you are getting any effect.

cheers mooncoon
 
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