Discussion Restoration question

[Conquerordie]

So, if you come across a musket that's in pretty good shape, but someone has overly cleaned it in places, and hasn't cleaned it in other places, what would you do? I'm talking stock is full patina, but barrel has been cleaned except around the lock which is rusty. Furniture is a mix.

Would you continue to clean it so it all matches?

Would you age the parts so it all matches?

Would you leave it be?

I dont have a specific musket in mind, just something Ive seen where these old guns are a real mix in appearance. I know sometimes it might be parts from different guns assembled, and sometimes it's all original. They just look so wrong to me when left in this condition. Any thought would be helpful. Thanks

 

[UCVRelics]

All I will add is that I would not even consider buy it.

 

[Salterr]

Personally, if it's going in my collection it needs to be original but if you come across an item that is mismatched and pieced together that isn't original to the time like a recaptured CS converted weapon I'd say match the parts. The over cleaned parts will darken again with time so possibly try to meet in the middle and clean the rest so that with time it evens in appearance. If it is just a cheap wall hanger you could restore it with stain and blueing again. Most times when these items are tampered with like over cleaning or swapped parts the value is destroyed already or severely diminished

 

[RSMorris]

if you are using it for research it definitely has to be cleaned.

 

[Old Soldier]

Generally, if it is cheap, badly corroded/worn, a common type and not for firing - restore it as best you can. The problem is deciding at what level you have nothing to lose by doing so. As others have said, many are bitsas - a decent stock combined with a decent barrel and a working lock, etc. but not an original assembly. The aim would be to increase its value (or appearance) by doing so. DO NOT 'AGE' PARTS. That is akin to deception. Yes, even the carving on the stock can be 'added'.

I have bought 'decent' looking guns online (UK's obsolete caliber - not for shooting) even if they are said not to work, only to find it mostly due to missing or broken components or 'welded' together with rust - but they are CHEAP. My first was one of those Chilean Mannlicher M1886 - rusted bores and pitted metal with rotten, battered stocks. It certainly helped develop my armoring skills! (Yes it works now and looks far better than the rusted hulk I got!)

if it is for shooting, that is a totally different kettle of fish and needs checking by a qualified gunsmith. For shooting, appearance tends to take second place.

 

[Conquerordie]

I forgot I posted this question! So to clear my first post up, I've seen original guns, with all original parts, so the gun is all original. But it hasn't been kept in a good location for who knows how long. So parts of the gun are say somewhat bright, but there are areas of brown rust and corrosion on other parts. So it doesn't look great, a very mottled appearance, but it is all original. Do you clean it all to match, it leave it? Something like this:

 

[JackADriscoll]

If someone hands it to me for free I'm cleaning it matching getting rid of all the active rust. The half and half looks too weird for me

 

[Old Soldier]

View attachment 582609I forgot I posted this question! So to clear my first post up, I've seen original guns, with all original parts, so the gun is all original. But it hasn't been kept in a good location for who knows how long. So parts of the gun are say somewhat bright, but there are areas of brown rust and corrosion on other parts. So it doesn't look great, a very mottled appearance, but it is all original. Do you clean it all to match, it leave it? Something like this:

Disassemble it. Clean ALL of it - but leave the rust staining and don't polish the metal. Give the stock a good wash down and oil it! It will look clean - but old.

 

[bayonet]

Disassemble it. Clean ALL of it - but leave the rust staining and don't polish the metal. Give the stock a good wash down and oil it! It will look clean - but old.

"don't polish"? I thought you Brits love to polish everything where us Americans love to leave the patina on.

 

[Old Soldier]

"don't polish"? I thought you Brits love to polish everything where us Americans love to leave the patina on.

SOME Brits do. Polish is just for expensive private guns - mine tend to be rusty ex-service guns. They were never polished - just not rusty or dirty.

Before 1912, our Boys Brigade (12-18 year-old) used to practice arms drill using old Snider and Martini-Henry artillery and cavalry carbines which had gone out of service. All had been 'deactivated' (cut across the breech,the firing pin cut off and the hole welded up) and could not shoot. Since they were not firearms,many ended up taken home and ended up in the garden shed or the attic. We are just finding them now. They are pitted and rusty - most have the sights battered or missing and the working parts not working. 100 years in the shed, barn, loft or cupboard. You cannot polish them as they are pitted and rust stained. Sometimes you can even read the writing on them!