Should I

[NyYankee]

I purchased a Springfield 1863 from an estate. It is set up for NSSA completion shooting as it has a re-lined barrel, marked front site and epoxy bedded barrel channel in original stock. Unfortunately the previous individual has passed and the musket was left in his garage or basement so I had to unfortunately take 0000 steel wool to it all in order to remove all the surface rust and unfortunately all the patina as well. Here's my question, should Nitre Blue the lock plate and trigger guard and butt plate along with the barrel bands? Or is there another way to prevent the rust from returning? The barrel and breech still retain enough patina to leave as is. Are there rules in the NSSA for appearance finishes? Thanks in advance.

 

[Conquerordie]

While removing patina is a sin, it sounds like the musket has been altered to be a shooter. With all the modifications, it's lost its collectors value, so you might as well polish it armoury bright. I'm not saying the musket isn't worth money, I'm just saying it is no longer in its original condition, and therefore cleaning it would be acceptable.IMHO

 

[poorjack]

I purchased a Springfield 1863 from an estate. It is set up for NSSA completion shooting as it has a re-lined barrel, marked front site and epoxy bedded barrel channel in original stock. Unfortunately the previous individual has passed and the musket was left in his garage or basement so I had to unfortunately take 0000 steel wool to it all in order to remove all the surface rust and unfortunately all the patina as well. Here's my question, should Nitre Blue the lock plate and trigger guard and butt plate along with the barrel bands? Or is there another way to prevent the rust from returning? The barrel and breech still retain enough patina to leave as is. Are there rules in the NSSA for appearance finishes? Thanks in advance.

If you're planning on shooting it in N-SSA competition, why not go check the rules on the website? I read through Sec 19 regarding arms and I don't see anything regarding finishes. That said, I wouldn't do anything non-period to it.

As for patina, it will return naturally. IIRC, I read somewhere, that during the War, officers were cautioned against insisting on "bright" or polished barrels as they were found to be victims of over polishing and ruined the barrels. The officers were told that some rust was ok and it was better to have a gun that would shoot good rather that just look good.

So I wouldn't get worried about some patina building up. Just wipe it down with oil periodically. Remember that browning and bluing are also forms of rust.

 

[UCVRelics]

I have always been a leave it as found guy and I agree with @poorjack that it will return naturally.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

1863 Springfields had "Color Cased" lock plates and hammers, (the remnants of this case color finish is seen on most hard used surviving specimens as a silvery mottled finish) and the barrel bands on most were blued as well as rear sights. The rest of the metal was not colored, but left armory bright.
Since the original color is gone, you can't really hurt it by coloring it in some way that you think pleasing. But that might or might not avoid rusting in the future. That's best avoided by cleaning it after you use it (especially that black powder spatter from the cap, which in the old days was VERY corrosive - I don't know about modern caps), and then giving a light coat of some sort of preservative.

 

[S.Isaacson]

Given the gun isn't in original condition anyways, I would carefully clean it to remove all of the rust and prevent further damage.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Cleaning all metal to the bright was a common practice with collectors and even museums decades ago. But I think that unless any rust is that active red rust, it is only current storage conditions that might allow further rust.
Rust that might be hiding active rust under it needs to be dealt with, but I understood your gun to not have any thick or deep rust. If that's correct, then you don't HAVE to remove what remains, - it's your choice.
I'd be interested in seeing photos and learning what choice you make!
Merry Christmas!

 

[NyYankee]

I ended up taking 0000 steal wool and lite oil to all the parts to get the red "powdered" rust off. Especially the butt plate as it was the absolute worst being it was in a garage or basement for a period. The inside of the butt plate was a thicker rust. The wood however held up miraculously well! No mold. Like I said the barrel and breech didn't really change any patina at all!! The lock plate and trigger group are "in the bright". I might just put a lite coat of wax on them for now