Guys,

My father just picked up a Parker DH 12 damascus. It’s in decent shape been used a lot there is no finish left except in the protected areas. Basically white all over. Screws appear to never have been turned on the receiver or stock. He would like to get some “color” on the barrels without having them totally redone. Because the rest of it would look too worn. Are there any techniques you guys use to maybe enhance the pattern to give it more of a worn blue look to it? Dare I say it but could you clean the barrels well, prep them and use one coat of cold blue and try and rub them out with steel wool again to give it a faint blue color with some pattern underneath? This is just for the Damascus barrels nothing else…..got any ideas? Thanks he will appreciate the help!

Jim,
You can refinish them and then artificially "wear" them around the areas that are most often handled, like the breach and a little at the muzzles to account for gunslip wear. That'd be my suggestion.

Ask on a Winchester rifle forum. Making re-done Winchester's look old is a cottage industry.

J there is some info on the Parker Gun Collectors Association about cleaning up Damascus patterns, I remember one that talked about using a lite oil and chalk dust.
Bob

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_192fcpp4khn