doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Mid to late 1700s and early 1800s gun stock finish

Have a friend who is attempting a museum quality restoration on some early guns. Anyone know if there is some place he can look for what was used for gun stock finish in the mid to late 1700s and early 1800s. Being authentic is important in this instance. He is asuming that only linseed oil, tung oil and shellac were available during that time period but is seeking some documentation.

Thanks in advance.

tim

I would suggest that he talk to some violin makers. Violin making, of all crafts, is probably the most tied to tradition. If anyone would know what finishes were being used in that time period, it would be them.

Best,
David

Not sure that this is old enough but I have a book called The Gunsmith's Manual by Stelle & Harrison which was originally printed in 1883 and reprinted in 1945. It deals with every aspect of the gunsmiths trade. It may not have what you need but it makes for a very interesting read. Possibly you could find a copy on the internet.

Wallace Gusler ( former head of the gumaking shop in Williamsburg, Va.) told me that all the guns for restoration were mostly bees wax soaked into the wood via keeping the wood close to heat. ( In the W'burg shop this meant ribbibg the stock down well with bees wax and rotating close to the forge until the wax was melted. This stock was kept rotating close enough to the fire so the wax remained somewhat liquid and was soaked into the stock. After allowing to cool, it was well rubbed down with burlap or wood shaving to remove surface wax & sat in window for a few weeks to allow drying/ageing. Periodically, the stock was given a good hard hand polishing by hand. "Palm to wood." Takes a long time but is original. FWIW, Ken