Plum Brown finish

[ovenpaa]

I am building a rifle for myself and am getting to the stage where I need to decide on a finish for the metalwork, I was thinking about applying a Plum Brown finish however it is not something I have worked with. Does anyone have experience of applying such a finish and any suggestions or observations?

[Meaty]

Never done it myself but am trying to pluck up the courage to clean and re-brown a Damascus barrel on an old fowling piece that I have.
There is a good reference book by R.H. Angiers available on Amazon although the text is a little dated. Have a word with E.J. Blackley & Sons or Peter Dyson for some advise.

[ovenpaa]

Many thanks for the book tip, I have ordered a copy and at just over a tenner it has to be worth a look.

I am quite happy with hot and cold bluing and we are about to start up our own parkerising in house however plum brown is an unknown to me, mostly because I have never been asked so probably best to experiment on a rifle of my own first. I had looked at Peter Dyson's site and I see they list a different brown for Damascus barrels.

[FredB]

This is a damascus barrel, browned using Ed Blackley's products. When I bought the rifle, it was posished bright but there were traces of a pattern under the stock. I decided to brown it and the result was amazing. The camara has made it look more rust coloured than it is---it is actually a deep brown colour.
Fred

[ovenpaa]

Fred, was it the Gunguard Slow Brown Solution you used?

[FredB]

I think so:- its a few years ago--- application is similar to the slow blue, finishing up with boiling water to stabilise the finish.
Fred

[ovenpaa]

..and the finish is durable? It certainly looks OK in the picture.

[FredB]

It has been durable--the rifle is fully stocked and there is no area of the barrel subjected to rubbing type wear, the main object was to bring out the very complex pattern in the damascus and it certainley does that.
Fred

[Sim G]

I used some Birchwood Plum brown on some Marlin parts, butt plate, trigger plate, nose cap, lever and trigger plate a few years ago. Took my time, followed the instructions and didn't get too disheartened when after the first few applications it did seem to be working. It worked well I thought.

[Sim G]

Thread which shows it is;

http://full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... 893#p34749