Polishing Brass.....

[Adam Helmer]

I am a Civil War reenactor and use lots of Brasso to polish buckles, cartridge box emblems, my M1853 Enfield bayonet and my M1853 trigger guard and butt plate. I then went over to my several Hawkins and polished every bit of brass on them. It is the off season and the guns on the horizonal rack look more like art work than hunting guns. My wife thinks the guns look beautiful, so need I say more? Before I go hunting with the Hawkins, I shoot a few rounds at the bench and wipe my BP sooty hands over the shiny brass and the gun is dulled up before I reach the house. I also have hand-rubbed in several coats of boiled linseed oil on the stocks of the Hawkens and they do look nice in the rack. Does anyone else polish their ML brass including powder measures, powder flasks and bullet starters? I have seen some powder measures and flasks so corroded that I feared to handle them. Well, mine are more user friendly.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Hi Adam;
Since I am more of a hunter, and I don't reenact, I have NEVER polished the brass on any of my muzzleloading weapons....I want it dull; I don't want to risk that 'shine' spooking any game I might see. I have a hard enough time polishing my shoes!
As far as powder measures, flasks, ect,....I have never polished them, either, but I have never let them get to the point of being corroded, either!
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; good luck on the PA flintlock season....hope you bag a big one!

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

Merry Christmas to you as well

In hunting season, I do apply black masking tape to my brass to kill the shine. As for deer, well I have only seen one small buck in October and 2 small does in the rifle season. My hunt after Christmas will be more of a walk about in proper attire. Be well.

Adam

[Dale]

I think I am going to take my guns over to Adams and let him work them over for me.
I am like 16 Gauge. I don't polish them, but I do wipe them down and keep them clean.

[Skyline]

Where do you live Adam......mine need some attention.

All kidding aside......for hunting a dull finish is good, but I also do not believe in letting the brass get too tarnished. The military will do that to you, but long term it will keep your rifle top notch. Just don't over do it. I have seen guys polish a lot of metal away. Shine and protect........not destroy.

Typically I let it tarnish for the season and tiddly things up before I put it in the rack for the winter.

[hobbles]

Mornin all,
I keep my brass and stock shiny, I keep my weapon lookin better then when T/C sent it to me, The last deer I got was a GOOD 20 feet away when I got it from a ground blind, Deer don't care , or least not here in Kentuck,,