Ok, who polishes their brass accessories. C'mon, admit it.

[Stuart C.]

You all know what I'm talking about.

The brass powder measure, the brass powder flasks, the brass nipple picks, so black, so filthy they look like you just excavated them from the remains of an 17th century camp site.
 
Sure.  There's a certain pride that comes with using black brasswork, so black and corroded it screams 'I aint no newbie.  I gave up polishing the brass years ago'.

Not me.  I'll continue the fight against oxidation.  A clean arsenal is an accurate arsenal.

If you're like me (and don't all jump in at once), WHAT do you use that polished brass better than this Brasso junk I've been using???

Thanks.

[Swampman]

I rub mine down with the first dirty patch out of the bore.

[DennyRoark]

Dirty, dull brass don't flash in the light.  I wipe most of the green off with a clean dry cleaning patch.  Had my flask, measure and capper for over 30 years and they are still accurate.

[necchi]

+1 sawmpman and Denny, I don't like mine shiney,,matter of fact there has been more than one I took the brass off and installed browned iron. I don't like rust, but I don't like "Hey! Over here!! Look at me!!" glint,glint..

[bubba.50]

brass? what's brass ?

[S.S.]

I like the dark patina on brass, not shiny.
Except on my Zouave. I keep it nice and shiny
and PURDY lookin'

[Forestclimber]

I don't think tarnished brass affects anything.  Rusty steel is another story.

[Ron T.]

I'm letting my brass "furniture" go partly because I kinda want that "old muzzleloader look" of dull brass with lotsa patina and partly because I'm lazy and got enough of that "brass polishing" in the Army.

I think the patina on the brass adds a bit of "character" to the brass which, in turn, adds a bit of character to the whole rifle... and like it has been pointed out by others here in the forum, the dull, dirty-looking brass doesn't shout your position (glint... glint) to the deer you're attempting to put in the freezer.

After all, deer aren't stupid... and if you think about it, there is very little in natural srroundings that is shiny and flash or glint in the sun.  And so, a bit of a "flash" of the sunlight glinting off some shiny brass muzzle caps or patch-boxes is a dead give-a-way to the game that something "unnatural" is in the woods... and that's even BEFORE they SMELL you.        

Jus' my 2˘...    


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.  

[fistmil]

My first muzzle loading rifle was a Thompson Center Hawken flintlock. It was back in the late 70's . I loved that gun and yes, kept the brass polished . It looked like gold. Well the first time I took it hunting and my uncle pointed out that the gun would light up like a beacon when the sun hit, I quit polishing it.

[mogwai]

I applied cold blue to most of my brass.  Turns it a nice dull black. 

You might need to remove a layer of varnish beforehand.

[badpenny]

I promised myself when i got out of the army i would never polish brass again.

[Rangr44]

No way, Jose' .   

.

[Mike in Virginia]

A dirty patch from your barrel will dull it up nicely. 

[DennyRoark]

I'm in the process of restoring a first run T/C Hawken stock (high sharp comb and single screw nose cap) and I think I'll polish the brass on that one once!

WHAT do you use that polished brass better than this Brasso junk I've been using???

Being a military brat and my 3 years active duty, I find nothing wrong with Brasso!  Going to try some Flitz this time if I can find it, tho.

[Semisane]

I'm in the process of restoring a first run T/C Hawken stock

Funny you should mention that Denny.  Last week I picked up a "beater" .54 TC Hawken that had about the worst looking stock I've ever seen.  It looked like it rode around in the bed of a pick-up for more than a few miles.  I'm in the process of refinishing it.  Man, that TC factory finish was a bear to get off.  But once I got it stripped and steamed out the dents the stock looks darn good.  I've also got the brass polished to a high shine.

[DennyRoark]

I haven't started the brass yet, but this one was beat bad, too.  Several dents I couldnt get out.  I wet sanded and steel wooled it (with Tung oil ) several times, filling in the grain, and have been rubbing out coat after coat and this thing amazes me.  It's like a three foot long piece of tiger-eye!  This is the third one I've done in the last 2 years and all I can say is those factory finishes sure don't do any justice to the wood T/C was using back then!  And yeah, I think the older ones the finish is a lot harder to get off, too!  I plan on posting a couple of pics of the last 2 when I get this one done.  'nuff said, I won't steal the thread...

[nw_hunter]

I promised myself when i got out of the army i would never polish brass again.

Ain't that the Dam truth!

[thejanitor]

I feel like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but I just took my Seneca all apart, used 0000 steel wool for varnish removal then put the pieces into the tumbler one at a time so they didn't vibrate together, and they came out very good... IF you like shiny new brass, which I noticed I am almost alone in my opinion. But since the stock came out like new I figured the brass should too.
-thejanitor

[Rock Home Isle]

You all know what I'm talking about.

The brass powder measure, the brass powder flasks, the brass nipple picks, so black, so filthy they look like you just excavated them from the remains of an 17th century camp site.
 
Sure.  There's a certain pride that comes with using black brasswork, so black and corroded it screams 'I aint no newbie.  I gave up polishing the brass years ago'.

Not me.  I'll continue the fight against oxidation.  A clean arsenal is an accurate arsenal.....

 

Guilty...