Starting my American Fowler

[rmatt]

Nice piece of wood. Did you have to wait long for it or was it in stock?

[Lucky Buckeye]

I waited about a week and a half. They had to cut it which I think is good. Didn't have time to warp due to weather changes. Someone told me that they make the stocks for TOW as well. I was pleased with it. Will need little sanding.

[Lucky Buckeye]

  My last decision is the blue, black or brown thing. read the other day that one method was using saltpeter (I assume that is potasium-nitrate).
No telling what all they tried on gun metals back then. More than likely the closer to the coast the more standardized the finishes were.

Orrrrrr you could polish the steel up and leave it in the white.  I really liked the way my rifle/ barrel looked in the stock before I browned it . actually I just ordered a 24 ga smoothbore barrel tonight for my next project and plan on leaving it in the white,Sure it requires a little extra care but I dont neglect my rifles and if I grow tired of it I can always brown it later .

......excellent point Tim. I suppose that would require getting all the steel looking the same surface-wise. My side plate, lock and TG have the cast look. Wood you media blast the barrel and spools to match the TG or semi-mirror finish everything for the White look?

[Tim Ault]

I would polish up the barrel and lock  and leave in the white not like a mirror thought  and brown the TG and other trim pieces. IMO it will provide a nice contrast with the darker wood  . I'm no historian but I do believe alot of locks and barrels were left in the white on  some original guns .

[Lucky Buckeye]

I can't seem to get a break. Wrecked my car the other day so now I am ordering parts and doing body work. Haven't been able to touch any of the fun stuff.