A New Model Old Model Blackhawk

[Sharps40]

About 13 days after the baking soda scrub to neutralize much of the rusting agent and its first warm soak in motor oil.....followed by 3 scrubbings with a mix of Hoppes 9 and Rig (50/50 mix) I am ready to finish the plumb brown finish.

Its a coarser finish. And the Laurel Mountain is trapped, at least a little bit always is, down in the finish. Light after rust often continues. It'll stop soon enough and is nothing to worry about as long as you keep after it till its done. I think its about done now. No additional after rust since the last greasing about 3 days back.

A dry terry is enough to wipe most of the excess oil and grease off the surface. A 50/50 mix of good old bees wax and vasoline is the final sealer. Here I have liberally coated the browned metal and will be warming the frame and barrel gently to melt this top coat. An additional rub down will be with a patch or two liberally impregnated with this, my favorite muzzleloader lube (good to 1800 fps or so, patch or bullet), bullet lube for pistol and slow rifle (1300 fps and the right temper/diameter and NO LEADING) and browned metal sealer.....After it cools, it'll be carefully buffed with a clean terry and then reassembled. And, that should be it, except for the dings and scratches of use, for a long while.

 

[Sharps40]

Gently warmed all over to ouch temperature and the multi purpose semi-natural lube sealer melts. More is applied with a patch and scrubbed in all over.

Leave it on thick and glossy and let it cool.

Once cooled, rub it out and reassemble.

From here out the exterior finish on this one gets no more complex attention than given the finish of any muzzleloader. A light wipe down with a water based solvent as needed and a touch of any good muzzleloading bore lube/preservative. In my case, Bore Butter since its not necessary to warm the metal for regular maintenance. Any more rust that crops up goes unnoticed since its brown, naturally, the guts will be cleaned and lightly oiled as with any good firearm. But this finish couldn't be easier to apply, maintain and will look even better with age and use.

 

[7pt62THOR]

Pretty dog gone cool!

 

[Sharps40]

Its like its 100 yers old and ain't even hardly got any rounds threw it!

 

[Sharps40]

A little light shooting today with 38 Special and 9mm.

The 9mm are wonderfully accurate and even milder to shoot than the 38s. Glad to have fitted the conversion cylinder from an Old Model to this Old Model Tribute Frame. Cheeper and much more available than 22 LR and scads of free brass for the pickings on the ranges. I think this cylinder will get a real work out for practice.

I need to fire some 357 mags. I may need a taller front sight or to lower the rear a tad with a stone but we shall see. Its likely I'll buy a new front sight a bit taller since my old eyes are working best these days with the red flurescent beads.

Overall, I like the grips now that I've shot them. The feel is much different than the traditional thin topped grips. But, I'll withhold final judgement until I give it a workout with some good 200g lead bullet loads in the magnum cases.