Toning down a polished receiver

[Phil Yearout]

My ol' Trojan 16's receiver had been polished some time before it came to live with me (it's the one in my avatar but kinda hard to see there). It's not awful but I wouldn't mind if it was grayed out a little. I'd be looking for a quick and easy that doesn't require dis-assembly, if such things exist. I've heard of lemon juice, rubbing with a potato or an onion...thus far I haven't tried anything. Thanks for any ideas...

[Ronald Moore]

Try buffing with oooo steel wool that shuld tone it down some if not go to 000 or oo steel wool.

Ron

[Dean Romig]

It's not that difficult to remove the stock. You don't have to take the entire frame apart but just to be safe and not get anything on the wood that would compromise the finish.

[Brian Dudley]

A couple quick coats of cold blue will dull it down a little.

[edgarspencer]

As Brian said, a quick coat with Oxpho Blue on a cotton ball will give it a pleasing gray finish with a hint of bluish tones. Be prepared to kill it quickly, by wiping it dry with a tissue, and quick coat of WD40.

[Virginia Hessler]

Navel jelly will also tone it down, but you don't want it to sit on there to long. You just wipe it off before it starts etching.
Good luck, Tom

[James J. Roberts]

Phil,Get with a gunsmith or a professional restoration person for advice before you do anything. J.J.

[Preston Chaney]

Hi,
I have a related problem. the engraving on my Dh is sharp but bright down to the bottom of the cuts and doesn't stand out very well. Can anyone recommend a treatment to darken the bottom of the grooves? I tried ortho blue on the trigger guard and then rubber with 1600 grit paper on a block to clean the top and this worked pretty well. An engraver suggested spraying with rustoleum flat black and then polishing off the top surface. Has anyone tried this? Are there any well accepted ways to acheive this result?

Regards
Preston Chaney

[Brian Dudley]

You should not be touching the surface of the metal with any abrasive paper as that will remove material.

[James J. Roberts]

Preston can you take a close up picture?,maybe the engraving needs to be re-cut. J.J.

[Justin Julian]

"An engraver suggested spraying with rustoleum flat black and then polishing off the top surface."


OMG!!...Whatever you do, please do not spray any part of a Parker with Rustoleum paint.

[Ronald Moore]

India imk in engraving will work but will need to be reapplied from time to time, seal gun with laquer .

[edgarspencer]

A friend of mine who owned a very well known shop has often used paste shoe polish. Rub it on, over the entire receiver, then wipe it off with a soft cloth. The engraving will have residual polish in the depth of the cuts.

[Jerry Harlow]

A friend of mine who owned a very well known shop has often used paste shoe polish. Rub it on, over the entire receiver, then wipe it off with a soft cloth. The engraving will have residual polish in the depth of the cuts.

I would hate to use that gun in a 95 degree dove field. When you left you would be the laughing stock of the hunt with black stuff wiped all over your face from your blackened hands.

[edgarspencer]

Firstly, the amount of polish left is minimal.
Secondly, it dries hard and is below the surface
Lastly, If you sweat that much, perhaps you should stay home.

[Preston Chaney]

Here are the images. I have also attached an image of my recheckering of the stock. The triggerguard is now ok for me after the treatment. After reflectionI think the rest of the engraving is ok except for the dog on the left side.

Regards
Preston C

[Jerry Harlow]

Firstly, the amount of polish left is minimal.
Secondly, it dries hard and is below the surface
Lastly, If you sweat that much, perhaps you should stay home.

Just kidding Edgar. But our opening day of dove season is usually 90 to 100 degrees. Most of the opening afternoon one is soaking wet under a blazinng sun.

[Brian Dudley]

The engraving on your DH looks to be typical as far as condition goes.

Is that the sleeved 3 frame that has been on gunbroker for a a while?

[edgarspencer]

Just kidding Edgar. But our opening day of dove season is usually 90 to 100 degrees. Most of the opening afternoon one is soaking wet under a blazinng sun.

So was I;)

[Preston Chaney]

Yes, but I got it for less than the asking price.
Regards
Preston C

[Brian Dudley]

Looked like an interesting gun. Glad the seller was willing to work with you on it.

[Preston Chaney]

Hi,
Thanks to all who responded to my requests as I restored this DH. This was my first Parker.
The shoe polish trick produced exactly the result that I desired.
Regards
Preston Chaney