French Polish
Roger; I use french polish on guns that have some finish remaining; I scrape the bare spots and clean the rest, then apply new french polish. I have done some stocks that had no finish with french polish; it is good in every aspect except that it does wear thin in a season of skeet, trap or 5 stand. It is quickly repairable at the end of the season. Probably 95% of all Parkers and 99% of high grade guns were finished with french polish, although oil, varnish and no finish were options. French polish was especially suited to Parker production because it can be applied in a dusty environment, can be brought to final finish in one day, and can be easily applied around the intricate carving and checking patterns of guns B grade and higher.
I have some fine furniture my great grandfather made 1865 - 1895 that is varnished and finished with oil and pumice. I had to refinish some of the table surfaces and learned to match his finishes. I apply three coats of Man O War; the first is leveled with 220 grit, the second with 320, and the third with 400 grit. A thin fourth coat is applied and leveled with 600 grit, then the final finish is achieved with fine pumice followed by rottenstone. This requires an hour a day for a week, but the result is worth it. The final finish is as tough as nickel plate, and the appearance is unmistakable.
Best, Austin
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