NYS Rolling Blocks ?s on "Tinned" finish New PHOTOS ADDED

[wsmrto]

I have been a member maybe a just a few years or so, I finally made up my mind to turn my focus on Rolling blocks and original (Affordable) single shot rifles and carbines. I have always been partial to Short rifles and Carbines. I have on several occasions asked for help on ID's with several of my RBs. Not a peep of a reply from this forum. Mostly I end up back where I started, now over 20 years ago which is Parallax Bill's C&R. Anyway I want to learn all that I can In the remaining years God will allow me to enjoy my collecting. I have just recently acquired several nice Rolling Blocks to add to my growing racks. For one I found a nice NYS 50/70 which originally was "Tinned". When I got it I got a very good 1/2 discount as 1st reason the sellers didn't know what it was and I showed them the fact the entire metal surface was a light brown patina. I called it RUST. Well I had already moved one of the bands and saw that the metal underneath was bright and shiny. I took it home and pulled the wood and found the most beautiful shiny tinned finish under all the wood and bands. All I have done now so far is soak the barreled action in Kroil/water soaked rags and then use BRONZE wool to wipe away the brown leaving the tin surface bright and shiny again. Now I know some must be about to scream about ruining it, however the tinned finish is still there, I am just cleaning the surface rust off. Let me know of the proper steps to restore the dark finish on some of the small pieces: The Breech-block, The hammer,Rear sight ladder, and base and any other of the small parts which seem to be either blued or blackened. This also has some very clear numbers on both the tangs and the barrel and I am curious about the numbers on the inside of the wood on the buttstock at the receiver end. Also, Are the #s on the tang actual serial numbers or just production #s like the other RBs I have?
The second NYSRB is exceptionally very nice, but appears to have been reblued completely. I suspect that the Armory it was assigned to or the individual who it was assigned too disassembled it completely and reblued it. It does NOT appear to be cold blue. This rifle was issued to the I Co or Troop, 66th RGT NYS Militia, and I have fired this rifle several times and it is a great shooter. I have not disassembled this rifle to check under the wood and am not going to take it to my shop now with it's sister in tiny parts in my cleaning tubs. I would like to find out as much as possible about these and more of the RB's I have. I do have Layman's Guide to Military RB's OTW and becoming very familiar with it. Thanks. I will attempt to get some Pics up on these ASAP, even in their disassembled state. THANKS

[ehull]

Layman' book is very useful as a basis to understanding the NYS Model, so once you've digested it you will be able to answer many of your questions.

[wsmrto]

So far, all I have done is soak the barreled action in Kroil / water /Ballistol soaked rags and then use BRONZE wool to wipe away the brown leaving the tin surface bright and shiny again. Now I know some must be about to scream about ruining it, however the tinned finish is still there, I am just cleaning the surface rust off. Let me know of the proper steps to restore the dark finish on some of the small pieces: The Breech-block, The hammer,Rear sight ladder, and base and any other of the small parts which seem to be either blued or blackened. This also has some very clear numbers on both the tangs and the barrel and I am curious about the number on the inside of the wood on the buttstock at the receiver end. Also, Are the #s on the tang actual serial numbers or just production #s like the other RBs I have? Plus, on the second NYSRB that appears to have been reblued, should I attempt to remove the reblue chemically, then clean the remaining tinned finish? Or just leave it in the Blue?

[ehull]

On the first rifle: your description of the "tinned finish" raises some questions. A real tinned finish would not have turned brown or have a dusting of rust, because the purpose of the tin was to repel rust. Also, tin is not "bright and shiny," but rather a matte finish. If there is obvious plating, and you can see where some has flaked off, then a shiny finish is likely nickel -- and not original. The rifle in its original condition was delivered to NYS in a bright, shiny "in-the-white" military finish.
NYS rifles have military cartouches (inspectors' initials) on both sides of the wrist of the buttstock; does yours have this? If not, then it was made for sale commercially for military-style target shooting.
The numbers on the side of the tangs were factory inventory numbers, not serial numbers.
I recommend that you do not try to re-color the breech parts, as that would likely lower the value unless professionally done with original materials.

On the second rifle, does it have inspection cartouches? If not, it could have been originally delivered with a blued finish for commercial sale. If it has cartouches, then it may be a rifle that Bannerman bought from the state and refinished for resale in the early 1900s. In either case, since it does not have a recent cold blue refinish, I recommend leaving it alone because at some time well in the past it was intended to be that way.

It would be useful to post some photos of both rifles here.

[wsmrto]

Ehull: Thanks so much for your help. As I have the one rifle disassembled to a barreled action I will post some pics of the BA and the parts. I have been a collector for many years of Milsurp and C&Rs. I try not to disturb original finish and if it needs cleaning I try to use abrasives as little as possible. I will get picts on later as it is way past time to get some sleep. Thanks again

[wsmrto]

IMG_3710.JPG (189.3 KiB) Viewed 4781 times

Attaching files for RB #1.

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IMG_3705.JPG (172.65 KiB) Viewed 4781 times

IMG_3710.JPG (189.3 KiB) Viewed 4781 times

[wsmrto]

These are some more since the max is 3 per post.

[ehull]

Good photos. The frame does look buffed/smoothed as if either worn or inexpertly prepared for plating. The finish is now matte, not shiny as if polished. However, I cannot tell from the photos whether there is "plating" -- no obvious flaking is shown. Maybe others on this forum can comment from their own experience.

[Dick Hosmer]

Looks to me like the well-weathered remains of an original "in the white" (in Springfield terms, "National Armory Bright") finish.

In other words, I see nothing remarkable. That said, pictures are only pictures, and there can be nuances which are only visible by actually handling something, rolling it around at different angles, etc.

[wsmrto]

Thanks for all the info on these RB's as I was confused about the references in the RRBMR to the NYS rifles being made with a "Tinned" finish. Thanks guys for letting me get educated on the actual 'In the White" finish used on most of these. On this NYS RB the areas under the the rear sight and barrel bands were in the original "In the white" finish so I had some ideas of what the remainder should be like. That's when I soaked the barrel in rags of Ballistol and water to soften the surface oxidation"rust" and most just wiped off and then a rub down with simichrome polish to bring back most of the original finish. I am just about ready to reassemble this one and will add some pics when it's done.