Browning

(for Gun-barrels). Prep. The following are current formulæ:— 1. Blue vitriol, 4 oz.; tincture of chloride of iron, 2 oz.; water, 1 quart; di olve, and add aquafortis and sweet spirit of nitre, of each 1 oz. 2. Blue vitriol and sweet spirit of nitre, of each 1 oz.; aquafortis, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; water, 1 pint; as last. 3. Butter of antimony and sweet oil, equal parts; well shaken together. To be applied to the iron previously warmed. Obs. The above fluids are rubbed on the barrel (previously well polished and cleaned off with whiting to remove the oil), and allowed to remain on for some hours, or until the next day, when they are rubbed off with a stiff brush. The proce may be repeated, if nece ary. The barrel is next washed in water in which a little pearlash or soda has been di olved, and afterwards well rinsed in clean water; it is then polished, either with the burnisher, or with a brush and beeswax. Sometimes a coat of tough shell-lac varnish is applied.