A question for the panel.....

[gdog]

Just got my first flinter. It is a CVA Hawken style.  The gun is pretty- nice wood, lots of shiny brass, beautiful blued barrel with the previous owner's name engraved on it and adjustable sights. I want a more traditional looking gun. I need suggestions on how to de-blue the barrel so I  can brown it, how to do away with the engraved name on the top flat (thought about stippling) and what to replace the rear sight with. The brass hopefully will age into a patina. I can take care of the stock, want to get the shiny finish off and rub in an oil finish. What say ye?

[captchee]

By taking light grit sand paper to the barrel it will remove the bluing. Use a sanding block so as not to  round the edges of the flats  .
 Depending on how deep the engraving this can be removed with light file work . If its stamped or  deep though , you would be better off leaving it .

 The rear sight can be changed with little problem . CVA used a couple methods of attaching the  rear sights though . One used a dove tail  that the sight screwed into . The other the sight just screwed into the barrel . If you have the later then your going to have to cut a dove tail 
 
 As to the brass . 
 There are a lot of ways to  tone down the brass .
 Wipe it down with mustard  and letting it dray  over night . Wiping down the bras with a dirty cleaning patch , both work well 

[forest2]

there was a topic about "stripping" bluing just a little while ago. And several topics on this forum about bluing/browning,,just scroll back, and back,,and back further and read the archives. A ton of really good info.
 Brass is easy, like Captchee said, shoot BP through the gun and take the first dirty filthy cleaning patch and wipe it wet on the brass,,wait 24 hrs. If ya don't like that,, shine it again with 0000 steel wool, (never liked shiney brass myself).
 Ya might have a little trouble with the engraved name,,but just do one thing at a time, OK?

[bub524]

Vinigar will remove blueing as will Birchwood Casey blue remover.

[Swampman]

Naval Jelly (you get it at Lowes or Home Depot) works like a champ.  You can even strip the bluing from a lock without disassembling it.  With Laurel Mountain Forge Browning you can probably just brown over the blue.  Just degrease the metal good.