Henry Rifle Forums

I have a Big Boy Brass 45LC. When I purchased it I had high hopes for the brass to eventually tarnish into a nice Patina. Recently I have read that Henry actually puts a clear coat on their brass actions. Is this true?

After hearing this I wondered if it was indeed real brass or more of a brass alloy. Last night I took a magnet to the brass receiver and it sticks. In a way this is good as it proves to be a stranger receiver but now I'm a bit disheartened that the brass will not tarnish and then what happens if the "clear coat" begin to sluff off?

Interesting Qs and comments.
The Bronze Big Boy .357 Magnum I had developed a really nice-looking patina. It was made in March 2013.
I'll be interested in what you find out.

I'm pretty sure the receiver is made out of a brass alloy and I don't think it has a clear coat. Your magnet may be attracted to steel components inside the receiver? This sounds like a great question for DanatHenry to answer...

They say hardened brass but is there an alloy there too? I thought this meant solid brass, I may well be wrong.

https://www.henryrifles.com/rifles/big-boy/

Well, "pure" brass is itself an alloy. I'm sure Henry optimizes the brass alloy to meet their needs. The relative percentages of zinc and copper can be varied to give desired properties. Of course, there are usually tradeoffs. Other things are often added to the alloy in small amounts to further modify the properties, depending on intended use.

Very interesting.

tractortad wrote:I'm pretty sure the receiver is made out of a brass alloy and I don't think it has a clear coat. Your magnet may be attracted to steel components inside the receiver? This sounds like a great question for DanatHenry to answer...

That is what I was going to say.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass

No matter an alloy or not it has ferrous metal properties that will cause my magnet to stick. I tested several areas to ensure I wasn't picking up ferrous internals.

I don't care all that much as long as the receiver will eventually tarnish a bit.

Funny how some want shiny things while others want them dull.

I have a BB 45 Colt. It's definitely a brass of some sort cuz I have to use brass polish that Henry recommends to keep it shiny.

I've heard most folks trying to find a way to keep it shiny! I think the issue is before there is a patina it is just smudgy and dirty looking...

Interesting. I just wipe mine off with a cloth, and have not polished it yet. Not sure I will. My rifle gets used; in and out of scabbard, packed around, etc. So eventually it will take on some character. I have lots of brass hardware on saddles and bridles and it does age. But it looks cool as it ages. Hopefully my rifle will do the same.

If you watch the video on the HRA website about the Henry Original rifle (the Iraq Vet guy), you'll see a Henry that has aged for about a year he says with brass patina finish. Looks good to me.

RanchRoper wrote:If you watch the video on the HRA website about the Henry Original rifle (the Iraq Vet guy), you'll see a Henry that has aged for about a year he says with brass patina finish. Looks good to me.

You know I got mine out yesterday and I'm beginning to notice it slowly beginning to tarnish. I'm happy

I have one. Its brass. it will tarnish. Wish it didn't so I could quit cleaning it. My grandson's 22 cal Henry had just the brass inner magazine tube. At eight years I found it would eventually look like the statue of Liberty, I want shinny brass so occasional brass polish is the word for me. It's my understanding the Golden boy is a alloy that resist tarnish.

It's "pure" brass (alloy of tin and copper), and your magnet is not sticking to the brass, but to the internals. There is NO clear coat, and it will eventually tarnish/acquire a patina, if you let it do so. Keeping mine in a "Gunsock" has prevented the tarnish from happening for about two years, so far.