Tumbling shotgun head-stamps

[5 mile]

Was wondering if anyone ever tried it, and the results.

[NCtoad]

I just use one of those stainless steel pot and pan scubbies to clean the corrosion and dirt off so that I can make out the writing. I just scrub in a circular motion under running water. They end up looking like this:

[5 mile]

Originally Posted by NCtoad View post
I just use one of those stainless steel pot and pan scubbies to clean the corrosion and dirt off so that I can make out the writing. I just scrub in a circular motion under running water. They end up looking like this:

Nice looking head stamps, but I have over 100 of them..looking for an easier way.

[NCtoad]

Originally Posted by 5 mile View post
Nice looking head stamps, but I have over 100 of them..looking for an easier way.

Yeah, I guess if you have that many tumbling would be a lot easier. Never tried it though.

[T-Man]

I tumble mine in a little dawn and aquarium gravel. Works great.

[5 mile]

Thanks T-Man, I will have to try.

[Mick56]

I tumble mine with pennies as I find them, they come out pretty nice.

[Digger-Dave]

Originally Posted by Mick56 View post
I tumble mine with pennies as I find them, they come out pretty nice.

Should we dig out any residual paper that still maybe inside the brass?

I may clean up some of my older head stamps.

I wonder who has the oldest?

Those all brass (reloadable) shells still elude my finds.

[T-Man]

I never worry about the paper. If they are pretty thin they can sometimes break apart in the tumbler but it's a headstamp, not a silver coin so no big deal. I've also tried adding a spash of CLR to the tumbler and they clean up really nice that way. I'm the the process of building an office in my basement and was thinking of imbedding them in the desktop (nothing fancy, just some pine boards, drilled and put in flush and maybe put some sort of clear coat over it) Thought it may add a neat touch to it and I probably have a few hundred of them.

[Junkminer]

Originally Posted by T-Man View post
I never worry about the paper. If they are pretty thin they can sometimes break apart in the tumbler but it's a headstamp, not a silver coin so no big deal. I've also tried adding a spash of CLR to the tumbler and they clean up really nice that way. I'm the the process of building an office in my basement and was thinking of imbedding them in the desktop (nothing fancy, just some pine boards, drilled and put in flush and maybe put some sort of clear coat over it) Thought it may add a neat touch to it and I probably have a few hundred of them.

I was in a diner in Hill City, SD and the tables had head stamps, old coins, tokens, badges, and other old western related items imbedded in them with a thick clearcoat over the top. Looked amazing!!

[Laxsaltman]

Originally Posted by T-Man View post
I tumble mine in a little dawn and aquarium gravel. Works great.

X2.

[MattLock]

Mine just fall apart when I touch them