Abilene,
I think I agree with you.  It looks like there may be a coating on the receiver. Sounds like a good cleaning with a lacquer thinner like the Reverend suggested might be called for.  Or you could try a citrus solution like De-solv-it .  Don't use ammonia.

Tayhitman44,
Actually you can speed up the process, I had someone wanting their receiver to look like it was aged and they asked have some of my BP fouling I pushed out of my bores and they made a solution with some water and painted it on a little at a time.

It will look more like Johnson Barr's than mine.  Mine have the pattern from burned/burning black powder scattered from racking an action fast and smoking shells coming out.






Note, the carbine in the second picture has different patina on the side plates than the receiver body.  I actually took readings with a handheld LIBS unit and the side plates are a different alloy than the body.  The original Henry and Winchester receivers were not Brass, they were Bronze, which was called "gun metal" at the time.  Bronze can be very strong and was actually stronger than some of the faux steel (more iron than steel) the early pistols and rifles were made from, especially if they were castings.   The Uberti carbine is two different high strength Brass alloys with very little Tin in them which would make them Bronze.  I think the rifle in the picture above it also has different materials on the side plates looking at the patina difference but I didn't measure that rifle.

What caliber and barrel length did you get?  As you can probably tell I have a things for '66s.

~Mako

Hey Griff 
I full well understand your desire.  Me TWO.  However, Don't hold yer breath.  You won't look good in "Dead Blue."  Unfortunately, in all the years I had my Shingle out, I never saw an "Iron Frame" 1860 Carbine.  "If" Uberti makes it for you on special order, you'll be stuck running 45 Schofield cases with 200Gr length or shorter bullets to load 10.  Yule only be able to get Nine and a Half 45 Colt to load.  Bummer.

Coffinmaker, thinkin' positively, WHEN it happens, it's immediately going to Cody for his slickin' up, and installing a C45S carrier.  Since it's likely to happen around the time I win the LOTTO, I'll have lots of time to practice and I'll become the Holy Terror (winningest SASS shooter of all time) of Frontiersman! 

Nice black and white photo.

  Hey Griff 

I full well understand your desire.  Me TWO.  However, Don't hold yer breath.  You won't look good in "Dead Blue."  Unfortunately, in all the years I had my Shingle out, I never saw an "Iron Frame" 1860 Carbine.  "If" Uberti makes it for you on special order, you'll be stuck running 45 Schofield cases with 200Gr length or shorter bullets to load 10.  Yule only be able to get Nine and a Half 45 Colt to load.  Bummer.

The  regular USFA Single Action has a different serial number range from the USFA Pre-War. Any regular SA over 24xxx should be 100% USA but I don't think you can tell anything by the serial number on a Pre-War. The Pre-Wars used a 1st Gen Colt serial number and you could custom order any serial number you wanted, probably anything from 1 to 357000 or so. A Pre-War has to be judged by it features. It's been so long since I actually thought of buying a USFA that I can't really remember what you're supposed to look at. Just going by the fit and finish I would say there's a very good chance that Pre-War .38 WCF is 100% USA but I can't say for sure. If it's unfired and in the box $1800 would be a great deal for a 100% USA made Pre-War.