When the Custer guns were first done, they were actually rusted using a browning solution. They were left to rust overnight then cleaned up the next day. The pitting was real. The rusting was stopped by dipping the guns in a solution of baking soda and water. Occasionally, though it appeared the rusting process had been stopped, it didn't really stop. The guns were packed up and either put in the vault for a later sale or shipped immediately to the dealer. When the box would be opened, the guns would be totally rusted. The "Gunslinger" was finished the same way. Eventually, the guns would be glass beaded, blued and then scrubbed with oil and steel wool. These later guns didn't have the slightly pitted (we called them freckles) antique look. The oil/steel wool process was also used on the JW Red River guns.