small change to my cva 54cal hawkens
 

blacken or tried to blacken the brass

To each their own I guess. I am just the opposite. If my rifle has brass, I shine that stuff up like a mirror. Although I did see a Hawkins once and either the barrel was stainless (which I suspect) or in the White... and he had blackened all the metal parts. The contrast to that barrel looked kind of cool.

Blackened brass
 

Corey Birchwood Casey's Brass Black works but you have to follow the directions to a T and also have to apply several applications.
I have two Hawkens that I blackened the brass. One is a lighter colored stock and it really looks good. The other is a dark stock and it doesn't look too bad. My other Hawken is polished brass.