I'm not quite sure if it's real brass I bought these for blacksmiths to apply brass coatings to hot metal. Other such brushes I've used are very stiff and give a nice shiny copper finish - they have fairly soft bristles and the finish they put on steel is more like dark worn copper. ? I think it's probably steel bristles lightly plated with brass, which explains the dark mix of brass and black they make. Not impressed. Ordered because I have liked Forney products in the past but they are not being used for the purpose I bought them for.