Restoration projects

[LA_Huntsman]

I'm sure everyone has an old gun or two around that they're putting back together. Let's see them.

 

[Vermiform]

I've got my great Grandpa's percussion shotgun I intend to clean up and hang over the fireplace (subject to spousal approval). I don't think I would restore it and shoot it though...

 

[LA_Huntsman]

is it in that bad a shape? I've got a pair of single barrels made very late 1800 to early 1900. One is older and the other is in questionable shape. I say no go on either. I still take them out of the safe once a year and it gets a good cleaning and oiling like the rest of them.

 

[CajunTim]

I'm trying to help my wife's uncles get some of his Katrina damaged firearms back operational. The current project is an A-Bolt .270 that we need a trigger group and bolt with all the internals to get him back into the woods.

 

[LACamper]

I've got a French Lebel that needs a cylinder advance and lock. I've also inherited my father-in-law's .38 s&w Iver Johnson snub that was flooded. I'll eventually re-blue it and put it in a shadow box frame. I don't think it was all that safe to shoot on the day it was made. He had carried it working part time as a rent-a-cop years ago.
I also have a Remington 870 I had picked up in a pawn shop. I found a 18 1/2 barrel w/ night sights for next to nothing. I need to redo the furniture though. I don't know if I want to go plastic. Any suggestions on stripping the original finish?

 

[LouisianaCarry]

I have my Grandfather's service Beretta from the Air Force. It got left in a basement for like 7 years, though, and it got covered in rust. Took an hour & oil/etc. just to rack the slide (really bad). I am thinking of sandblasting it.

 

[dmiculek]

I also have a Remington 870 I had picked up in a pawn shop. I found a 18 1/2 barrel w/ night sights for next to nothing. I need to redo the furniture though. I don't know if I want to go plastic. Any suggestions on stripping the original finish?

Any of the chemical strippers used for furniture restorations will work just fine.
You may want/need to re-stain the stocks. I also used tung oil instead of polyurethene/varnish type top coat, gives it a nice satin finish.

 

[#1bambam]

I have my Grandfather's service Beretta from the Air Force. It got left in a basement for like 7 years, though, and it got covered in rust. Took an hour & oil/etc. just to rack the slide (really bad). I am thinking of sandblasting it.

I have a sand blaster and refinnishing capabilitys Come over on a bluing weekend and you can redo the gun.

 

[LA_Huntsman]

I have a sand blaster and refinnishing capabilitys Come over on a bluing weekend and you can redo the gun.

damn... looks like I need to make a trip to NO one day.

as far as the wood goes I wish I still had pictures of the Stevens 67 I had in 16Ga. I had both before and after and there was a tremendous difference. Someone had painted a camo job on it. I lightly sanded the paint off and gave the wood a good once over with some medium grit sandpaper. I finished it with a nice dark stain and spent the next week hand rubbing tung oil on it. It was probably more effort than the gun was worth but it looked really nice and I just wanted to see if I could do it.

 

[LouisianaCarry]

I have a sand blaster and refinnishing capabilitys Come over on a bluing weekend and you can redo the gun.

Thank you. I have all that stuff, as well, and there has to be some kind of emergency to bring me to NOLA, but I appreciate your kind offer.

 

[#1bambam]

Thank you. I have all that stuff, as well, and there has to be some kind of emergency to bring me to NOLA, but I appreciate your kind offer.

Ok I had to offer though.Come down and visit some time you dont have to wait on a emergency to happen.