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yet another restoration

7K views 35 replies 13 participants last post by  Fushigi Ojisan 
#1 ·
Here is another gun I restored, the owner wanted it reblued and made pretty again, not back to original, but looking good without the rust.

The shotgun had been in the family for three generations and the current owners brother put a recoil pad on it in bubba fashion, so I fixed that, polished and reblued the steel, nitre blued the pins and charging handle and refinished the stock to match.

Before and after pictures







links to the blog posts

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2016/12/remington-1100-restoration-part-1.html

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2016/12/remington-1100-restoration-part-2.html

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2016/12/remington-1100-restoration-part-3.html
 
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#7 ·
Stevens model 73, the previous owner gave up on the project stating that he could not find a replacement for the lost bolt. I was able to find the bolt and refinished the rifle, I have less than $23 in the project
Before and after pictures






I decided it needed a sling, so I made one from an old leather belt

blog posts with pictures of the process
http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-stevens-model-73-project-part-1.html
http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-stevens-model-73-project-part-2.html
http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-stevens-model-73-project-part-3.html
 
#12 ·
Since we're asking questions...

Do you take on work? Picked up something a little beyond my capabilities and could use an assist.

Sent from my SM-T820 using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
OK I'll try to answer all the questions

#1 I am strictly a hobbyist, I buy rusty guns and refinish them for fun and to build a collection and of course to build my skills
#2 I cannot take on any work, as I have no FFL and thus cannot operate as a business
#3 I remove the rust and pits by coating the steel with naval jelly, then use sand paper to get the metal smooth and flat again

Here is another project:

A quick refinish on a Remington 700 rifle, I also installed a new Timney trigger while I was at it


This is how it was brought to me, in pieces





Finished





Before and after








Blog Posts


https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/08/remington-700-refinish-part-1.html
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/08/remington-700-refinish-part-2.html
 
#16 ·
I use the hot salts/hot caustic method. It involves sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrate heated to 290 degrees, I don't often get pictures cause I work alone and am wearing PPE during the process

Here is another one:



This one is a Dan Wesson model 15 with two extra barrel, all were frosty with rust and some minor pitting
Before and after pictures





Blog Posts showing the process
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-dan-wesson-model-15-project-part-1.html
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-dan-wesson-model-15-project-part-2.html
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-dan-wesson-model-15-project-part-3.html
 
#18 ·
Another month, another refinished gun. This one is a Mossberg model 380 semi-auto .22 rifle. Someone had spilled or exposed the rifle to a chemical that caused some localized corrosion.
Anyway, I removed the pits and polished the metal before rebluing it via the hot salts method.


before and after photos














blog posts


https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/11/refinishing-mossberg-model-380-rifle.html



https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/11/refinishing-mossberg-model-380-rifle_18.html



https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/11/refinishing-mossberg-model-380-rifle_26.html
 
#19 ·
As Observing Very Nice Workmanship...

Could you please diverge just a moment from the very nice work products show & tell. Such to answer a question occurring whenever I see such quality work.
WHAT THE HECK DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE TALENT...??? :) :) :)

Handicraft mode... My "success" in life, learning 'NOT TO GO THERE! Blood, sweat & bungled guns later... My own 'learning curve' largely following a grain of 'Hollywood wisdom' spoken in a classic "Dirty Harry" (Clint Eastwood) film line:
"A man has to know his limitations." The sad thing of course the littered trail of Bubbas on life support during 'learning curve'.

Blood, sweat & bungled guns later... At least by now decades well 'learned'. Moreover, long ago 'offing' my own small trail of carnage! 'Bubbas on life support. Yet the positive side. Without such or rampant misuse/neglect; not offering the 'fodder' for artisans like you!

The one conundrum I'm ever left with in Bubba conjuring.... How the Picassos' of the world could do to "art" with great acclaim, the same thing I once did with milsurps! He made a fortune. For me, only years in the 'Bubba closet' lest perhaps a lynch mob!

Concluding with...
Envious congrats re your obvious skills &
Life is good!!!
John
 
#20 ·
Could you please diverge just a moment from the very nice work products show & tell. Such to answer a question occurring whenever I see such quality work.
WHAT THE HECK DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE TALENT...??? :) :) :)

Handicraft mode... My "success" in life, learning 'NOT TO GO THERE! Blood, sweat & bungled guns later... My own 'learning curve' largely following a grain of 'Hollywood wisdom' spoken in a classic "Dirty Harry" (Clint Eastwood) film line:
"A man has to know his limitations." The sad thing of course the littered trail of Bubbas on life support during 'learning curve'.

Blood, sweat & bungled guns later... At least by now decades well 'learned'. Moreover, long ago 'offing' my own small trail of carnage! 'Bubbas on life support. Yet the positive side. Without such or rampant misuse/neglect; not offering the 'fodder' for artisans like you!

The one conundrum I'm ever left with in Bubba conjuring.... How the Picassos' of the world could do to "art" with great acclaim, the same thing I once did with milsurps! He made a fortune. For me, only years in the 'Bubba closet' lest perhaps a lynch mob!

Concluding with...
Envious congrats re your obvious skills &
Life is good!!!
John

Thanks for the kind words, not sure that what I possess is really a "talent", it is really just patience and a little hard work. I received a certificate in Gunsmithing in 1992, then about 10 years ago got back into gunsmithing and decided to concentrate on refinishing, as there seemed to be an abundance of guns that needed refinishing.
I offered my services for free to anyone who had a rusty gun, as long as there was no expectation of perfection.

Here is the first gun I took on, a Marlin 1894 Cowboy rifle in .357, it was new, unfired, someone put it back in the original styrafoam container when it was wet, the result was some ugly cancer. I took my time and carefully filed and sanded the metal until smooth and shiny, then followed the recipe and instructions for bluing that I had learned from school and what I found online.

Here is what that gun looked like before and after







one of the best lessons I learned was how to take a decent picture.....
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#21 ·
#23 ·
Thanks for the encouragement!

Here is another one. This is a Smith & Wesson model 27 from the early 70's, some previous owner engraved their driver's license number on the gun, in two places....it also had some holster wear and mild rust pitting...I removed the graffiti and polished it up, then reblued it.


Before and after pics:














Blog post links:


https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-smith-wesson-model-27-project-part-1.html


https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-smith-wesson-model-27-project-part-2.html


https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-smith-wesson-model-27-project-part-3.html
 
#24 ·
Your bluing work is pretty amazing, you're a virtuouso with sandpaper

Curious what brand you use now, and if you always go dry. Also, what is the smallest grit you go to?
 
#26 ·
Thanks for sharing! A magnificent job! Looks like a lot of time, not to mention meticulous care! Would it be impertinent to inquire.... How many hours taken?
I do particularly like the configuration of your masterpiece. 3.5" barrel and square butt! That Lady deserves a really nice set of Smith target or custom grips! :)
Best & Stay Safe!
John!
 
#28 ·
to answer the questions, I have several types, brands of sand paper. The paper is nothing special and the metal is cleaned and prepped before going into the bluing solution, so nothing is left behind from the sanding except clean, smooth steel.

Here is another one, I bought this Winchester model 77 from a local forum member who thought it was just a wall hanger.....
Before and after pics





blog posts:
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-winchester-77-project-part-1.html
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-winchester-77-project-part-2.html
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-winchester-77-project-part-3.html
https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-winchester-77-project-part-4.html
 
#29 ·
Thanks for working that Winchester 77 over and spiffing it up. Have a real soft spot in my heart for the 77, one was my first real gun, a Christmas present long ago ("Clip" fed variant). A few years ago I got a tube-fed variation as a companion. Love the solid feel and general appearance, plus the good accuracy and reliability I have always experienced. Suppose you know that the great majority were the "clip" fed version (Winchester's description; I know it is a removable box-magazine).
 
#30 ·
Finally went and read the blog posts...

It seems that the thick varnish/shellac finish was quite fashionable for Midcentury Modern guns, and sometimes it ages better on some pieces that others

The design itself looks like a mashup between a Marlin Model 85C and Ithaca X5-C, and you can see the postwar adoption of plastic and stamped parts.

Only place I find myself disagreeing with you is with the plastic, I am NOT a fan of Armor All. I use either 303 Aerospace protectant or Zaino Plastic Magic
 
#35 ·
Finally went and read the blog posts...

It seems that the thick varnish/shellac finish was quite fashionable for Midcentury Modern guns, and sometimes it ages better on some pieces that others

The design itself looks like a mashup between a Marlin Model 85C and Ithaca X5-C, and you can see the postwar adoption of plastic and stamped parts.

Only place I find myself disagreeing with you is with the plastic, I am NOT a fan of Armor All. I use either 303 Aerospace protectant or Zaino Plastic Magic

If you are speaking of the Winchester M-77, I think it precedes both the Marlin and Ithaca designs mentioned. I'd like to replace the plastic trigger guard with milled, polished steel.
 
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