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Posted: 1/24/2009 5:42:53 AM EDT
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Hey Everyone,
Not too long ago, my dad was given an old .22 from the boy scout camp that he's worked every summer for some number of years now. The rifle was thought to be non-functioning. It was a simple single shot, bolt action heavy barrel with peep sights. Anyway, after he brought it home and gave the action and trigger a thorough cleaning, he took it to the range to verify it's non working status. Well, it works just fine, and is bloody accurate to boot! Anyway, while home on leave he was showing me the rifle we were saying that it was a shame, because the stock was so damned ugly. It was a crap brown that'd been glossed over. Really nasty. I told him he should strip it and see what was underneath the paint, so we did. Long story short, the rifle is now stained, and it's BEAUTIFUL. Now, to my point. I'd like to do this more often. Not necessarily for a living, but at least as a hobby. Where can I go to learn more about restoring/cleaning up old firearms? What skills will I need to know? I'd love to learn how to checker wood and that sort of thing as well. Thanks for the info, Wicked |
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I've been restoring old guns for awhile now, I will be happy to share any tips and tricks I have learned along the way
The best way to save the barrel/action or any other metal, after you get it off of the stock, soak it in a solution called Evapo-rust I went to home-depot and picked up a large pvc tube and endcaps, glued them together, then cut out a setion of the tube to create a "ditch" to put the barrels in of guns I am working on and let them soak in the evapo-rust This will remove any and all rust, along with blueing. So, next thing is either bluing the gun (I dont do this) or painting it with Duracoat gun paint (this is what I do) |
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Does refinishing/restoring firearms detract from their value?
There is no easy answer to this question. If collectible, yes, re-finishing would definitely detract from the value. Anything collectible, rare, or old is probably best left alone. Now, a gun that is common, and in bad shape, I say go ahead and re-finish/restore it. Many people disagree with me, (as is their right, I believe people should have the right to their own stupid opinions). A gun re-finished with a non-traditional method is going to sell at a discount to an identical gun with a decent original finish. A high quality hard chrome finish might be an exception, but a Duracoat finished gun, (Duracoat is my current favorite method), is not going to sell at the same price as an original finish gun in good condition. Now, if the finish is really ratty, and the piece has no collector's value, a good re-finish will probably improve its price. Though, not by as much as the re-finish costs. It is pretty much a labor of love. The refinishing forum right here contains a wealth of information on the newer techniques. For the older methods, (rust bluing, nitre bluing, hot salts bluing, wood finishing), other forums are valuable. |
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Refinishing is one thing;
This (on a functional firearn) is most usually practicle, but you should limit yourself to higher quality guns., You could easily put put $200. of your labor into a $65. gun, with no hope of reward........Do at least a mental balnce sheet. If a "friend" asks you to make his "used up, POS.22 glenfield bolt action(or auto) like new, -no , Hell No... If the same "friend" asks about a winchester 52 sporter, thats a whole different thing. Now We Talkin about refinish/restore. restoration is another thing; A restoration could be possible, takes a good eye.,If possible, procede with care, a good restoration is worth 90% of new.......a refinish,on the other hand would devalue a large percentage, just depending on the skill/or lack therof. A properly "Restored gun" cannot be told from a fresh factory example, expept for the mark of the restoration gunsmith, usually (but not allways) under the buttplate. It is of course is far easier on High Grade guns,where the markings were engraved rather than stamped or rolled.The truly top shelf guns not as hard to "restore". ( We're talking Holland, Boss, Purdy....Around here) Now once upon a tine, I did this sort of work on ( Purdy's,Holland"s and Boss's,& Lang's)...Oh MY!!! There is a hole different level, that of "finishing guns", whitch sounds kind of crazy......But it is what it says, naking the manufactured product, truley worth having: make the machime perfect, make the metal perfect Design an engraving patern, and nean it |
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