Hey everyone,
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but here goes.
I have an old gun that needs to be cleaned.  Its a family peice, supposedly from the Civil War.  It will continue to be handed down through the generations and wont be fired, but previous familly member didnt appreciate what they had.
Can I just use CLP, or should I let a professinal look at it?


Thanks for all your help,

Travis

If it's a family relic from the civil war I would let a professional restoration guy have a look at it, one who is familiar specifically with Civil War era weapons. Don't do it yourself.
Just my opinion.

Quoted: If it's a family relic from the civil war I would let a professional restoration guy have a look at it, one who is familiar specifically with Civil War era weapons. Don't do it yourself. Just my opinion.

Yep. You might also want to ask this question in the C&R forum. They're fans of old guns and may know who to point you to.

Ok thanks guys.  I'll ask in C&R.  Didn't know about that forum.



Travis

If this gun dates to the civil war and has collector value, hard cleaning can remove thousands of dollars of value.

Get a professional appraisal and then cleaning, and Joe Blow average gunsmith isn't the guy to do the work.

In June I saw a Golden Age flintlock with the methylene chloride residue from paint stripper - that made a roughly $10000 gun worth about $500 or maybe a tiny bit more.

Please post a picture so we can attempt to identify the gun.  You might also go to a library with a copy of Flayderman's to help you id the gun and get some idea of it's worth.

By the way, there's a huge difference between and antique firearm and a C&R.  It's not your daddy or grandpa's gun, it was their grandpa's gun and should be handled differently; no one cares if you strip the finish off a Mosin-Nagant.

Quoted: By the way, there's a huge difference between and antique firearm and a C&R.  It's not your daddy or grandpa's gun, it was their grandpa's gun and should be handled differently; no one cares if you strip the finish off a Mosin-Nagant.

Yeah, which is why I didn't tell him that he could learn everything I needed to know about it in the C&R forum, but instead told him that those guys could probably point him in the right direction.

Thanks for the advice, the rifle is at my Mother-in-laws.
I was hoping to have a picture by Monday, but I think it's going to be next week.  I will post as soon as I get one, and will check into a antique person for apraisal.

Thanks again,

Travis