Restore Or Scrap
- Thread starter Feltwad
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With over 60% of the barrels surface done the next job was too clean the bores .This I did by removing the heavy pitting by lapping out the barrels and finishing with polishing tool and plenty of oil {see image} till the bore was bright .
Feltwad
Polishing tool
Feltwad
Polishing tool
This thread just went from "interesting question" to "THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!" in my opinion. I hope you'll continue to post photos of your progress.
With the barrel about ready for browning attention was turned to the metal furniture. To remove the heavy rust I used a rotary wire brush and finish with a medium wire wool care must be taken not to remove what is remaining of the engraving ,this was done when all the furniture was remove from the stock .Some of the main screws refused to move and had to drilled out and replaced with slave screws
The locks inners I removed the rust this was better done when all the lock parts were dissembled it was notice that the right hand lock was not working properly due to a bent lock plate which had to be straightened
The stock was cleaned with the furniture removed of old grime ,the stock had old wood worm which had to treated and filled it was then given a coat of stock oil with more to come at intervals , a good oil finish takes months to achieve .
The checkering which was still shown was cleaned with old tooth brush and left ,one of the main faults with restoration is to recut the checkering nothing feels worst than crisp checkering on a gun that is over a 150 years hold
Always remember with restoration it should never be taken to far till it looks like something strait of the shelf , if in any doubt leave it be.
Feltwad
Standing Breech Before
After
Locks Before
The locks inners I removed the rust this was better done when all the lock parts were dissembled it was notice that the right hand lock was not working properly due to a bent lock plate which had to be straightened
The stock was cleaned with the furniture removed of old grime ,the stock had old wood worm which had to treated and filled it was then given a coat of stock oil with more to come at intervals , a good oil finish takes months to achieve .
The checkering which was still shown was cleaned with old tooth brush and left ,one of the main faults with restoration is to recut the checkering nothing feels worst than crisp checkering on a gun that is over a 150 years hold
Always remember with restoration it should never be taken to far till it looks like something strait of the shelf , if in any doubt leave it be.
Feltwad
Standing Breech Before
After
Locks Before
zimmerstutzen
70 Cal.
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good for you. That some would merely scrap such a thing mildly annoys me. Even as a unsafe to fire wall hanger, some yuppie will pay three or four hundred to place over the mantle, if it has been mildly touched up. I fixed several doubles over the years. restored some to shooters, fastened split barrels back together, removed dents, etc. If they could not be safely fired, the appearance was still made more appealing and then sold as a wall hanger. If they were too bad for even that, then they were stripped for parts for fixing other guns. I took one of the heel style cap boxes and put it on my Italian Hawken style "trunk" gun. Kept in the trunk of the car for impromptu hunting opportunities. I could put a few caps sealed in a plastic tube in the cap box where they stayed safe from humidity. Got the idea from a guy who built a franken gun, using a late model trapdoor butt plate. he could open that little hatch in the butt plate and slide two speed loaders in each hole. Even parts are good.
Enclosed are images of almost the full restoration .with the barrels browned showing the Damascus twist and reassembled . The stock will need more oil finish which will take months to achieve .
Although the gun has been restored it will not make a shooter , only a wall hanger .I mostly restored it because it is part of our gun heritage which we must account for these which we hold in trust to those that come after.
Feltwad
Before
After
Before
After
Although the gun has been restored it will not make a shooter , only a wall hanger .I mostly restored it because it is part of our gun heritage which we must account for these which we hold in trust to those that come after.
Feltwad
Before
After
Before
After
Black Hand
Cannon
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Could you not have the barrels sleeved and make it shootable? Other than the barrels, the remainder appears relatively solid....
50cal.cliff
58 Cal.
OK here I am late to the party again but, the tittle had me from the moment I read it and the first pic confirmed it. RESTORE for God's sake restore it!! 
As I read on and see the pics a smile comes to my face. :bow: Thank you sir for rescuing this one!! If it is never shot again and by the way, I vote for not shooting but, would reserve that to let me see it in person and I might change my mind on that!!
When I think of the things I have seen thrown away over the years............. :yakyak:
As I read on and see the pics a smile comes to my face. :bow: Thank you sir for rescuing this one!! If it is never shot again and by the way, I vote for not shooting but, would reserve that to let me see it in person and I might change my mind on that!!
When I think of the things I have seen thrown away over the years............. :yakyak:
DjPorkchop
32 Cal.
That looks great! Its a wonder what one can do with a little elbow grease, time and a bottle of something good like Kroil or ones personal favorite go to oil.
I agree sleeving would be a cost for sure. Damascus steel has a bad rap and most are afraid to shoot them. It is the cheap, junk imports that the USA took in that are in need of worry. Those I would only fire black powder light loads in. If it is a decent maker like an A&N maybe, then fire away. I would still be hesitant to shoot some of today's loads in one. I would still ponder using black powder loads.
I agree sleeving would be a cost for sure. Damascus steel has a bad rap and most are afraid to shoot them. It is the cheap, junk imports that the USA took in that are in need of worry. Those I would only fire black powder light loads in. If it is a decent maker like an A&N maybe, then fire away. I would still be hesitant to shoot some of today's loads in one. I would still ponder using black powder loads.
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