- Joined
- Jan 3, 2004
- Messages
- 14,767
- Reaction score
- 319
This is a refinish rather than a build, so moderators, if it belongs somewhere else, fire away.
In the meantime I thought it was a worthwhile post since most people feel like I do: The glossy bluing and lacquer finish on the Traditions Crockett are awful!
I wasn't smart enough to take a before picture, so I copied one. The others are an assemblage of views and details. Each is greatly reduced from the original 35mb files, so if anyone has questions about details I can enlarge sections as needed and time allows. I have a really slow dialup connection, and out of respect for others with the same affliction, I've combined photos and kept them small.
I stripped off the heavy stock finish rather than sanding, then stained using dark walnut Watco Danish. I can provide more details if people need it. Downside is that the original finish was so thick it left the butt plate slightly proud to the stock. The original stock was much lighter than the market pics. A side benefit of stripping and staining was the discovery of lots of figure in the stock that was completely invisible in the original.
Refinish was with Tung Oil finish, and I've got to say after 40+ years of using boiled linseed or TruOil, I finally found a better answer.
I draw filed the barrel and sanded the other blued parts before browning with LMF. Lesson learned (this is my first refinish with brown) was to get every speck of bluing off. Due to crevices and things, next time I'm going to strip first with naval jelly then draw file. On the up side, the Crockett had sharp edges on the flats, but the flats themselves were rounded. Draw filing flattened things nicely while removing the stampings. I did leave the proof marks.
Blued screws holding the butt plate, toe plate and trigger guard were replaced with brass. As a personal touch I cut the rings on the entry pipe and the two rod pipes.
I make no claims this little guy shoots better now, but I sure feel better packing it. What do you think? Ten dollars and a few hours work seem pretty well invested to me.
In the meantime I thought it was a worthwhile post since most people feel like I do: The glossy bluing and lacquer finish on the Traditions Crockett are awful!
I wasn't smart enough to take a before picture, so I copied one. The others are an assemblage of views and details. Each is greatly reduced from the original 35mb files, so if anyone has questions about details I can enlarge sections as needed and time allows. I have a really slow dialup connection, and out of respect for others with the same affliction, I've combined photos and kept them small.
I stripped off the heavy stock finish rather than sanding, then stained using dark walnut Watco Danish. I can provide more details if people need it. Downside is that the original finish was so thick it left the butt plate slightly proud to the stock. The original stock was much lighter than the market pics. A side benefit of stripping and staining was the discovery of lots of figure in the stock that was completely invisible in the original.
Refinish was with Tung Oil finish, and I've got to say after 40+ years of using boiled linseed or TruOil, I finally found a better answer.
I draw filed the barrel and sanded the other blued parts before browning with LMF. Lesson learned (this is my first refinish with brown) was to get every speck of bluing off. Due to crevices and things, next time I'm going to strip first with naval jelly then draw file. On the up side, the Crockett had sharp edges on the flats, but the flats themselves were rounded. Draw filing flattened things nicely while removing the stampings. I did leave the proof marks.
Blued screws holding the butt plate, toe plate and trigger guard were replaced with brass. As a personal touch I cut the rings on the entry pipe and the two rod pipes.
I make no claims this little guy shoots better now, but I sure feel better packing it. What do you think? Ten dollars and a few hours work seem pretty well invested to me.
