What do all think ?

[boker]

Found a t/c Hawken in 54 cal for sell but it has got spots on the barrel. , He says it was rust he cleaned off but the barrel is pitted very lightly . What do y’all think ? Reason for concern?

He said the steel has turned white.

 

[curator]

It looks like it was splashed with salt water--maybe sweat? If the bore is OK, it doesn't mean a thing other than the cosmetic issue.

 

[WKD]

If it is for hunting and it was mine I'd drawfile the barrel and then do a heavy browning making it a flat, attractive, non reflecting surface.

 

[Griz44Mag]

There are a lot of TC 50s and 54s out there that have no issues at all for $200 and less.
If this one is not super dirt cheap, keep shopping...

 

[boker]

He was askin $325 but said he’d come down since it looked like it had got worse . . I think I am going to pass. Though a t/c in 54 has been hard for me to find Locally

 

[necchi]

He was askin $325,,
,,I think I am going to pass.

Wise choice.

 

[bubba.50]

Tell him to change that 3 to a 1 and you’ll ‘consider’ it.

My opinion and yer welcome to it.

 

[mooman76]

Reason for concern, yes but only slightly. 325 is out of line for what it looks like. I've never seen rust do that. I'm thinking he used or splashed something that removed the brown which is essentially rust.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I’d pass on that rifle, that price is nuts for a significantly damaged piece.

 

[BrownBear]

He was askin $325 but said he’d come down since it looked like it had got worse . .

I paid $300 for one in pristine condition. With that kind of damage on the outside, I'd be going over the bore and lock innards with a fine toothed comb. And pay no more than $200 if all else was pristine.

 

[Sparkitoff]

Price too high for that condition. Maybe some kind of acid got on it? Looks like it was peppered with a shotgun blast! It could clean up but for that price you can get a like-new one.

 

[Bent Sight]

He was askin $325 but said he’d come down since it looked like it had got worse . . I think I am going to pass. Though a t/c in 54 has been hard for me to find Locally

$325 is a princely sum for a T/C rifle. I bought a 98% condition .50 caliber T/C Renegade for $200 last year. Recently I purchased a like new .45 caliber T/C Hawken with a few extras for $240.00 out the door from a local gun shop.

Keep your eyes open and you will find one at a good price.

 

[shdwlkr]

I saw a big boar once that was in pretty bad shape on the outside as someone let water or snow get on it and never cleaned it. The bore was in really good shape which is the important part when finding a seldom found muzzle loader and yes it came home with me. Don't remember the price but it was cheap enough that I didn't care about the outside as that is only for looks anyway.
The TC shown in the original post looks like bleach, acid, or something of that type got spilled on it and no one cleaned it off before it got to the metal.

 

[TFoley]

Price too high for that condition. Maybe some kind of acid got on it? Looks like it was peppered with a shotgun blast! It could clean up but for that price you can get a like-new one.

To me it looks like battery acid. Please don't ask how I know what it can do to a gun.

 

[DJH]

As others have said, the cosmetic issues on the barrel can be addressed. Also, depending on the condition of the bore, a little pitting may not present a problem at all as far as shooting and accuracy. However, I would only buy that rifle if the price was dirt cheap.