I talk about this type of stuff a lot here. I enjoy buying old guns in rough shape that need a "Refinish," and making them pretty again.
I bought this gun in 2001 specifically to learn how to do this. I paid $225 for it and it was in OK shape with only a small amount of light pitting on the barrel. The wood still had the Goo that Marlin put on wood back in the day, but after I removed that I found that the Buttstock and Fore End were made from two completely different types of Walnut. I spent time over the last 20 years on and off trying different things to get them to match somewhat. I finally got pretty close after numerous attempts which usually ended up back in the safe to age some more. I used Birchwood-Casey Wood Refinishing Products, as well as some Min Wax Stains and Tints I got from Woodcraft. This ain't that hard to do and if you can operate Sand Paper and Steel Wool you can do it..
I also used this gun to learn how to smooth out the actions on a Marlin Rifle. Several of my techniques were used in the production of the new Marlin Rifles being made by Ruger. The action on this gun is the smoothest Marlin I've ever handled, and it mainly took simple "Deburring" of internal parts. Scotch Brite Deburring Wheel on my Buffer is where I do most of this stuff, such as Breaking Sharp Edges, but there was also some file and sand paper work done on the inside of the Receiver and Exterior of the Bolt.
I never mess with Trigger/Sear Engagement as older guns usually have been worn in to the point where there is little to nothing to be gained. A lighter Hammer Spring from a Brownell's Spring kit ($12) will get you to where you need to go. Also the guns I am doing would never have a perfect trigger, and since I figure I can learn any trigger in about 2 minutes I don't go that deep. I did put a Timney Trigger into my Springfield NRA Sporter Replica that I showed here earlier this year. It is about as close to perfect as you can get, but that is a completely different type of gun.
The one thing that really helped this gun come back to life is the Cera-Kote Process. This is the 4th gun I've got with this done. This is the one thing you can do to a ugly gun to make it pretty again. If prepped correctly it will fill small Rust Pitts, and if you have to file or sandpaper them down it will hide that too. I did my first one a CZ82 pistol myself and cooked it in a Toaster Oven and it came out NICE! Grit blasted all the parts with Steel Grit so I had a really good "Surface Profile." Did the Frame, Trigger Guard and Slide, Re-Blued all the little Piece Parts with Cold Blue.
This gun got the Barreled Action, most of the Lever, and Mag Tube done by Vang Comp because I don't have an oven big enough to cook things that long. I also had them do my NRA Sporter, and Enfield .35-303 Sporter, which I posted Pics of here, earlier this year.
My whole point of this thread is to encourage others to try making Silk out of Sows Ears and enjoy the satisfaction of a Job well done. With the way things are right now in the world, anything you can do to make yourself feel a little better could be a welcome addition to your life.
Unfortunately the really good pics were too big to upload here. but you can go here to see them. https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1876909
Randy
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Originally Posted by W.R.Buchanan
