Would it be crazy to refinish this?

[mikeystew]

Yer nawt implying yer gonna pewt sum checker'n awn this ole gal?

Awwww, jest jesting.
Giv'er chit and post some photos up.
Go shoot the dang thang first.
Twack a gopher or two.

That is certainly a plan. I'll need to find someone willing to sell me just a few rounds though. I got serious sticker shock looking at the cost of 38-55 at the store... $60 for 20 rounds! I'm too cheap to pay that just to test it out.

Yeah if you've got those skills as posted! Why not cut it down to a trapper length?

Thanks for the kind words. Trapperizing it is something I'm considering. I could likely make a deadly little trapper out of it. The chamber and throat area looks good, and the rifling is good with no pitting or anything. But by law I could only cut the barrel back to 18.5" which is about the max to still be considered a trapper, mind you that's still 10" off the existing barrel length.

It would be a real pretty, functional and accurate mutt by the time I'm done farting around with it. We'll see. I'm going to sleep on it a while.

 

[mikeystew]

Because that's illegal. You can't shorten it to under 18".

Edited that for ya, and yeah this is true. Seems that trapper carbines were sold in 14-19" barrel lengths though. I'd only ever go as short as 18.5 just in case it ever needed to be trimmed shorter again down the road.

 

[mikeystew]

Nice martini. If it were mine, I'd have re-done it as a stalking rifle, but that's just personal preference.

Thanks! That would be cool, my goal with refinishing is usually just to restore back to original factory condition, or sometimes a bit nicer. I try not to modify the structure too much unless it's necessary for proper function like canted sight dovetails or worn out muzzle rifling, among other things.

 

[Claven2]

Thanks! That would be cool, my goal with refinishing is usually just to restore back to original factory condition, or sometimes a bit nicer. I try not to modify the structure too much unless it's necessary for proper function like canted sight dovetails or worn out muzzle rifling, among other things.

I'm not criticizing your choices, but those mid-size martini actions make for DANDY little sing-shot stalking rifles in calibers like .32-20 or .32 Special. I've also seen some nice examples converted to .357 MAG.

 

[kamlooky]

You should get someone on here to send you an arff duzzin prepped brass and
then you should be able to load them yerself.
What could one make brass with t'udder than 38-55?

I'd set up a target and shoot it first beef oar'n I'd git tuh chawp'n it down.

 

[mikeystew]

I'm not criticizing your choices, but those mid-size martini actions make for DANDY little sing-shot stalking rifles in calibers like .32-20 or .32 Special. I've also seen some nice examples converted to .357 MAG.

I see what you're saying now... That was a small frame martini in .22lr that I refinished though. Used it mostly for target shooting off a bench. A mid size action... I totally agree would be nice cut down in size.

 

[mikeystew]

You should get someone on here to send you an arff duzzin prepped brass and
then you should be able to load them yerself.
What could one make brass with t'udder than 38-55?

I'd set up a target and shoot it first beef oar'n I'd git tuh chawp'n it down.

That would be a great plan, but I sold my reloading gear a few years back. I'm getting back into it but still waiting for a Lee breech lock kit to come in stock locally. And honestly, I'd have to buy dies... Seems like it might be over complicating it. If I look hard enough I'm sure I can find a few loads locally. Just need to put the word out.

 

[Northman999]

I've always dissagreed with the typical North American idea that firearms shouldn't be refinished.

If this was George Washington's personal squirrel musket then that would be a diffrent story, but it isn't.

In Europe, firearms have traditionally been made high quality with the idea that a man would buy a gun, use it his whole life, have it completely refinished, and pass it on to his son, who would do the same for generations.

I kind of think U.S style capitalism is partially to blame for the idea of basically throwing away a rifle once it needs a refinish. Just plain silly.

I'd refinish it and use it for sure.

But then, I don't throw my axes away once they get rust on the head either....

 

[kamlooky]

Hayyyyyyyyyyyy, need sum sort oh update-errrewnies............?

Bin a few days awff nawn perduckshun................

 

[MiG25]

I'd fix it up.

 

[mikeystew]

Hayyyyyyyyyyyy, need sum sort oh update-errrewnies............?

Bin a few days awff nawn perduckshun................

Nahh... No updates to speak of. I'm still waiting to hear back from the owner, he still isn't even sure if he's going to sell it to me yet. He says its more than likely, but wants to check with his nephew first, in case he wants it. But he figures it's unlikely.

Either way I'm not touching it until I know for sure.

 

[Leeper]

Winchester did not sell rust-pitted, beat-up rifles. Once a rifle has reached a certain level of wear and/or damage, it has no serious value anyway unless you have proof that Teddy Roosevelt hunted with it or it is exceptionally rare or unique for some reason. Leaning in the corner in Grandpa's barn is generally not a value builder. Now, at some point , it will be virtually impossible to restore totally but a good restoration 'smith can perform near miracles. I think a well done restoration or re-build enhances rather than diminishes value. An inept effort at re-finishing does diminish value and any urge to do so should be resisted unless one is capable of doing the work. In a way, old rifles are not a lot different than the '36 Ford truck sitting out in the field. As a rusted relic it may be of some interest but as a complete restoration it can be a functional work of art.

 

[two-dogs]

the first thing I would suggest mikeystew, won't call ya OP, (didn't think that anyone viewed as "old prick") is get some new summer tootsy wear in nearest 100% cotton!
I don't like ugly sisters, and I do like a project, so I would refinish it as best I could. The experience certainly won't hurt anyone. Then, as you say, you have no interest in keeping it, sell it, someone will buy it, and you'll have a great feeling that you refinished an old rifle as best you could and have gained some more "how to" for next time. Good luck!

 

[Magellann]

Winchester did not sell rust-pitted, beat-up rifles. Once a rifle has reached a certain level of wear and/or damage, it has no serious value anyway unless you have proof that Teddy Roosevelt hunted with it or it is exceptionally rare or unique for some reason. Leaning in the corner in Grandpa's barn is generally not a value builder. Now, at some point , it will be virtually impossible to restore totally but a good restoration 'smith can perform near miracles. I think a well done restoration or re-build enhances rather than diminishes value. An inept effort at re-finishing does diminish value and any urge to do so should be resisted unless one is capable of doing the work. In a way, old rifles are not a lot different than the '36 Ford truck sitting out in the field. As a rusted relic it may be of some interest but as a complete restoration it can be a functional work of art.

Thats the way I see it too, what value does it have as is? perhaps a couple hundred dollars tops, all fixed up and refinished it will be something to be proud of owning and using again.

 

[IvoB]

refinish it enjoy the journey and shoot it

 

[mikeystew]

the first thing I would suggest mikeystew, won't call ya OP, (didn't think that anyone viewed as "old prick") is get some new summer tootsy wear in nearest 100% cotton!
I don't like ugly sisters, and I do like a project, so I would refinish it as best I could. The experience certainly won't hurt anyone. Then, as you say, you have no interest in keeping it, sell it, someone will buy it, and you'll have a great feeling that you refinished an old rifle as best you could and have gained some more "how to" for next time. Good luck!

I've got plenty of new socks lol, not a lot of cotton though. My Wife's family owns a sporting goods store and I get tons of free "darn tough" and smartwool samples.
But yeah... I think I've made up my mind. If I am able to buy this thing I'll be giving it a complete overhaul before putting it up for sale. Likely Cutting down the barrel a few inches and re-bluing it. The rifling looks great besides the fact that it completely disappears for the last inch of muzzle. The mag tube is looser than Christy Mack and the dovetail for the mag hanger is un-salvagable, it needs to be re-cut. More than likely a Sunday's worth of work to do to it, plus a few hrs extra for the rust blue.

And like I said earlier I'm not interested in making a wage on this thing. But if I can get it cheap and make a bit of profit and have some fun doing it, that's all I care about. And I might be able to keep this thing shooting for another hundred years rather than have it scrapped for parts or left to deteriorate further. That's what it's all about for me.

 

[Leeper]

Remember, that dovetail is not a straight dovetail; it is round and the hanger turns in like a leupold scope mount

 

[mikeystew]

Remember, that dovetail is not a straight dovetail; it is round and the hanger turns in like a leupold scope mount

Can't remember what I don't yet know... That's unique, thanks for pointing it out. In that case, I might look into modifying the hanger so it can be a straight dovetail with an Allen set screw inside the band to keep it from sliding sideways.. I don't have a milling machine to be cutting rotary dovetails. I was planning on using triangle files.

But now that you mention this, that would explain why it's so bloody loose in there now. I bet someone tried drifting it out with a punch at one point.

 

[bhutch]

Although the rifle in question is ruff and the butt stock has been taken down to far by sanding . I would probably leave it alone if you refinish it , it well have no collector value . Lots of collectors are looking for good parts guns in original state.
The 38-55 is a good caliber. I would just slug the bore and find some proper size bullets for it and make some hand loads.
Enjoy it for what it is . These guns are getting so hard to fine in original state, although the butt stock has been replaced probably, it is original too.
Like the gentleman that posted to thread first.

Re-finish = ruin...

If you want functional, sell it to a collector and buy something functional.

Just my two sents worth.
Bruce

 

[mikeystew]

Nah... I'm going to screw around with it. If I sell it as is I won't make a dime off it. If I make it handsome and functional I might make a buck or two and have some fun in the process. And like I said the muzzle is kaput. No sense in trying to shoot it like it is, and I rather not see it become a parts gun.