1895 restoration (pic heavy) project is finished

Nice job!
I have three 95's that I quit hunting with back in the 70's....they were so beastly heavy! especially when trudging after moose .
I loaned out the 303 to a buddy for 5 years, when I got it back buddy had varnished the stocks that I had painstakingly cleaned and hand-rubbed with Linseed oil .
The other two calibers are a 30-40 Krag and a takedown in 30-06 .
 
I think you did a great job. Nice work.

I am planning on my first project, a single shot Cooey .22 from around 1930. I know it won't look as good as yours but I am going to give it a shot.
 
I always wanted an 1895 in .405. Damn you, you have got me horny for one all over again. My buddy had one, but it was in the carbine. Hate to imagine how that would kick with the cupped buttplate.
 
The engraving doesn't do it for me but engraving is a highly subjective and personal matter. Some guys like 100% coverage and some guys like a border. I tend to be a "less is more" kinda guy but overall the restoration was very well executed.

Which reminds me, I know where a basket case Model 94 is sitting, patiently waiting.
 
Nice work but I would have saved the flashy bit (engraving & stock work) for a much newer firearm... I would have just cleaned up the old rifle, did the staining/sealing and buffing and left it as is...
 
My take as a fellow restorer:

1) Nice metal prep. If it were me, I'd have anealed the bolt and TIG welded a patch into the bolt, then had it re-hardened. I would have also considered going with color case for the receiver and bolt, rust blueing the remainder. But there's nothing wrong with what you did.

2) I woud not have used machine engraving, but if you like it, that's all that matters. Larry O'Rielly in Ottawa is perhaps the best gun engraver left in Canada. You can reach him through Gunco in Ottawa if interested. 613-224-6266. He's not cheap, but his work is indistiguishable with the british and german masters of 100 years ago. His day job is engraving printing plates, so he's never out of practise.

3) I like your stock work.

To the naysayers, grey guns with bubba alterations have ZERO or less collector appeal. I, for one, would like a professionally restored original in my rack more than a modern copy ANY DAY. Your mileage may vary.
 
I like what you did in creating a new, fine looking, hunting piece. I have a old 38-72 Win M 95 from the black powder days, and I'd consider having it mad into something that I could use as a hunting rifle. If possible, my choices would be is I'd like to have it converted it to one of the following calibers. A, 9.3 x 62, Or a 35 Wheland (sp), 30-06 , 270 or maybe a 405. A recoil pad would be good, and possible sufficient height on the cheek rest area to accommodate some type of optics that might work with this type of receiver. As my eyes have aged, I'd like some something a bid more friendly then the open sites, if possible. I wouldn't know how the present receiver would accommodate any of these calibers or possible optics but any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
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