1895 restoration (pic heavy) project is finished

[theeasterner]

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.

Claven2,You say in this post that you happen to like the color case hardened reciever (and bolt).
I'd realy like to try and color case harden a .22 receiver,and /or an 1894 30-30 receiver,but I am afraid to,in case I make the receiver too brittle.
Do you have any color case hardening information on this specific subject in addition to the risk of brittleness when doing the job?
Let me know if you have time. Thanx,T.E.

 

[TheSwedishChef]

Nicely done! You went ahead and did something few of us have the skill or patience to do. Now, the only thing left to do is go out and drop a bambi with it

 

[Why not?]

Yes, or perhaps a moose, or better still a bison!

Ted

 

[bassman]

Beautiful. I have one here that I'm planning on restoring to a degree but nothing nearly as nice as what you're doing here. It was supposed to be my winter project but then I got distracted with other things in my life and haven't had the chance to work on it proper.

Well for heavens sake, make sure you run your plans by Grove and Trevj before you even think about touching it...

 

[trevj]

Well for heavens sake, make sure you run your plans by Grove and Trevj before you even think about touching it...

I can't be the only one that threw up in my mouth a little at the sight of the dime store engraving. It sure was on the EE for a long run!

Coulda been worse. Coulda hammered the number stamps into it, or scribbled all over it with an electric pencil.

No apologies for my opinion.

I thought it was really good work, spoiled by such a minor decision.

Cheers
Trev

 

[Grouse Man]

That looks gorgeous. Love the deep bluing and gorgeous wood, that'll be a treasured rifle for the owner. You do very nice work.

 

[bassman]

I can't be the only one that threw up in my mouth a little at the sight of the dime store engraving. It sure was on the EE for a long run!

Coulda been worse. Coulda hammered the number stamps into it, or scribbled all over it with an electric pencil.

No apologies for my opinion.

I thought it was really good work, spoiled by such a minor decision.

Cheers
Trev

Just ribbing you

 

[Deerdr]

Beautiful Rifle....Very Good Restoration...CONGRATULATIONS...You are Highly Skilled.

 

[trevj]

Just ribbing you

Oh, I know that.

Cheers
Trev

 

[silver69]

Wow!! Great job! Pure skills!

 

[BigUglyMan]

Well for heavens sake, make sure you run your plans by Grove and Trevj before you even think about touching it...

Good job on the 2 year necropost.

 

[Why not?]

Good job on the 2 year necropost.

And now, another one six months later, just so others can see the work that was done.

Really! This rifle was at best, poor, at worst, junk, but transformed into something worthwhile, and deserves a BTT. Read it from the first post, and see if you don't agree.

Ted

 

[timandkimandshea]

That's harsh. Its his rifle, looks like quality work to me
T

A classic completely RUINED.

RIP classic 1895.