An Old Friend Returns Home

Love this stuff! Thank you for sharing. In time , maybe one of the nephews or another family member will be honoured to have such a prize. You are truly lucky to have his rifle, his story, and the appreciation. Take her in the woods and let her hunt again , your Great Grandfather would love it and so will you. Every so often I take my Dads old Marlin in for a trip. YA IT FEELS GOOD!! Treat the old gal with love and respect.
 
That is a family history to be proud of, both your GGF's military service and the life he lived after that. Congratulations on receiving the rifle back, I am happy that you will use it again and I am sure your GGF will smile on you when you carry it in the woods once again.

It is men like you GGF that helped secure the rights and freedoms we enjoy today, I thank him for his service.
 
the spank said:
I don’t have the faintest idea how tear down a winchester lever gun? Removing the stock would be about it. Beyond that I’d probably do more harm than good and end up having to bring it to a gunsmith to be put back together. I’ll just give the bore a good cleaning and lube the working parts. Last time it was fired was 2010 or 2011 and that was probably the first time in close to 30 years. I can remember my grandfather carrying it one afternoon/evening for blacktails on vancouver island while I carried the 4:10 for grouse as we walked a powerline near the Nanaimo Lakes chain around 1980 or 81?
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Generally speaking a teardown is not necessary. Just get a can of aerosol spray cleaner, open the action over a pile of newspapers and let it blast throughout the action. Then relubricate with a light oil.
 
Fantastic story Spank and a great rifle!
The generation that went to the trenches of France were a special breed. My own grand father went with the Black Watch 3 times along with 3000 other men and came home each time with less than 1 thousand. There were no rotations or tours, you fought until your outfit was almost depleted, then re-equipped and went back. He survived until 70 years old when the mustard gas effects eventually caught up with him. They were a hardy bunch!
 
Write a long letter to all 3 nephews about all the history of their "GGGF?" and the rifle and snail mail it to them.

You might live long enough for a replay :)

Good luck.
 
Agree with the others who said that the rifle should be passed down. Maybe the next time your nephews visit you can take them out shooting for a day and one might catch the bug to get his PAL. :)
 
Hayya Krankie, send'er'ear.
I'll gift'er a wunce over.

I'd load the wood up with Fluid Film.
I've used that Schaft Oil they gave out at gun shows.
Tremendous stuff.
Git the oil back in them veins.

I don't know if I'd use the famous Tru-oil on an old relic.
Might tend to alter the wood finish a tad too much.

Glad she found'er way home.
 
the spank said:
If I strip it and oil it will I lose what little is left of the checkering? I suppose not if I used a chemical stripping agent?
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A light coat of wax works well, wood retains its character yet is adequately protected. Easy to remove if you want too at a later date. For the love of god and your great grandfather ignore she’ll shucker, leave that en alone and like gramps left it! IMHO heirloom pieces should remain the way they were left, refinishing them destroys all the character they have
 
Great story.

If you read the classic book about NB guides "Men of the Autumn Woods," you'll see these are the types of rifles the American sports loved: High end lever guns. Lots of photos of Savage 99s or high end Winchesters with pistol grips, etc.

Whatever you do, don't give that to a museum. They'll weld it shut or do something else foolish with it.
 
Worst thing I have seen is kids inheriting firearms and selling them.Would hope this is not the case down the road.
 
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