Browning BL 22 refinished

[j.krug]

I got a real nice deal on a Browning BL 22 a couple weeks ago. It's was in solid shape but the forend and butt stock where both scratched up like crazy. Except for a small split on the top of the butt stock near the reciever the scratches were only in the thick finish and not through to the wood.

I took it apart and stripped the wood using Heirloom Gel stripper. It removed the thick original finish in two applications. I gave it a third just for good measure. Once stripped I sanded it with 400 grit, then 600 and finally 800. It was smooth as glass when I was done. I whiskered it twice and redid it with 800 grit.

For a finish I applied 4 coats of Minwax tung oil. I let each coat dry for at least 24 hours before putting on the next coat. I hit it lightly with 0000 steel wool before applying the last coat. I was contemplating a few more coats of tung oil but stopped at 4 because I was happy with the sheen at this point.

I really like the looks of this little gun without the scope but need it to shoot cuz my eyes don't see quite like they used to. I mounted a Tasco Rimfire 3x9 on it to help me out. I shot it with the iron sights before redoing it and it functioned flawlessly. I can't wait to take this new friend out and sight her in.

This is the first gun I've ever refinished and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It's cool to have added my own personal touch to this nice old gun. I tried to date it on the Browning website but the serial # doesn't match up with any of their series?? I think it may have been manufactured in either 1969 or 1972.

Anyway, her she is.

 

[kamlooky]

That sure turned out nice for you.
Dang, missed another one.

 

[BCRider]

Nice job!

I'm with you on the nice warm look you can get from tung oil.

For an even nicer finish let the last coats dry/cure for another week or two then using some fine steel wool as an applicator go over it fairly heavily with some Minwax furniture wax. You want to burnish down the last of the whiskers and such from the oil and apply some wax at the same time. After a few minutes buff it up with a fairly coarse rag and you'll be in awe at the look and feel.

For next time when you refinish with tung oil use a small bit of rag for the applicator with the first coat then a fairly aggresive pressure with MEDIUM steel wool as the second and subsequent coats. The medium steel wool is a good applicator and does a nice job of burnishing down the finish and wood with each coat being applied. If you're worried about the coarsness of the medium wool "scraping" off the previous coat don't be. With the need to buff off the excess oil from each coat following the application and soak in time there's really no buildup to speak of other than what sits in the grain of the wood. The point of an oil finish is to see what soaks into the wood only and scrape away the rest. That way it's the wood you see and feel in the end.

I've done a few stocks this way now and I love the fact that there's no build up on the surface. Just a nice deep look to the wood and a smooth burnished feel to the surface.