I was visiting an aunt earlier today, and it transpired that she still had my grandmother's old partridge gun, a Stevens Model .22-.410 over-under combo. This was the predecessor to the Savage Model 24, and was manufactured as the Model .22-.410 between 1938 and 1950. My grandmother's gun is apparently later production as it's stamped with a patent number; earlier models were stamped "Patent Pending". It's probably somewhere over sixty years old.
My grandmother was apparently an excellent shot, among her many other sterling qualities, and she reportedly bagged a lot of birds with this gun. Seeing it in person was a little saddening, as it was obviously stored in suboptimal conditions for a number of years.
It's quite dirty, and there's a fair bit of rust on it, although nothing that I would call really heavy pitting. The stock is cracked on both sides, both bores are dirty-ish, although they looked fundamentally sound, and the selector button is missing. Also, the hinge doesn't seem to align properly, although the breech seems to mate properly. A bit of research seems to indicate that parts may still be available via mail order.
This image shows the level of rust, the missing selector button, and one of the cracks in the stock.
I'd love to restore the thing, or have it restored, since it seems to be such a handy little gun, perfect for small game, and of course because of the sentimental value/family heirloom factor.
I assume that the order of the day would be to strip the thing and clean it, order some new wood and a selector button, and get it to a gunsmith to get it checked out? Any recommendations on how to resurrect a neglected gun?
My grandmother was apparently an excellent shot, among her many other sterling qualities, and she reportedly bagged a lot of birds with this gun. Seeing it in person was a little saddening, as it was obviously stored in suboptimal conditions for a number of years.
It's quite dirty, and there's a fair bit of rust on it, although nothing that I would call really heavy pitting. The stock is cracked on both sides, both bores are dirty-ish, although they looked fundamentally sound, and the selector button is missing. Also, the hinge doesn't seem to align properly, although the breech seems to mate properly. A bit of research seems to indicate that parts may still be available via mail order.
This image shows the level of rust, the missing selector button, and one of the cracks in the stock.
I'd love to restore the thing, or have it restored, since it seems to be such a handy little gun, perfect for small game, and of course because of the sentimental value/family heirloom factor.
I assume that the order of the day would be to strip the thing and clean it, order some new wood and a selector button, and get it to a gunsmith to get it checked out? Any recommendations on how to resurrect a neglected gun?
