The Arizaga Saga

straightshooter said:
Went out yesterday for the season opener hunt. Took the Arizaga sidelock for her first field test since repairs. I got only one chance, pulled only one trigger, the Arizaga went bang, and the pheasant crumpled and fell. Very satisfying feeling after bringing the Arizaga back into service. I didn't test the left barrel partially because there's no doubt in my mind that it's just fine, and partially because I will be hunting with this gun for a few more hunts before I go back to the safe to select something different.

Photo of gun and bird below.

http://img.gg/ZmEHiN6
Click to expand...



I like your picture, and I like your gun too!
 
Not sure if you guys are fixing screw heads the same way that I do but for damaged heads, I put the screw in the vice with the head up and supported by the vice jaws then careful work the damaged area with the peening end on a small ball peen hammer until the damaged area is flattened out. Then I touch it up with needle files and chuck up the screw in my cordless drill and spin it against fine sand paper until I have the polish that I want. Then it's off to be blued.
 
Falconflyer said:
I like your picture, and I like your gun too!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm really starting to be inspired by this gun. The second time I fired the gun - same result. Both barrels tested and two pheasant to show for it. My hunting partner started joking that he didn't want to hunt with me if I was going to use a gun that doesn't miss. That joke's toast now that I've fired a dozen rounds through her and only got my third pheasant this afternoon. I was getting frustrated because I knocked a couple of them down and they'd sneak off before you can find them. I've been spoiled rotten hunting with a pointer/retriever all these years.

Great weather today, enough birds were found that we each got one in a 4 hour hunt. I doesn't get any better than this!!

http://img.gg/FSuM9Oq
 
Well, for all intents and purposes, the upland season is over. The wild population was down again this year, in the area where we hunt. Thank goodness for the released pheasants.

The Arizaga went 'Bang!' every time I pulled the trigger, so I'm happy with the fix and confident that the time I'll put into the finish will be well spent. On that basis, I've disassembled the gun (see photo at link below), and will now proceed with a face lift.

http://img.gg/FSuM9Oq
 
The Arizaga Saga / after refinish

I've completed my refinishing efforts for now. I say 'for now' because there is another level to which I could have taken this, but this gun will be hunted often, and I don't want to put so much work into it that I'm afraid to get it scuffed by a branch or something.

Thanks Falconflyer and 1963beretta for your thoughts on finishing and bluing touchups. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for fixing and maintaining guns. On this Arizaga, I reblued some of the screws (didn't mess with those that didn't need to be removed for the stock refinish). The trigger guard was worn to bare metal but looks great after a simple reblue.

At this point, the gun has been reassembled, tested and found to be in full working order. Visually, there are no nicks, dings, scratches, cracks or dents remaining. I chose a closed-pore, matte finish due to the grade and intended uses of the gun.

A couple of 'after' photos have been posted at the link below.

http://img.gg/FSuM9Oq
 
Looks very nice and one you won't be afraid to hunt with. I am doing the same right now to a Miroku boxlock and a Belgian sidelock. Taking them just far enough to be serviceable guns for another few decades without braking the bank.
 
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