Win '97, Dear God!

Oddbawl

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
150   0   0
Location
Beyond
So last year I stripped down a beat up old '97 with the intention of rust bluing it. Welp, the bluing part is done. Turned out pretty good. I'm now trying to reassemble THE MOST COMPLICATED FIREARM EVER DEVISED BY MAN. I'm used to milsurps that can be stripped to nothing in 5min. It'd be ok if I pulled it apart yesterday, but it's been about a year. Does anybody have a drawing that makes sense? It's like putting a freaking Swiss watch together.
 
Thanks, I'm going by that one now. Got the major components together, and suprisingly few parts left over. I might actually win...
 
Oddbawl, get yourself one of the disassembly/assembly DVD's that are available. I'm aware of at least 3 different ones on the market. I bought one for $20 bucks that's good enough, if you have a basic understanding of guns and tools. (Got that one from the "Cowboys and Indians Store LLC"). The video production is 'early amateur', but what do you expect for $20.00?

I don't know if the others are better or not, but I suspect any one of them will give you the proper sequence for re-assembling the gun and tips on how to avoid common mistakes.
 
Go'nna try the automatic transmission in your truck next ??? ;)

Don't see why not, less parts. Could prolly do it with my eyes closed now.
As perverted as it sounds, I really enjoyed bringing it back to life. Rust bluing isn't nearly as daunting as I thought. I've even been thinking of tracking down another one to do the same.
 
In the last week I have cleaned up three shotguns. A Rem 1100, an Auto 5 and a 870 Rem. I have cleaned the obvious rust from them but left the original blueing. I did disassenble them into major components but only cleaned up trigger groups etc getting rid of 30 to 50 years or accumulated sludge. On a couple I have refinished the stocks using an oil-varnish mix.
I find it very interesting as I have always enjoyed refinishing wood and am very interested in the design and construction of various guns and their functioning.

Here are pics of an older B78 for which I built a stock from a chunk of 2 X8 walnut.


DSCF6018.jpg




DSCF6005.jpg
 
Nicely done!
Here's my newly finished 1932 12 ga '97. Had a barrel that was somewhere between seven and ten feet long, dented at the muzzle. Finish was pretty well nonexistant, stock was cracked and gummed up to sheiss. I stripped it down, sent the barrel assy over to Casey @ TACORD, he chopped the barrel to 20.5", and did essentially a Vang Comp job on the barrel- lengthened the forcing cone, and back bored it to modified and put a big fat bead on it. The only thing he didn't do for a full Vang Comp mod was porting. Got a new stock from Jeff's Outfitters somewhere in the states link. Five coats of rust blue, and voila.
IMG_0222.jpg

IMG_0224.jpg
 
Winchester 97 Rebuild Do You Think It's Worth Doing My 1906 Model?

Nice job Oddbawl I wouldn't mind having mine reworked so it looks like that.

The Winchester 1897 12 Gage that I have as I just traded my friend for it is rough but might be worth restoration. I also have an original Winchester 1897 Trench Gun with original heat guard and bayonet lug. I suspect it's from a police force or prison system as it has a rack number marked on the stock.

Here are some pictures of my long 1897 with a butt stock installed by Bubba.

P7260022.jpg

P7260017.jpg

P7260023.jpg

P7260029.jpg
 
Last edited:
Winchester 1897

No I kinda like the old girl, it's not new but has history. I think it was manufactured in the 40's or 50's. Could have been a guard gun for WW2 prisoners. I never did check for Canadian military markings.
I will dig it out some of these days and post some pictures.
 
Back
Top Bottom