Would it be crazy to refinish this?

mikeystew

mikeystew

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I know this might be controversial... But refinishing this old winchester back to its (near) original condition? It's an 1894 in 38/55, but it's seen better days. To continue being a shooter it needs work. The bore is really nice looking, until you get to the last 1/2" at the muzzle. The rifling disappears and the crown looks pooched. So my guess is it either needs a cut/crown or counter boring. Also the mag tube bracket is loose in its dovetail so that needs work, as does the stock which has a stable hairline crack behind the lower tang. I'd like to reinforce that area.

My thinking is I'd rather do the work on it and make it a reliable and accurate shooter rather than let it retire as an antique wall hanger or parts gun. But would I be ruining the value? I want to think it would be worth the same if not more if properly restored. I know you don't really get to pay yourself anything for doing the work with refinishing... I just don't want to de-value it.



 
I think that refinishing it would improve the value. It has no collector value , the only value is for parts the way it sits. The but stock is a carbine butt not a rifle one. IMHO you can only go up in value by rebuilding it! Good Luck with your project!
 
Yup it is wsy past being a collector piece. Get her redone and enjoy it for what it is. A great hunting rifle. Thy made so many of these guns that it takes a very good one or a rare one to have any real collectable value. Thy do look very nice redone and you can pass it down after you have had your turn....
 
I wouldn't hesitate to refinish that rifle would be cool to pack it around hunting once it's fixed up.

I'm old and I don't wear the same clothes/jackets/hats I used to wear when I was in my 20's I wear the most modern outdoor clothes I can afford.

I'd give it a facelift bring new life back into that old gem of a rifle.
 
I am faced with a similar decision. I inherited my grandfather's 1894 30-30 when he passed away. It WAS in better shape than the one pictured, but i foolishly lent it to a family member. It was hunted with, got wet, and put in a case. I literally shed tears that day...

I believe my grandfather would be happy to see the rifle get a face lift, but i still struggle with it.

It still shoots light out, for a rifle that turned 110 this year.
 
The thing is I don't actually intend to keep the rifle. I'm just contemplating buying it from a guy I know and reselling it. But I'm a sucker for a project, and thought this could be a really decent rifle with a nice slow rust blue and hand rubbed stock finish. I'd probably put it on the market for $100 more or so refinished compared to its existing condition.
 
jparent said:
I am faced with a similar decision. I inherited my grandfather's 1894 30-30 when he passed away. It WAS in better shape than the one pictured, but i foolishly lent it to a family member. It was hunted with, got wet, and put in a case. I literally shed tears that day...

I believe my grandfather would be happy to see the rifle get a face lift, but i still struggle with it.

It still shoots light out, for a rifle that turned 110 this year.
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In your case, it's simple, do what your grandpa would have wanted you to do..... Sentimental value far outweighs gun value......

I am about to drop $400 into a stoeger Uplander because my dad is handing it down to my boy and it was the first gun I ever carried afield in a hunting situation....... It means more to me to see my boy hunt with it and have my dad see him hunt with it than tossing it on the ee for $300 and putting that towards a plastic fantastic.....
 
Last year I modernized my grandfathers made in 1958 Husqvarna 3000 in 270 Wby I shot my first 10 - 20 deer and my first moose with this rifle.

It now sits in a Mcmillan Sako Hunter palm swell stock Cerakoted OD green I had the barreled action Cerakoted satin black.

A new Leupold VX2 4-12X40mm LR reticle scope is mounted on it with Leupold bases/rings I even bought two super rare detachable mags for it.

Dressing up this old gun with modern clothes and turning into something that I can hunt with in any weather conditions was a fun but expensive project and totally worth it.
 
There is more to ruin than collector value... there is character and history... leave it as is... appreciate as is... or pass it along to be appreciated as is... messing with it will just leave a crappy, mucked up rifle, with it's soul ripped out... JMO.
 
hoytcanon said:
There is more to ruin than collector value... there is character and history... leave it as is... appreciate as is... or pass it along to be appreciated as is... messing with it will just leave a crappy, mucked up rifle, with it's soul ripped out... JMO.
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I agree... Especially for a rifle that is over 100 years old (if early manufacture)
 
hoytcanon said:
There is more to ruin than collector value... there is character and history... leave it as is... appreciate as is... or pass it along to be appreciated as is... messing with it will just leave a crappy, mucked up rifle, with it's soul ripped out... JMO.
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He has such a way with words that I have to add my plus one!:)
 
hoytcanon said:
There is more to ruin than collector value... there is character and history... leave it as is... appreciate as is... or pass it along to be appreciated as is... messing with it will just leave a crappy, mucked up rifle, with it's soul ripped out... JMO.
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Well said..... And last I saw, op was looking at getting back into shooting and reloading on a very strict budget...... Based on that, this would go quick in my books......
 
Not sure what you mean by that exactly Superbrad. I already mentioned I intend to sell this regardless. I don't want a 38-55... No interest in this gun personally. I bought a Scoped Remington 788 from the same guy I got this from that I intend to reload for and keep as my shooter.
 
Don't listen to these guys they don't know what they are talking about = fix it up.

Heres another story for you.

A few years before the long gun registry was forced on us my dad's best friend gave me his old Win 94 30-30 yes obviously pre 64 he's 80 now and bought it new when he was in his early 20's.

I refinished the wood and had the barreled action glass beaded to hide the rust spots that were all over the rifle I then had it reblued.

I gave it back to him all refinished he was totally excited when he saw how nice it looked he even went back out hunting with it a few times.

The LGR was then forced on us and the rifle due to him not wanting to deal with it was given to me it still looks good I used it in side shoots at cowboy action competitions and have hunted with it.

Fix up the gun... :)
 
My recommendation would be to putter with some extra fine steel wool and find a can of Fluid Film.
Shake the pizz out of the can and spray a liberal amount on the old gal.
Then gently caress the liquid into the gal with tender loving rubs of the steel wool.
Repeat until she shines.
Spray the innards too.
Brush the barrel with the same ingredients.
Then go find some ammo and blast a can or two.
Maybe the eyes on that ole'gal might still be good?
To do anything else would be...................*&%$!*+
 
Do what you want, LOTS out there for the collectors and it's got a pooched bore. No ones gonna want a shot out, rattling specimen. Do the thing justice and refinish it right and keep what could be an awesome rifle. Sure it has history and all that but I mean cmon they still make the ffs. Why leave your choice up to a bunch of Internet warriors?
 
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