Rough old 1895

[Guy Miner]

This beat up Marlin came my way today, to give it a good look-over and start fixing it up a little. Belonged to a fellow up in the far north, who used it hard, until he was done with it. I suspect he'd be mighty sad about the shape it's in now, and I intend to restore it somewhat, for his niece. It's going to be a balancing act, making it safe to use again, without erasing his mark on the ol' rifle. I suspect this Marlin filled the freezer with many an Alaskan moose in years gone by.

The stock is broken - as I suspected before removing the black electrical tape. Obviously the barrel was set down on something wet, for some time. Were it my gun a new stock would be in order, and at least a new finish on the metal. As it is - I'll tread lightly, bringing it back a bit, to where it's safe to use, yet not completely refinished like a new rifle. I need to listen hard to the family, and make sure I'm giving them what they want with this and a half dozen more guns with which they've entrusted me. It's going to take a bit, but I intend to bring 'em all back to useable condition, without wiping out the decades of use he put them to.

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, it was ridden hard and put away wet. However, the man saw it as a tool and not a toy. Good luck on the restoration project, Guy. It will be a great challenge, no doubt.

 

[6mm Remington]

That one is going to take an awful lot of TLC to put it back into condition Guy. Just as a thought Guy maybe a new stock with a nice oil finish of some type would be the ticket. You could try and fix and dowel the broken one as best as you can and finish it, but put the new stock on it for use, and they would still have the old one if they wanted to change it back to how dad had it. At least that way it would still be with the rifle should they ever decide to retire it just for a show piece. That one looks like it would be pretty difficult to fix to the point it had some structural strength in it. I know what you mean though about not taking the "history" out of it.

Good luck. Keep us posted with updates as the project goes along.
David

 

[SJB358]

Man, that poor old 1895 has seen some use! Wow!.. What does the bore look like Guy? I am with David, if it is to be used again, fresh wood is needed for reliability and the metal needs a good blueing or maybe Cerrakote.. It will still be the same 1895, just ready for the next generation of hunters.

 

[FOTIS]

Ouch! Kick the owner's butt~

 

[BK]

Man, that poor old 1895 has seen some use! Wow!.. What does the bore look like Guy? I am with David, if it is to be used again, fresh wood is needed for reliability and the metal needs a good blueing or maybe Cerrakote.. It will still be the same 1895, just ready for the next generation of hunters.

I understand keeping it like grandpa left it, but if that were mine, a new stock and Cerakote would be in order. Probably new sights, too.

It's way cool that they entrusted you to this task, Guy!

 

[FOTIS]

I am with you BK!

 

[JD338]

Guy,

That is going to be a cool project. IF only that rifle could talk.....

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

I should have explained better - the owner lived up in Alaska, used his guns hard, lived a simple, hunters life, alone for a long time.

He got sick, and couldn't care for himself well, or his guns, then died. This one is by far the worst of the lot and is going to be the toughest to bring back. Condition on the others ranges from not quite this bad to almost perfect.

The family wants the guns cleaned, lubed, and made safe to shoot again. I'm happy to do that for them. It's going to be as easy as a simple routine clean and lube job on some, and others will need some parts replaced. This one is by far the biggest challenge - and yes if it was mine - the buttstock would be replaced, I'd get rid of as much of that pitting as possible and have the whole thing coated with one of the new wonder-finishes.

I'm not sure they want to erase all traces of use by a favorite uncle. It's going to be a balancing act between what needs to be done, and doing too much.

Guy

 

[Woodycreek]

Think it's kinda cool that the rifle actually got used that much. I can only hope my 1895 gets that much use!

 

[Bruce Mc]

Looks to me like a litle 0000 steel wool, tru oil, epoxy and hours of elbow grease will put that rifle back in serviceable condition without removing it character.

 

[muleman]

Guy,
Try RB17 on the rusted ones. It'll remove the rust but not the bluing. Good stuff!

http://www.rb-treasures.com/product3.html

Scott

 

[BK]

Guy,
Try RB17 on the rusted ones. It'll remove the rust but not the bluing. Good stuff!

http://www.rb-treasures.com/product3.html

Scott

Wish I would have known about that one before I wasted the finish on my BPS after a spa day of alkali mud bath treatments while goose hunting in Eastern Oregon!