Re-finishing and Re-bluing
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:42 am
Hey Guys,
I have several questions about the restoration process. I am sure many of us have rifles that are in pretty good condition and we would not do anything to them that would negatively affect the value of our precious weapons. But, I happen to have a couple that certainly could use a touch up and would improve the appearance and the value of the rifle.
Does anyone out there have some general "rules of thumb" that would give direction as to restore or not to restore? I know cost is one issue. Some place in the reading of various forums, I have seen some advice on the type of re-bluing that should be used. I know someone said that the bluing of the original factory issued rifles had a bluing process that created a different look than other bluing. Can anyone tell me what that process is called and where you would go to get it done?
The other issue that always concerns me about sending guns for re-bluing is the quality of preparation and care that must be taken to preserve lettering and numbers on the rifle. Careless attention to the buffing process can lead to softened edges and obliterated lettering. I no longer attempt re-bluing because of the buffing process. I made a mess out of some guns in years past as I was learning. I will allow professional to do it now.
I understand personal preference in wood finishes and that leads to my next question. It is difficult to tell what some of the original finishes looked like when they came from the factory. These rifles were used hard and over time the finshes show the wear and tear. Many of what we get today have had some attempt of refinishing and you see a wide variety of quality and condition. Excluding the higher grades, what was the original finish suppose to be? Was it satin, oil finish, hi-gloss, low-gloss or none of the above?
I know pictures show various qualities of finishing. Do you think we could get someone to post some high quality pictures of what the original stock and forearm finishes looked like? I know that it would certainly help me to have a benchmark of what to strive for in wood restoration.
I know you guys have some opinions of this issue so let me hear from you. Thank you in advance for your responses.
Jack1653
I have several questions about the restoration process. I am sure many of us have rifles that are in pretty good condition and we would not do anything to them that would negatively affect the value of our precious weapons. But, I happen to have a couple that certainly could use a touch up and would improve the appearance and the value of the rifle.
Does anyone out there have some general "rules of thumb" that would give direction as to restore or not to restore? I know cost is one issue. Some place in the reading of various forums, I have seen some advice on the type of re-bluing that should be used. I know someone said that the bluing of the original factory issued rifles had a bluing process that created a different look than other bluing. Can anyone tell me what that process is called and where you would go to get it done?
The other issue that always concerns me about sending guns for re-bluing is the quality of preparation and care that must be taken to preserve lettering and numbers on the rifle. Careless attention to the buffing process can lead to softened edges and obliterated lettering. I no longer attempt re-bluing because of the buffing process. I made a mess out of some guns in years past as I was learning. I will allow professional to do it now.
I understand personal preference in wood finishes and that leads to my next question. It is difficult to tell what some of the original finishes looked like when they came from the factory. These rifles were used hard and over time the finshes show the wear and tear. Many of what we get today have had some attempt of refinishing and you see a wide variety of quality and condition. Excluding the higher grades, what was the original finish suppose to be? Was it satin, oil finish, hi-gloss, low-gloss or none of the above?
I know pictures show various qualities of finishing. Do you think we could get someone to post some high quality pictures of what the original stock and forearm finishes looked like? I know that it would certainly help me to have a benchmark of what to strive for in wood restoration.
I know you guys have some opinions of this issue so let me hear from you. Thank you in advance for your responses.
Jack1653