Update is post #9.
Got this rifle for only $30. However is was extremely neglected and practically abused by it's previous owner.
What doesn't show in the before picture is the following:
1. Rear sight step missing and rear sight loose. "Fixed" with a large slathering of epoxy.
2. Front magazine tube block loose. "Fixed" again, with a large puddle of epoxy.
3. Front barrel band missing. "Fixed", yup, you guessed it.. epoxy again.
4. Rear tang of trigger guard broken off but screw ring still intact. Bet you can't guessed how it was "fixed". (Yes, epoxy. )
5. Stock "refinished". It looks like the previous owner attempted to stain it without removing the remaining original finish and then painted it in poly with a very large brush.
6. Receiver heavily scratched and dinged.
7. Light surface pitting starting on the barrel.
8. Live .22 round bent in 1/2 and jammed in the lifter assy.
9. A dent in the magazine tube deep enough to make it difficult to extract the inner tube.
10. missing both sling swivels (and sling).
The one true positive is that somehow despite the neglect, the bore is still in extremely excellent condition and with an undamaged crown.
Here it was as I got it. (In hind sight I really should have taken more/better pictures.)
First goal was to get it functional. To do so took only the forceful (yet very careful) removal of the live round from the lifter assy. Followed by a very, very, very thorough cleaning. Also found if the rear trigger guard screw was tightened to far it would bind the trigger.
Then I made a wooden "shim" that went between the top of the trigger guard and the bottom of the receiver. Seated it behind the rear screw to prevent over tightening the screw.
I shimmed the rear sight and front magazine tube block with aluminum (soda can slivers) to make them tight.
Used a long, large bolt, gently tapping it into the magazine tube to take out some of the dent and free the action of the inner tube.
And replaced the rear sight step.
Next I stripped all of the epoxy and stripped the stock with MEK.
Applied a Red Mahogany stain
Located a complete set of original swivels and a barrel band on eBay for cheap. Found a vintage leather 1" sling. Smoothed and repainted the receiver (baking the paint on). Cleaned the surface rust off and oiled the barrel.
Then put 6 coats of low gloss Formby's Tung Oil finish on to complete the revival.
Altogether invested $60 and about 12 hours of work over the course of 3 weeks.
Please, tell me what you think.
Got this rifle for only $30. However is was extremely neglected and practically abused by it's previous owner.
What doesn't show in the before picture is the following:
1. Rear sight step missing and rear sight loose. "Fixed" with a large slathering of epoxy.
2. Front magazine tube block loose. "Fixed" again, with a large puddle of epoxy.
3. Front barrel band missing. "Fixed", yup, you guessed it.. epoxy again.
4. Rear tang of trigger guard broken off but screw ring still intact. Bet you can't guessed how it was "fixed". (Yes, epoxy. )
5. Stock "refinished". It looks like the previous owner attempted to stain it without removing the remaining original finish and then painted it in poly with a very large brush.
6. Receiver heavily scratched and dinged.
7. Light surface pitting starting on the barrel.
8. Live .22 round bent in 1/2 and jammed in the lifter assy.
9. A dent in the magazine tube deep enough to make it difficult to extract the inner tube.
10. missing both sling swivels (and sling).
The one true positive is that somehow despite the neglect, the bore is still in extremely excellent condition and with an undamaged crown.
Here it was as I got it. (In hind sight I really should have taken more/better pictures.)
First goal was to get it functional. To do so took only the forceful (yet very careful) removal of the live round from the lifter assy. Followed by a very, very, very thorough cleaning. Also found if the rear trigger guard screw was tightened to far it would bind the trigger.
Then I made a wooden "shim" that went between the top of the trigger guard and the bottom of the receiver. Seated it behind the rear screw to prevent over tightening the screw.
I shimmed the rear sight and front magazine tube block with aluminum (soda can slivers) to make them tight.
Used a long, large bolt, gently tapping it into the magazine tube to take out some of the dent and free the action of the inner tube.
And replaced the rear sight step.
Next I stripped all of the epoxy and stripped the stock with MEK.
Applied a Red Mahogany stain
Located a complete set of original swivels and a barrel band on eBay for cheap. Found a vintage leather 1" sling. Smoothed and repainted the receiver (baking the paint on). Cleaned the surface rust off and oiled the barrel.
Then put 6 coats of low gloss Formby's Tung Oil finish on to complete the revival.
Altogether invested $60 and about 12 hours of work over the course of 3 weeks.
Please, tell me what you think.
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