To restore or not? Can't decide.

[2ndovc]

I've never had anything restored/ re-blued, but the thought keeps coming up.

Another one of my grandfather's Winchesters that I've had for twenty years or so. The outside of this .44-40 isn't terrible, but the bore looks like a sewer pipe. All is does is sit in the rack and look nice with the others, but I don't think I've shot it again since I first got it. As much as I hate to alter an original, I know I'd shoot it a heck of a lot more if I could actually hit something past 20 yards.



Thoughts?


jb

[Rockrat]

Too nice looking to just sit on the wall. I would get it re-lined and enjoy shooting it. Leave everything else alone.

[vancelw]

Too nice looking to just sit on the wall. I would get it re-lined and enjoy shooting it. Leave everything else alone.

+1

[6pt-sika]

I had a circa 1906ish 1894TD that had a sewer pipe barrel . When loaded with jacketed it would cut cloverleafs at 50 yards using open sights .

Granted that was a few years back and I could see a lot better .

As to restore I wouldn't but thats me .

[Drawdown]

Well it's a beautiful rifle as is, especially being families! But to my way thinking, lot more meaningful to do what's needed to get it back in the field! And I think most Grandpa's would feel the same! In their times, gun collections didn't exist much, but one or two good rifles done it all! Let it live on!

[Griff]

I'm of the "I don't shoot ugly guns" group. If it were mine, I'd be looking at getting it restored. I've used a couple of my guns enough that they looked like antiques, and have had them redone back to their former glory. I've also done the D-I-Y thing on a couple to bring them partially back. I still have to finish polishing my 1894 Marlin before it goes out for refinishing.

[marlinman93]

I agree with others who suggest relining it, but not changing anything else. With so much family history lost with a restoration I would never want to not retain it's current appeal. But making it a great shooter wont hurt anything at this point.

[jnyork]

I agree with others who suggest relining it, but not changing anything else. With so much family history lost with a restoration I would never want to not retain it's current appeal. But making it a great shooter wont hurt anything at this point.

This.

[OldWin]

Too nice looking to just sit on the wall. I would get it re-lined and enjoy shooting it. Leave everything else alone.

IMO this is excellent advice.
It's an heirloom, so I can't imagine resale value is a concern.
The thought of it being used down the generations, however, is priceless. I would definitely get a re-line.

[Twodot]

yup, re-line.
..

[Oldncrusty]

I think its gorgeous as is and rebluing would make it ugly. Another vote for relining or rebarreling.

[GunnyMack]

Re-line the bore

OR if you really wanted to go full tilt, send it to Turnbull for new wood, polish, blue, case harden etc.

I'd do the bore and start shooting it.

[2ndovc]

Thanks Guys.

Having it relined is the direction I was leaning, though it wouldn't just be a re-blue but a Turnbull style restoration.

So, big question is; who to send it to for relining?

jb

[4t5]

could try J E S RIFLE REBORING , pretty sure I've seen that name on this site numerous times, good luck!

[Bronco]

Oldncrusty

I think its gorgeous as is and rebluing would make it ugly. Another vote for relining or rebarreling.

Now there is an option I would also consider...... rebarrel and save the original so that if future generations want to put it back to 100% original they can ! I am on the fence as to which way, probably leaning on a new barrel so someone could go back if they wanted to.

Sure is a awesome looking rifle and with so much family history the depth that gives , wish I had something like that in my family with envy

[AJMD429]

I agree with others who suggest relining it, but not changing anything else. With so much family history lost with a restoration I would never want to not retain it's current appeal. But making it a great shooter wont hurt anything at this point.

Same here.

I have a Marlin 1889 and 32-20 that I would like to get relined at some point. Have a modern one that I can shoot Auto loads in, but it would be nice to get the old one some time at the range or hunting.

[Ysabel Kid]

Another vote for reline and keep everything else as original as possible. An inaccurate gun is pretty much just a piece of art. Not that this isn't enough for some guns, but to be able to take your grandfather's gun and get it ready for your grandchildren to actually shoot and enjoy someday? That is priceless!

[marlinman93]

Reboring to a .32 Win. Special might be possible, but not sure whoever would do so could follow the rifling twist exactly, and get it right. So might mean it would need to go larger than .32 to get a new bore. That would mean it would also need a new carrier if it went to say .38-55, and not sure I'd want to alter the gun that much.
Reline is still the best option, and there are numerous gunsmiths who can do so and do it well.
Where are you located? That will help in determining someone close to do this reline.

[Grizz]

what about soaking the barrel with some substance that could loosen lead and copper but leave the steel alone. is there such a thing? i think i read about that kind of treatment on this forum, or the old old old marlin forum, but don't recall any details. . .

relining is a good repair and extends the life indefinitely . . . glad you have that history .. .

[Bill in Oregon]

Jason, as others have said, leave the exterior as is -- with so much character -- and send the barrel to this talented gentleman for relining:
Bobby Hoyt
Freischutz Shop
2379 Mt Hope Rd
Fairfield, PA 17320
ph# 717-642-6696

[2ndovc]

Thanks Bill, I will give him a call.

Grizz,
It's not that there's stuff down there, it's that there's little bits missing. It has an inch or two of perfect bore, then great big divots and gaps.
Hard to explain, but I'm betting it was fired with some BP ammo back in the day and not cleaned properly. On top of that, my grandfather stored most of his guns in a not so dry basement. Some of his rifles were badly rusted and pitted.

jb

[lthardman]

If your Grandfather were still using it, what would he do? I never met the man, obviously, but his generation sure put function over anything else. I am betting he would have it relined and brought back to shooting straight. And that is what I would do for sure. I doubt your Grandfather had much use for an inaccurate game getter.

[Streetstar]

with what 6ptSitka said above -- i would put a box through it for fun to see what it does first off some sandbags (oof - just re-read your original post where you said it wouldnt hit anything past 20 yards - gotcha )

If it shoots fine , id leave it alone but if its throwing out buckshot patterns -- well, everyone else has given you great advice on re-lining it.

Regarding just re-lining it or having a Turnbull style restoration performed -- thats a tough one. Personally i like bling more than patina but its only original the one time

ITs pretty in its own way but Turnbull does amazing work -- usually the thought process is most "restoration" jobs wipe out a lot of a gun's intrinsic value , but to me , the work of a name high end outfit like Turnbull, Bowen (there are a few others) can actually increase the value.

[Blaine]

Too nice looking to just sit on the wall. I would get it re-lined and enjoy shooting it. Leave everything else alone.

+1

+2

[rossim92]

Too nice looking to just sit on the wall. I would get it re-lined and enjoy shooting it. Leave everything else alone.

+1

+2

+3

[2ndovc]

with what 6ptSitka said above -- i would put a box through it for fun to see what it does first off some sandbags (oof - just re-read your original post where you said it wouldnt hit anything past 20 yards - gotcha )

If it shoots fine , id leave it alone but if its throwing out buckshot patterns -- well, everyone else has given you great advice on re-lining it.

Regarding just re-lining it or having a Turnbull style restoration performed -- thats a tough one. Personally i like bling more than patina but its only original the one time

ITs pretty in its own way but Turnbull does amazing work -- usually the thought process is most "restoration" jobs wipe out a lot of a gun's intrinsic value , but to me , the work of a name high end outfit like Turnbull, Bowen (there are a few others) can actually increase the value.

Right there is the dilemma. A real, Turnbull (etc) style restoration, not just a "Billy Bob" re-blue is the thought I keep having. Either option will set it up for any future generation to use or hang on the wall, but for me and whatever time I have left on this planet it would having, not only something very special, but useful as well.

A little background on my grandfather. He had his working guns, but this 92 and several others were simply part of a pretty random collection. My grandmother had given a couple of his rifles/ shotguns to his friends mostly the everyday farm guns, and I got the rest, The Model 94 and 95 that he did use, I have as well and they will stay just as they are, worn but 100% functional. His Colt, Official Police that was in his nightstand will always be here. My mom always said, grandpa would only buy something that he thought was a good deal. Didn't matter if it was guns, trucks, tractors or another nearby farm he could add to his own.

So, it was one of my grandpa's Winchesters, but not one that had any sentimental value for him or put food on the table. Most likely, he bought it at a yard sale a half decade ago, never looked down the bore and put it in the closet with the others. This would be a project just for me with a classic '92 in a great caliber that I'd be able to shoot and walk some trails again with a little connection to the past.

Anyway, I appreciate the thoughts and feedback.


jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'd reline it so that it would be useful again. Pretty isn't that important to me, but function is.

[Streetstar]

[

So, it was one of my grandpa's Winchesters, but not one that had any sentimental value for him or put food on the table. Most likely, he bought it at a yard sale a half decade ago, never looked down the bore and put it in the closet with the others. This would be a project just for me with a classic '92 in a great caliber that I'd be able to shoot and walk some trails again with a little connection to the past.

Anyway, I appreciate the thoughts and feedback.


jb

Now that you put it that way - if it were mine it would be on the way to one of those guys for the full "Beauty Shop Treatment" - you probably wouldnt see it again for 2 years and it would cost 3k, but man

And here's where i possibly get blasphemous --- If a re-line is needed anyway, i'd inquire about bumping it up to .45 Colt as well as doing a TD conversion , as i always thought takedowns were cool, even if in most cases they are a solution looking for a problem
.45 Colt is just a personal choice -- it definitely was not available in that gun back then , but i will fully admit to being a hack reloader and i have ruined too many fragile 44/40 cases to comment on

Again though , at the end of the day, nobody can tell ya how to spend your own hard earned money


Aaaaaaand -- i did not need to go to the Turnbull website. customized GP-100 at a "affordable" sort of price point. As im considering a new production Python, - this complicates things -- would be a no-brainer if it had an action job though - (Sorry for slight thread drift)


https://www.turnbullrestoration.com/gun ... -log-8887/

[2ndovc]

That GP is sharp! I've been back and forth on which Python to get, the 3" or the 4". I know "both". Probably. My dad has one of the 6" versions and is planning on a 4". He shoots it and his Troopers all winter long while he's in FL. He loves Colt DAs.

I wouldn't change the caliber or do a a takedown. I have a new '73 in .45 Colt that I just love and would like a .44-40 rifle that's shootable.
Right this minute, I'm really thinking about the Full Tilt restoration. It's pricy, but doable. I'm going to have a trophy bonus check from this month's claims and it's going to get spent on the Winchester or diamonds for Blondie.
Either way, it's all good.

jb

[vancelw]

That GP is sharp! I've been back and forth on which Python to get, the 3" or the 4". I know "both". Probably. My dad has one of the 6" versions and is planning on a 4". He shoots it and his Troopers all winter long while he's in FL. He loves Colt DAs.

I wouldn't change the caliber or do a a takedown. I have a new '73 in .45 Colt that I just love and would like a .44-40 rifle that's shootable.
Right this minute, I'm really thinking about the Full Tilt restoration. It's pricy, but doable. I'm going to have a trophy bonus check from this month's claims and it's going to get spent on the Winchester or diamonds for Blondie.
Either way, it's all good.

jb

I have my grandfather's circa 1906 Model '94 SRC. Well, well worn. Not a collector by any means but has killed many and many a deer in the hands of scores of uncles, cousins, family friends.. It has a ton of sentimental value. It also has the wear and headspace to show for all the use.
I asked Turnbull at DSC about a complete treatment and they acted like they wouldn't even talk seriously to me about it. I guess he thought I had no idea what the price tag would be, but I did. But their lack of interest is now mutual.