Introduction... and discussion about Rossi 92 45LC Project

[awpk03s]

I've stumbled across this site several times and always been impressed with the quality of information I've found, so I finally decided to join up!

I will start here with some pics of guns that are likely to be appreciated here, and then get into my real topic..

CZ Bobwhite 12 gauge side by side, and CZ Mallard 12 gauge over/under. 4 barrels, and 4 triggers!





Ruger Bisley Blackhawk convertible in 45LC/45ACP. One of my absolute favorites.


Now - on to the levergun! I got this Rossi 1892 rifle to compliment my Ruger a couple years ago. I've shot it just enough to know it hits what I aim it at up to about 50 yards, and haven't shot it much beyond that. I've used standard 45 Colt factory ammo, and some Double Tap +P loads (255gr SWC and 300gr JHP).

Rifle is all stainless, with a 24" octagon barrel, which I love. Reminds me of my old blackpowder days. However, now I'm itching to start upgrading it. I'm likely to do all the NKJ upgrades (safety plug, ejector spring, mag tube follower, watch the DVD, etc.) and also go for a brass bead front sight, and a new flat top rear sight as the factory one is way too loose on it's own.

One thing I've always struggled with on this gun is the wood... it just looks dull and maybe stained. I would greatly like to refinish it. However, this brings me to a crossroads so to speak... do I attempt to refinish the factory stock, or should I just go whole hog and get walnut blanks, fit them and finish them?

For those that have refinished a Rossi stock, how have you done it? Strip the factory finish and then use an oil based finished? Any insight would be helpful in this regard, or to the difficulty in fitting and finishing a brand new set of stock blanks..

[KCSO]

Rossi stocks are pretty much pot luck. Some have decent if stringy wood under the painted on finish and some have a white wood that resembles birch. You won't know till you try. It isn't going to cost anything to try re working the factory stock. If you do you can trim it down into a reasonable copy of the real 92 stock. I used a pattern from a 1910 model 92 to shape the stocks on my Rossi's. If you get one of the BIRCH stocks you can stil stain it to look like real wood. I have had good luck darkening them with Magic Maple acid stain and then using dark walnut Danish Oil for a finish.

[AJMD429]

If you do you can trim it down into a reasonable copy of the real 92 stock.

The Rossi stocks seem pretty slender - were 'real' 92 stocks even slimmer...?


...and...


WHERE did you find a stainless Ruger Bisley like that...?

[pokey]

nice post [pics].

welcome home.

[pwl44m]

Welcome and Nice Guns. It only takes a little while & Ur hooked.

[Hagler]

awpk03s,

The Rossis appear to have whatever wood is available, when the rifle is made. Our own Jim Taylor has some information of his:

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/rossi.htm

Butt Stock and Forend

The stock was replaced with a crescent stock from a .45 Rossi. A friend had an extra and gave it to me. I prefer the classic look of the crescent stock and while it is more punishing on you with a hard-kicking gun, the .357 does not present that problem.

The original "finish" was stripped off the stock and forend using StrypEze and steel wool. Once down to bare wood the stock and forend were cleaned and dried and then an oil finish was rubbed in. To my eye an oil finish is much nicer. Using a fine wood rasp and sandpaper all the edges of the forend were rounded. For some reason the Rossi comes with sharp edges on the wood. With a little rounding the gun begins to more closely resemble what it was copied from.

Jim's stocks, after stripping & finishing:







Here is how my Rossi looked, when I got it:

Shawn's Levergun Fairy Buttstock.jpg

Shawn's Levergun Fairy Forend.jpg

DSCN3174.jpg

DSCN3178.jpg

The original owner stripped the wood, and refinished it with just Tru-Oil. The colors are anywhere from a golden honey, to light brown tone. Changing your angle of viewing seems to change the apparent color of the stocks.

Shawn

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Yep, Shawns pretty much dead on. You never know just what’s under that oil stain they use. Some of the guns to about 2003-4 if it came with really dark wood you could bet if you stripped it off the two were totally different in color and grain.
This one was like that. The front was blonde once stripped and the butt was red with some streaks. To make them match the but got Tru-oil and the front got Tru-oil with a red tint. The grain or streaks are done with a sharpie then smeared will still wet.



Your gun looks to be more current and lighter in color so the wood will match. You can strip it and change the color some. Brownells has some stains for old oily mil. wood that penetrate well. Resist the urge to use hardware store stuff. Most of it doesn't handle gun solvent well. For this one I stripped it then mixed a few drops of red Krylon with Tru oil and that Mil stock stain.



At this time no one I know of offers semi inletted Rossi rifle stocks. Even if they did it is a lot of work fitting them even before you get to the finishing. People that have never done it can't believe how expensive custom wood is. Thost that have done it understand fully.

[rogn]

My son and I each got one , '92 45LC SS, last year and during a rainy day shooting session discovered they were done in a water based stain. Well, enough washed off of mine that i decided to do something about it. I went ahead and rubbed in about 5 coats of Tru-oil, The reults were very gratifying with the resulting color being a lighter walnut. The pores filled nicely and the wood took on a satin gloss which has held up well.. The wood unfortunately is fairly soft and dings easily. If I get smart enough to get pics on line Ill try to do so.

[jd45]

AJMD429, every so often, Ruger has a run of these revolvers for an outfit called ACUSPORT. I had one myself a few years ago, but had to sell it unfortunately. It had a .45acp cylinder as well as a .45 Colt cylinder. Shot great AFTER I sent both to the Cylindersmith.com to ream out the chamber throats to .4525". Google Acusport or Ruger to contact them about the next run of these fine revolvers. jd45

[Griff]

and Welcome to THE Forum.

I don't know from shinola about wood refinishing. I just have lucked into some good wood that just needed a little rubbin' w/some Tru-Oil to bring it out!

Them CZ's are some nice shotguns... Thanks for the pics.

[COSteve]

Deleted

[awpk03s]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Yes, the Ruger is a distributor special through Accusport. I see them from time to time in my local shop, and finally just had to snag one. I much prefer the Bisley grip frame, and the 5.5" barrel just balances so well with this piece. The fact that it's stainless and a convertible really ices the cake.

I guess I thought (incorrectly) that a semi finished Winchester 1892 stock blank could be used on the Rossi... glad you guys cleared that up for me before I signed up for a lot more work than I intended for. I think I will take it down and strip the existing wood - and play the wood lotto and see what I got underneath - and smooth the edges and then use some healthy Tru-Oil on it.

[Paladin]

Welcome, some great toys. Really like the .45 Ruger.

[Ysabel Kid]

nice post [pics].

welcome home.

+1

[gamekeeper]

Welcome to the fire..
Rossi wood!!! the only thing I didn't like about the Rossi I had was the stock and forearm looked like they came from different forests, let alone a different tree!!

[awpk03s]

Thanks for all the help and advice here. Last weekend I stripped down my rifle, and used a furniture stripper to take off all of the old finish from the wood. I then used 3-4 coats of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil (drying in between) and it really turned out nice. I just may do another coat on the buttstock, but all in all I am really pleased with it.

I will need to take some pictures and post to show the finished result.

[Hungarian]

I have restored several antique radios and I have used wood toners from Mohawk. You might want to look into that brand.

[Quench]

Here's some more Rossi wood. The carbine is my difinitive 'John Wayne movie rifle'. The wood was stripped, distressed, top comb was sharpened up like the old originals. The front of the forearm was also rounded off like the originals. Then stained with Tandy's saddle tan antiqueing liquid paste. Then several coats of tru oil with steelwooling inbetween coats. Then after final steelwooling, finished off with some neutral Kiwi shoe wax.

FYI most of the metal finish was knocked down using only 400 and 600 wet-dry without major disassembly. NKJ did action job and he also repositioned front sight and added saddle ring. 44-40 of course, just like the Duke's

I included this 2nd shot to compare wood colors. If you will notice, the '94's forearm on the left is orignal and untouched. It's an early '60's vintage. It's wood color is pretty darn close to the Rossi's. It's buttstock is from Fajen, and is a little lighter color.