Winchester 1892 lever action question

[ronincop]

I just inherited a Win 1892 lever action rifle. I checked the serial number and it was made in 1894. Here is my question: Someone (before my father-in-law acquired it) spray painted the entire rifle (barrel, receiver, & stock) all black. Should I try and restore it to its original look or leave it as it is? Thanks in advance for any input.

[J Miller]

I just inherited a Win 1892 lever action rifle. I checked the serial number and it was made in 1894. Here is my question: Someone (before my father-in-law acquired it) spray painted the entire rifle (barrel, receiver, & stock) all black. Should I try and restore it to its original look or leave it as it is? Thanks in advance for any input.

Ronincop,

Welcome to the forum.

If that rifle were mine, I'd simply take it completely apart, remove the paint and give it a real good cleaning. While I was doing that I'd inspect every part for wear and damage and replace anything that needed it. Doing that is not a restoration, nor will it harm the rifle. It is simply maintenance.

Who knows, under all that paint may lurk a really great shooter.

Joe

[Ysabel Kid]

I just inherited a Win 1892 lever action rifle. I checked the serial number and it was made in 1894. Here is my question: Someone (before my father-in-law acquired it) spray painted the entire rifle (barrel, receiver, & stock) all black. Should I try and restore it to its original look or leave it as it is? Thanks in advance for any input.

Ronincop,

Welcome to the forum.

If that rifle were mine, I'd simply take it completely apart, remove the paint and give it a real good cleaning. While I was doing that I'd inspect every part for wear and damage and replace anything that needed it. Doing that is not a restoration, nor will it harm the rifle. It is simply maintenance.

Who knows, under all that paint may lurk a really great shooter.

Joe

+1 - on both parts (welcome and stripping the paint).

That is just a sin (spray painting a gun from 1894!!!)

[Chuck 100 yd]

You are one lucky guy. Better to deal with paint than rust!!!

[rjohns94]

what they said. welcome to the forum. get the paint off it and go shoot, making sure before you do that it is in great working order.

[Old Ironsights]

Might actually be worth more "in the white" after you strip the paint than if you re-blue it.

Personally, I'd strip it and keep it "in the white" with a light coat of paste wax to protect the metal from rust....

and shoot the heck out of it.

[greasy dan]

... same as above, with one addition...
Take pics... before & after. Then post them here.

Inheretence has Memories...

[salvo]

Welcome to the fire ronicop!
I agree with the rest here and like greasy dan said, pictures before and after

Here is a 94 about to get the paint treatment...Oh the horror!
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/inde ... 243.0.html

[Tycer]

... same as above, with one addition...
Take pics... before & after. Then post them here.

Inheretence has Memories...

If you can, create a scrap book for your great-grandkids with any info you can dig up on this gun's past. Include pics and stories of the owners including you and whatever you decide to do with the gun and why. This will keep the gun in the family as an heirloom. An heirloom that can put meat on the table for generations to come.

Welcome to the fire......

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I just inherited a Win 1892 lever action rifle. I checked the serial number and it was made in 1894. Here is my question: Someone (before my father-in-law acquired it) spray painted the entire rifle (barrel, receiver, & stock) all black. Should I try and restore it to its original look or leave it as it is? Thanks in advance for any input.

Howdy and welcome,
A family gun, that's great. If you can chronical any of the history to keep with it your kids will appreciate it in the future. We never really own guns, we are just stewards for awhile.

If it were mine I would take it down at least enough to get the wood off then strip the paint off. Then you can oil it to stop any rust and may a bit of Tru oil on the wood to seal it, too.

This old Marlin is a family gun that got away from the grandfather but 40 years later bought back by the granson. He sent it to me as an old brown metal oily wood gun for a refinish.

[Gun Smith]

Stripping the metal parts with lacquer MAY not damage any existing bluing. And there may actually be some bluing under the paint. Also even a refinished stock will have more value to a collector than a painted one. So go ahead and redo it!

[Griff]

Congrats on acquiring a grand ol' gun. What said above; including the Welcome.