Winchester rifle restoration

[Bear]

I have a couple of rifles I need to do some restoration work on and I have no idea where to start. the fist one is a Model 1894 30.30 Canadian Pacific Railway collectors edition. It is all Pewter inlay and walnut stock, it is one of 300 made (#274), it comes in a large Oak case and it has a #'s matching railway spike. It has sat in its case for the last 2 years and the pewter is very corroded. Any ideas on how to go about restoring this weapon. The rest of it is mint, just the pewter is in rough shape.
The 2nd rifle is also a Model 1894, 30.30 with a hexagon barrel. We have traced the serial # back and found out it was made in 1907. At one point it was droped on the butt and broke a small piece of wood and from the butt. Other than that, the weapon is in mint condition.
Any help you can give me to restore these weapons would be great.
I have another rifle, it is also a model 1894 30.30, it's an RCMP 100th anaversary rifle with all gold inlay, but it is still in good condition. My dad gave me these, and I want to get them back into good shape, and keep them that way.

[d190]

I haven't subscribed to SHOTGUN NEWS (don't let the title fool you....the EBAY of guns in print)....they use to have anything and everything in replacement parts...so you might find areplacement stock and keep the original in the current condition....

[Bear]

A few more pics

[Bear]

Just one more

[Dinero No Mas]

Be careful with that stock. The original stock with the chip is worth more to the value of the gun than a restored stock. D190 is no where near that old, but he has a few chips missing.

Pewter restoration is a tough one. I'll have to do some research. For the time being get it oiled and sealed with something to stop further damage.

[Bear]

Be careful with that stock. The original stock with the chip is worth more to the value of the gun than a restored stock. D190 is no where near that old, but he has a few chips missing.

Pewter restoration is a tough one. I'll have to do some research. For the time being get it oiled and sealed with something to stop further damage.

We still have the original wood chip out of the stock. In 1985 my mom was moving the rifle and droped it (she had parkinsons) I saved the wood chip and they are in a bag with the rifle. Thanks for your help, Pewter is a tough one.

[N00DLES]

:Waving: Hey Mrs. Bear............................I found the key to the garage!!!



:1087:

[Bear]

I got some break free and some gun brushes, will spray it down and let it soak, then start out with the soft brushes and see where we end up

[buck]

I got some break free and some gun brushes, will spray it down and let it soak, then start out with the soft brushes and see where we end up



sounds like a good place to start.......sometimes the patina of age is worth more than new......

BTW....nice guns. I really like the RCMP model.

[Bear]

Thanks Buck and welcome to the site

[Waffen]

Bear, they are beautiful... As DNM said get some oil on them, possible even some gun sacks to keep them out of the air.. I'm not recommending this, but I have a lot of pewter pieces and have used silver polish to shine them up.. I guess I would tell you to go to a reputable gunsmith and ask him/her their advise..

Strike the silver polish... Depending on the type of pewter and the lead, tin, antimony percentages you may just want to wash it with warm water and soap...

Lever guns, just love them.

W

[Bear]

Thanks Waffen, I have soaked the pewter in Break Free oil, I will let it soak over night. I am going to try using a very soft gun brush on it tomorrow (like a tooth brush) and see where that gets me. I am going to take it to a gun smith if I don't make any headway. I have to get it shined up and well oiled. The break free sure took the rust off of the spike and the barrel, they look like new now. I have to find myself a lighted display case to put these in when I get them fixed up.
Cheers
Bear

[SeaHag]

I'm no collector; but you have a beautiful inheritance there. Good to see that they are being cared for. Thanks for posting the pics.

I had a gun I was holding for a while. A buddy of mine asked me to store it while he was going through his divorce. Couldn't risk losing them to his wife; as it too was an inheritance from his father. It was a lever action 30.30 Buffalo Bill Cody model with a gold medallion in the stock, and a heavy hexagon barrel. Can't remember the manufacturer anymore; but even that gun pales next to the examples you have.

[Dinero No Mas]

BTW....nice guns. I really like the RCMP model.

I forgot to say that. Excellent guns!

Be sure and put me in the will for them.:)

[Mrs. Bear]

The Redhead swears that she will inherit both the Chevelle and the guns:HaHaHa:
She evn threatened Bear with bodily harm :sterb243: if he sold the Chevelle. So I think you'd have a hard time inheriting! :sterb003:

[Bear]

Thanks for the replys guys. I soaked the CPR rifle in Break Free over night, then naturaly got called to go to work. Mrs bear and the red head wiped it down and put it back in the gun case wraped in wax paper, and I am 7 hrs north sitting in a shit hole hotel. I guess I will get back after it when I get back home. Sherry, check your damn PM's

[fastsporty77]

Very very nice rifles there. I would suggest looking for a locale gun smith, talking to him/her for long periods of time to get a good feel of his/hers talents and going from there.
Pewter is tough to clean and will rub off the engraving very easily so be very careful. I too will do some research on that. The chip isn't a big deal if you have it too as it adds some history to the rifle. Hoppes gun oil will always help greatly.

[ErnieS]

With most antiques, cleaning what they call "patina" actually lowers the value. I'd find a gunsmith nearby or an antique dealer that knows guns and ask them before you clean up the pewter. If the chip you saved fits the void well, it may be that you can glue it back in place for an invisible repair, but ask an expert first.