I have recently inherited 2 rifles, A Savage shotgun model 30 series E, and an interarms mark x 7mm mag. Both were stored in a shed through a decade of iowa winters. Both have rust damage, and i would like to spend the next few months restoring them to use or sell. Is there any hope to restore these at home?
Am I in over my head?
- Thread starter oayarc
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
NO.
The pitting is too deep to remove without totally destroying the remaining bluing.
A sandpaper & cold blue job will only make it worse & decrease the value even further.
Best you can do is clean the rust off with 0000 Extra Fine steel wool and oil and see what is left under it.
rc
The pitting is too deep to remove without totally destroying the remaining bluing.
A sandpaper & cold blue job will only make it worse & decrease the value even further.
Best you can do is clean the rust off with 0000 Extra Fine steel wool and oil and see what is left under it.
rc
essayons21
Member
Disassemble and soak the metal parts in Kroil for a couple days to a week. Then as rcmodel said, take some 0000 steel wool to it, with a very light touch. Repeat as necessary. The pitting and discoloration will remain, but you will be able to stop the active oxidation.
I know nothing of the value of these guns, but if at some point you decide they have no value to you other than a shooter, get it professionally reblued.
I know nothing of the value of these guns, but if at some point you decide they have no value to you other than a shooter, get it professionally reblued.
I have some gun solvent that i was able to remove some rust with. The picture showing 3 rust spots includes the one partially cleaned spot. The bluing is gone and its bare metal. I know the quality of the pictures is lacking (i took and posted these with my phone) but the bare metal is for the most part unharmed. From a selling standpoint, what would be a wise option?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Clean as best you can to stop further rust.
Sell "as is" for what you can get.
The only way to gain any value is to have them professionally re-blued.
But that will cost more then you can gain back by doing it..
If you want to keep them for your own use, it would be cost effective to have them re-finished, otherwise, not.
rc
Sell "as is" for what you can get.
The only way to gain any value is to have them professionally re-blued.
But that will cost more then you can gain back by doing it..
If you want to keep them for your own use, it would be cost effective to have them re-finished, otherwise, not.
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I am aware of that.
But the rust pits all over the receiver are rust pits.
rc
But the rust pits all over the receiver are rust pits.
rc
Joe Demko
Member
If they were mine, I'd remove the rust and remaining blue. Then I'd refinish with one of the spray-on finishes. I did as much once with an old Llama pistol that was of little value and got good results.
First, do you want to keep the guns, or sell them? If you want to keep them and use them, then the rust is not too important as only you care about it. Some cold blue might work OK to just cover up the worst spots. It won't last, but it is cheap.
If you plan to sell the guns, then I think that spray on coating, like paint but better, would be the way to go for the shotgun.
If the only rust on the rifle is on the bolt handle, I would just take the rust and the rest of the bluing off with a rust and blue remover or emery cloth, then polish with a fine (600 grit or finer) oil it and leave it. Many rifles have bright bolt handles, so it won't look odd.
Jim
If you plan to sell the guns, then I think that spray on coating, like paint but better, would be the way to go for the shotgun.
If the only rust on the rifle is on the bolt handle, I would just take the rust and the rest of the bluing off with a rust and blue remover or emery cloth, then polish with a fine (600 grit or finer) oil it and leave it. Many rifles have bright bolt handles, so it won't look odd.
Jim
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
NO, it's like oven baked paint.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN_KOTE_trade__OVEN_CURE__GUN_FINISH
http://www.lauerweaponry.com/
rc
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN_KOTE_trade__OVEN_CURE__GUN_FINISH
http://www.lauerweaponry.com/
rc
Coyote3855
Member
Not really like bluing, which is a chemical reaction (controlled rusting, really) with the steel. The spray on coatings, available from Brownells and other sources, are a finish applied on top of the metal parts. I've used it with some success on beater handguns, but the application required placing the parts in the oven at a degree of heat I don't remember. This "cured" the spray on finish. The spray on is like bluing in the sense that it protects the metal from further rust/pitting.
Sunray
Member
A light touch with a fine, brass, wire wheel in a bench grinder will take off the rust faster than steel wool and oil. Won't bother what finish is left(I've seen firearms in worse condition after being left in a shed for eons.) Eye protection is mandatory. It won't do anything for pitting though.
What do the insides of the barrels and actions look like?
If you plan on selling, you won't get their full value. Re-finishing with cold bluing or a spray on finish won't make much difference.
What do the insides of the barrels and actions look like?
If you plan on selling, you won't get their full value. Re-finishing with cold bluing or a spray on finish won't make much difference.
Taurus 617 CCW
Member
How do the bores look on the inside? If you are planning on keeping them as shooters I wouldn't worry about destroying the value due to refinishing. To get rid of most of the pitting you will need to get the action sand blasted with an aggressive aluminum oxide media. It will come out as a matte finish when blued.
The barrels on both are pristine. (I found out its has only had about 120 round put through it when i received it) I have put a few rounds through the 7mm, and it works flawlessly. The only rust on it is on the bolt handle. 12 gauge only has rust on the outside, where shown in the pictures, and along the top rail on the barrel. I have removed some of the rust on the shotgun, and the pitting is very shallow (I'm questioning if it would be visible after a coating or cold bluing).
andyh1956
Member
rust
hey guys- i think you will find that if you want to sell that the value will be more if you leave them alone & sell as is. it is lots more work for the buyer to undo all the stuf people do to guns than to start with original condition. the savage dosn't have a lot of value anyway so why not clean it up & keep it? shorten the barrel, make a roit style out of it & enjoy it. ok the rust- strip it down & degrease it- then mix up 50/50 water & white vinegar & let it soak. the rust will desolve & come to the top- rub off scum on gun with a soft rag & resoak untill no more rust is left. if you use some type of abrasive it will remove whats left of finish too. vinegar & water wont. then paint it, cold blue or just keep it oiled good - my 870 i got in high school has no finish left on reciever where i carry it but i keep it oiled so no rust! let us see how it turns out!
andy
hey guys- i think you will find that if you want to sell that the value will be more if you leave them alone & sell as is. it is lots more work for the buyer to undo all the stuf people do to guns than to start with original condition. the savage dosn't have a lot of value anyway so why not clean it up & keep it? shorten the barrel, make a roit style out of it & enjoy it. ok the rust- strip it down & degrease it- then mix up 50/50 water & white vinegar & let it soak. the rust will desolve & come to the top- rub off scum on gun with a soft rag & resoak untill no more rust is left. if you use some type of abrasive it will remove whats left of finish too. vinegar & water wont. then paint it, cold blue or just keep it oiled good - my 870 i got in high school has no finish left on reciever where i carry it but i keep it oiled so no rust! let us see how it turns out!
andy
keenshooter
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Go0d Looking Rifle, hit me up when you finish it.
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