Fixing Up a Savage 24 22lr/20g

[dubious]

Oh joy, a new gun. I got a screaming deal on this Savage 24 Over and Under Combo in .22lr/20g. I need a crash course on polishing technique, bluing, and wood restoration. Can anybody point me in the right direction? I think I have particularly rust inducing fingerprints, so I'm open minded to any treatment that is practical besides bluing... suggestions are welcome.



She's a fixer upper, for sure. I haven't seen it in person yet, but its going to be on its way shortly:

The receiver has lost pretty much all of its bluing and the wood is quite worn. The seller says the rifling is not pitted and the function is fine. I'm not too worried about it because this is going to be my go to brush gun.

 

[Geno]

I know it's none of my business, but if I owned it, I see character marks...not wear. That aside, you own it. It's pretty. Best of luck and please post pics as your progress.

Doc2005

 

[dubious]

Awwww.... it is kinda pretty isn't it? Well, I'll think about it. Point definitely noted. I really don't want it to rust though, I'm not kidding about my fingerprints being rusty.

 

[rcmodel]

The receiver hasn't lost it's bluing, because it was never blued.

That is Savage's attempt at fake Color Case Hardening.

If it were my gun, I would rub down the blued barrels with 0000 steel wool and oil to remove any light surface rust. The receiver has a coat of clear finish over the color case to protect it. You could try car wax on that, but not steel wool & oil.

Same for the stock. Sand lightly to blend in the scratches and use hand rubbed Tru-Oil on it.


rcmodel

 

[eliphalet]

Careful with that stock it probably is stained hard wood and isn't walnut.
Oxpho-Blue might do wonders on the blue, I've had some real good results at times.
Hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine over the years.

 

[enfield]

I'd paint the whole thing olive drab.

 

[Roswell 1847]

For use as a go to brush gun, you might want to consider a baked on laquer finish.
I haven't used paint on a rifle yet but my experiment using Expoxy and Barbeque paint on a S&W CO2 pistol worked out very well.
Specially formulated baking laquers are available from Brownells, last I heard.

A friend who builds entry weapons for LE and Bounty Hunters swears by the baked on finishes.

Truoil is a very durable finish.
I use Mini Wax antique oil finish for its beauty, but I've used Truoil many times and know its a superior outdoor finish.

PS
After sanding with 220 grit or finer, dampen the wood and allow it to dry slowly then set for a few hours. Loose grain fibers will rise. Then rubb the wood down with 0004 Steel wool to remove the fibers.
A base coat of truoil then when dry rubb lightly with the steel wool again. Repaet till the surface is smooth and shiny. Then lightly buff with the wool again and apply spray on furniture wax. Endust is the best.
Hand applied paste wax is also good but can turn yellow over the years.