I picked up a mid-50s 1894, and it's in fairly decent shape. I purchased an '80 vintage XTR (.30-30) a month or two ago, also. I think I have my lever gun needs covered for the next few decades. I am new to '94s and need to ask a few questions:
1) what to use to re-create the original wood finish? I need to strip and sand the rear stock, which is rough as pictured. I use tung oil on handgun grips, but does anyone know what the Winchester factory used to use?
2) How to strip it? for handgun stock I use an acetone bath, but that's not practical with a large wooden rifle stock.
3) Anyone know where there are disassembly instructions? I like to know how to detail strip all my weapons. compared to the newer XTR, the action is a little clunky and less smooth. I imagine it needs to be stripped, cleaned and re-lubed.
4) The older one is missing the front sight hood. Do those just press on? Try ebay or gunbroker?
5) The butt plate has some rust on it, and I was going to remove it and have it blued. Anyone can recommend a place to mail it who affordably blues single parts? Since it's just a butt plate, I can mail it anywhere cheaply.
6) Regarding the XTR, does anyone know if the .30-30 XTR was on the same action as the big bore XTR, or only had the fancier wood and polish blue vs. the basic 1894? I am assuming it was only the blue and wood finish and nothing mechanical unlike the "big bore" XTRs, but I don't know.
Thanks for your thoughts...
1) what to use to re-create the original wood finish? I need to strip and sand the rear stock, which is rough as pictured. I use tung oil on handgun grips, but does anyone know what the Winchester factory used to use?
2) How to strip it? for handgun stock I use an acetone bath, but that's not practical with a large wooden rifle stock.
3) Anyone know where there are disassembly instructions? I like to know how to detail strip all my weapons. compared to the newer XTR, the action is a little clunky and less smooth. I imagine it needs to be stripped, cleaned and re-lubed.
4) The older one is missing the front sight hood. Do those just press on? Try ebay or gunbroker?
5) The butt plate has some rust on it, and I was going to remove it and have it blued. Anyone can recommend a place to mail it who affordably blues single parts? Since it's just a butt plate, I can mail it anywhere cheaply.
6) Regarding the XTR, does anyone know if the .30-30 XTR was on the same action as the big bore XTR, or only had the fancier wood and polish blue vs. the basic 1894? I am assuming it was only the blue and wood finish and nothing mechanical unlike the "big bore" XTRs, but I don't know.
Thanks for your thoughts...