DeadLiver
Member
Just finished up my old (we think early 50's) Marlin 81dl.
The finish on the stock was a horrible orangish hue that covered the grain of the wood. It had a bent up v-notch rear sight and the front sight I think was supposed to be a miniscule brass bead that no longer reflected any light. It was an ugly duckling old plinker that never hit where you aimed. Nevertheless my father who isn't a shooter bought it at a garage sale for $20.00. He was interested because it's a tube fed bolt action. Last year he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and told me I could have the rifle if I wanted it.
This summer as I've had spare time I tore it apart, cleaned everything and stripped and sanded the stock. I re-contoured the stock as the grip area was too chunky to be comfortable for me. I stained it with a black walnut stain that brought out the wood grain beautifully, and gave it a Williams #5d-81 rear sight and a Hi-Viz fiber optic front sight. The rifle came drilled and tapped for a side mount scope and for the rear peep sight.
When I sighted it in it put 10 rounds under a quarter at 25 yds off of a front rest. Friday night I was nailing pop cans out to about 100 yds. The action just got a good clean and oil with a little manual polishing to the bolt. It's smooth as silk now.
The finish on the stock was a horrible orangish hue that covered the grain of the wood. It had a bent up v-notch rear sight and the front sight I think was supposed to be a miniscule brass bead that no longer reflected any light. It was an ugly duckling old plinker that never hit where you aimed. Nevertheless my father who isn't a shooter bought it at a garage sale for $20.00. He was interested because it's a tube fed bolt action. Last year he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and told me I could have the rifle if I wanted it.
This summer as I've had spare time I tore it apart, cleaned everything and stripped and sanded the stock. I re-contoured the stock as the grip area was too chunky to be comfortable for me. I stained it with a black walnut stain that brought out the wood grain beautifully, and gave it a Williams #5d-81 rear sight and a Hi-Viz fiber optic front sight. The rifle came drilled and tapped for a side mount scope and for the rear peep sight.
When I sighted it in it put 10 rounds under a quarter at 25 yds off of a front rest. Friday night I was nailing pop cans out to about 100 yds. The action just got a good clean and oil with a little manual polishing to the bolt. It's smooth as silk now.
