Refinishing Winchester 94 (post '64)

[Big_E]

I have a Winchester 94 that I got and I am getting slight surface rust on the receiver. I keep my firearms oiled and re oil once in awhile, but I am afraid that the humidity has gotten to the receiver.

I wanted to refinish the receiver and barrel on this gun any way since it was well worn when I got it. However, I have heard that re-bluing the post '64 models will cause the receiver to turn a purple color.

So what are my options to refinishing the rifle? I was thinking about nickel plating all the metal, but if I take it out hunting it might cause too much glare. And I don't want to paint/duracoat it because I don't think it will look good on a lever action.

So what would you guys do?

 

[BrocLuno]

Gun-Koat refinish ...

I had mine done by a local gunsmith. He used KG Guncoat semi-gloss black on the receiver and their dark blue on the barrel and mag tube. Came out looking better than any other 94 I've seen I'll post a picture later this evening.

The receiver is hard to finish with traditional blue But the gun shoots fine. And I've never had a function problem

OK, here's some rainy day evening pictures. Light is poor, but you get the idea

 

[Abel]

I'd CeraKote it all flat black. Here is a thread that you may find usefull:

http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=240863

 

[Big_E]

Actually cerakote doesn't look too bad. Maybe I will take it to the gunsmith and see what he has.

I think nickel plated would look nice, but I think the shinyness might be detrimental to hunting.

 

[Z71]

You can rust blue it with Pilkingtons or similiar rust blue formulas. Otherwise the guns receiver don't reblue worth a hoot using conventional blueing methods

 

[Abel]

You can rust blue it with Pilkingtons or similiar rust blue formulas. Otherwise the guns receiver don't reblue worth a hoot using conventional blueing methods

I agree than browning is one of the best looking ways to finish a gun. I'm not sure why it isn't used more often. I see it done on muzzleloaders more than anything. Take a look at this beauty from Track Of The Wolf:

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categ...catId=12&subId=83&styleId=290&partNum=AAI-698

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Blue it in the tradional way then gunkote the receiver. It will look almost original.

 

[CraigC]

IMHO, the stuff about glare is greatly exaggerated. Stainless steel is extremely popular with new hunting rifles and I really don't think it's an issue. You can always have it plated, rather than blued. It can be done in black chrome, traditional silver chrome or electroless nickel. Or any combination of them. I think a silver receiver with the rest blued is an attractive combination.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I think a silver receiver with the rest blued is an attractive combination.

It is very attractive. back in the 1970s,I did several single shot shotguns that way. Very nice.