Retrieved my Grandpa's shotgun, need some help to figure out some more about it.

[hobgob]

So My grandpa had a pretty sweet set up in his basement, and on the wall of that basement was this shotgun, it is rusted to all hell and not functional I'm sure. I am wondering if anyone has some insight on when it was made and how or if I could possibly make it pretty again, or if i should just leave it as is and enjoy its rusty elegance. No sign of a date or serial number that I can see under the rust. All I can read is American Gun New York.

 

[Jim Watson]

One of a number of trade name shotguns made by Crescent.
Read up at:
http://www.briley.com/articles/grampas_shotgun.html

Resale value and utility are both low.

The red active rust offends me.
I would de-rust it and hang it up in memory of Grandpa.

 

[towboat_er]

I'd clean it up. Some 0000 steel wool and some oil will make it look better.

 

[hobgob]

ya, not gonna sell it. I really just want to make the best out of this wall hanger. I have too few memories and too few objects to remember my grandfather. I just want to make the most out of this one.

 

[hobgob]

I guess if the value is not too much i wouldn't feel too bad taking some steel wool to it. Just looking for a good wall hanger i guess. any clues on date of manufacture? Looks like that article from Jim W. says possible 1950's? Also, is steel wool and gun oil the best way to clean it up?

 

[JohnBT]

I would have guessed pre-WWII, but this thread

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22535

says between 1898 and the 1920s.

Start by oiling the metal and letting it soak. Be gentle and go slowly whether you're rubbing lightly with cotton cloth or fine steel wool. There's no hurry.

 

[303tom]

Take it all down & take a wire wheel to it, when I got this looked just like that. I took it apart & took a wire wheel to it & reblued it & put it back together.

 

[btg3]

"This desk and in fact this room..." what's the rest say?

Start by oiling the metal and...

But first, take it down as 303tom instructs. It will allow you to get all the metal thoroughly cleaned up and not damage the wood.

303tom -- what blue did you use?

 

[hobgob]

Ha! so the that is actually my dads work bench. The full quote reads "This desk and in fact this room is off limits to everyone but dad."

 

[melt]

Send it to Precision Bluing

http://precisionbluing.com/default.aspx

 

[Liberty1776]

guys, really. this is an $80 gun if you're lucky. don't suggest he spend much money on it, as he's already said he isn't going to sell it and there's no reason to use it. 4/0 steel wool and gun oil will work just fine. If you can, get fine or extra fine bronze wool and use that with gun oil. It will be easier on the finish, not that there's much left. Personally I own eight of these, in every gauge from 12 down to .410. I like 'em. They are made by Crescent, as was mentioned. The American Gun Co, New York name - sold in both hammer and hammerless guns...

 

[Buckyt]

My daughter bought me a similar gun in similar condition recently. Nothing worked, and the metal was covered with rust. I took 0000 steel wool and wd-40 and about 30 minutes later the finish was nice brown, antique looking and the wd-40 loosened up the hammers. Mine is damascus barrels so I'll never fire modern shells, but if I wanted to it would function perfectly with black powder shells. Mine is now a great looking wall hanger that I will enjoy til the end.
I wouldn't recommend that you "take the wire wheel to it", because it will remove all the patina that has developed over the years.

 

[303tom]

I think what I am seeing under that rust is blue not patina, this is what patina on Damascus Barrels looks like.

 

[hobgob]

Ive never taken one of these apart. any good source for disassembly info? tips?

 

[hobgob]

nm, that was easy.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I'd use some Kroil and steel wool to scour the rust off, maybe rub one coat of TruOil on the wood and hang her back on the wall.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

What I would recommend because of how heavy that rust is, is to remove all the metal parts from the stock, and soak them for a day in Evapo-Rust. After soaking and the rust is gone, clean it up and oil it. Then put it back together and hang it on the wall in memory of your grandfather. We use this stuff at the shop and it really works well. It is also extremely mild, so if after a day of soaking rust is still present, soak it for another day. Best part is that after you soak the gun, gather up all the rusted tools you can find and soak those too.

http://www.amazon.com/Evapo-Rust-ER012-1-Gallon/dp/B001BO1DGY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326446461&sr=8-1

 

[303tom]

nm, that was easy.

I was going to say its not that hard, now take a wire wheel & knock that rust off. I use Perma Blue get it at Wal-Mart, the trick to a good job is to make sure the part is oil free, if you want to wait a week or so I found a Winchester Model 370 that is just about as bad that I am going to refinish I will take some before & after pictures.

 

[RMc]

A wire wheel will destroy the gun! Just hand rub with fine steel wool and kroil.

 

[rcmodel]

A wire wheel will destroy the gun!

No, actually it won't.

See this about that:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=633232&highlight=1890

rc

 

[natman]

No, actually it won't.

See this about that:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=633232&highlight=1890

rc

Semantic games. Yes, technically a fine carding wheel is a "wire wheel", but it's there's a world of difference between it and your average wire wheel.

 

[PapaG]

Had several of these over the years, all American Gun (H&D Falsom/Crescent) and still have my granddad's .410. They can be quite serviceable still if they have the steel barrels. Yours could be cleaned up with Kroil and 4-0. Value is somewhat better than the 80 quoted above if the bores are good and the action tight.
I'd like to have all of the ones back I had along the way.

 

[cromlw]

what ever you do to it ,,it should be a fun project,,and sorry for the loss of your grandpa ,this shotgun should make a fine tribute to him

 

[kennedy]

I have found that synthetic steel wool works better that real steel wool, its does not leave any fibers that can rust. synthetic steel wool is gray and looks like the green scotch brite pads you use in the kitchen.

 

[303tom]

Here is some before pictures of the 370, I will be done in a few days with the metal, I will have more pic`s then & I used a wire wheel.................