To refinish original, or cera dura plura kote?

[possom813]

I have a pump shotgun, J.C. Higgins Model 20(you can read about it in the 'soul' thread)

This gun is my baby, and has been my go to gun for several years.

I, and the wife, want to make it 'new' again.


I'm seriously considering a full, professional, restoration with the wood and metal being refinished to 'new' shape.

But on the other hand, this gun is, and always will be, my go to gun for everything, and spends a lot of time riding around in the truck with me.

So I've been thinking of refinishing the wood and getting a lot of the nicks out of it, and then durakote or cerakote or one of the many different, durable, finishes on the barrel and receiver.

The cost, for either, is really more than the guns monetary value, but both finishing processes are close in price.

Just trying to decide which I really want and what other folks would do.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

They were nice (and ARE nice) relaible guns that never cost a whole lot---I have my Dad's (old enough it never had a serial number on it, probably 1940's/50s.) Sears sold them.

My advice--don't do a darn thing to it except keep it oiled and clean and in a hard case/rack so it doesn't get roughed up anymore. If you want to REALLY treat it someday, don't settle for anything other than real-deal salt bluing by a pro and have a brank new stock made for it to your specs and fit by a woodwright. Conserve your options and that impulse to 'do right' by a VERY useful firearm by letting continue to be used. Gooking it up with those finishes (nice if you live in a salt marsh and leaving the gun in a boathouse 24/7---but not needed for your stated level of use I would say).

My Dad's 12 ga J.C. Hig is on the rack---the 1st shotgun I ever fired as a kid----very likely the last one I'll fire when it's (again) the only gun in my house and my kids have all the rest I own. Many of them still serve as barn guns from here to timbuktu.

 

[Furncliff]

I have a CZ82 that was refinished I think with guncoat ( previous owner did it). I bought it because of the refinish, as most of the 82 out there are kind of rough. It has held up well. It has a gloss look, and though I prefer blued firearms, its fine. This method is pretty cheap.

Recently I had my gunsmith re-blue a rusty Marlin 39 (c 1970)that I took pity on. He charged me $300, which I was not expecting, but the rifle needed a lot of hand work. I have to say it's pretty much perfect now. I wouldn't do it again, just too expensive.

In the case of your shotgun and considering that you definitely want to do something, I'd probably do one of the paints, the one that has the highest gloss.

 

[Furncliff]

I have a CZ82 that was refinished I think with guncoat ( previous owner did it). I bought it because of the refinish, as most of the 82 out there are kind of rough. It has held up well. It has a gloss look, and though I prefer blued firearms, its fine. This method is pretty cheap.

Recently I had my gunsmith re-blue a rusty Marlin 39 (c 1970)that I took pity on. He charged me $300, which I was not expecting, but the rifle needed a lot of hand work. I have to say it's pretty much perfect now. I wouldn't do it again, just too expensive.

In the case of your shotgun and considering that you definitely want to do something, I'd probably do one of the paints, the one that has the highest gloss.