What do Ya'll think?

[Guest hms4407]

I recently came across a 1976 Marlin 336 30-30. The guy wanted $300 for it. The gun locked up tight and had not been shot much, but the finish looked like Lindsey Lohan after a 3 day club binge.

It was rough. The previous owner tried to put a clear coat on it about 3 inches thick with a brittle leaf. I mean it looked like CRAP at best!

I talked him down to $150. I wanted to turn it in to a project gun that I could slowly rebuilt in to a classic for my son. He is almost 4 and I want to hand it down to him at about 8 or 9.

Below, the pictures tell the tale of the refinish. Bar in mind that I have never dealt with a weapon farther than field strip and clean. I decided, what the heck, its $150.

Now, some will grit their teeth, but I didnt know better. I started to strip the varnish off with a pocket knife. And it worked! It went all the way down to natural wood without even scarring the wood.

I decided on the Special Walnut shade of minwax. Thats the stage you see it in pic 3. Tomorrow its getting a few coats of the satin (No Gloss) Minwax clearcoat.

I want the gun to look "Ole Western" and I couldnt have picked a better color minwax. The wife even walked in and said "I thought it looked good as natural, but that looks like an old cowboy gun". I was proud!

In the future it will get a custom carving (already lined up) that has sons name in buttstock and oak leaves on forend.)

Also has a rebluing coming.

What do ya'll think?

Edited October 16, 2010 by hms4407

[Guest hms4407]

Here is the finished product with 2 coats Minwax Special Walnut and 2 coats Minwax Polyu Acrylic SATIN ( I did not want a gloss finish ), wanted a western look.

[Bassoneer]

I love stuff like this. You took an old and tired looking rifle and made it look beautiful. I've done similar items several times and love the feeling of making something look great again. This rifle has some beautiful wood and you really made it look much better. You'll enjoy shooting this rifle for the rest of your life! And your son will cherish this for the rest of his life...hope he thinks of you every time he shoots it! Great Job!!!

Later, B

Edited October 16, 2010 by Bassoneer

[Sidinman]

I love the lever guns and like you said it looks like an old western rifle. Looks good to me, you should have a very nice weapon there that should serve you and your son well. I would be proud to add it to my collection. Enjoy, and let us know how it shoots later.

[JPS]

Looks great! I've used the Special Walnut for numerous projects - it's a great product/color. I'd bet your son will be pretty proud.

[Guest GunTroll]

Like all the others said. Its fun to see the diamond in the rough.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Awesome Job! Its great to watch an "heirloom" unfold....keep posting!

[hipower]

Great start on the project. Glad to see someone with the guts to try out something new. I'm sure you'll do a great job on the rest. I'm trying to work up the nerve to strip and refinish a couple of older cedar chests and a wardrobe that my dad built about 50 years ago. As soon as the garage workshop is cleaned up, I'll get started.

[Guest hms4407]

Thanks everyone for the great comments. I sat up just looking at it last night. I am completely attached to it now. I couldnt get rid of it if I had to!

I have ordered a new front band and front sight as they were not cared for either.

I will reply later with it back together.

[Guest hms4407]

Ok, here is the finished product (well, besides bluing)

[Guest 6.8 AR]

That's a great finish. Gun looks brand new. Well, your finish looks better.

[Guest hms4407]

That's a great finish. Gun looks brand new. Well, your finish looks better.

I will tell you the truth. When I got home, read these replies, (not less of a man), I almost broke down. Half cause I was proud of what I did to in refinishing, and half cause what I could hand down to my son, and cause of the great feedback ya'll gave me. I have never held on to anything in my life. I made a different life for my son. I moved every year of my childhood, never had stability, or never accumulated anything.

I have made it different for my son. I have vowed to have him in one place, raise him in one school, and accumulate relics for him. Things that are passed down. I just looked at my wife after reading the responses, and I tolf her I would not take $2000 for this gun. It will go to my son at no cost.

Thanks TGO for the support, response, and heartfelt comments!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited October 17, 2010 by hms4407

[StPatrick]

That is absolutely awesome! While a rifle is only wood and steel, the thought, effort, and time you've put into it (along with the heartfelt post above) tells me that there's a boy in Seymour with a great father. That is worth more than the finest rifle ever made by man. Well done, and congratulations.

[Guest hms4407]

That is absolutely awesome! While a rifle is only wood and steel, the thought, effort, and time you've put into it (along with the heartfelt post above) tells me that there's a boy in Seymour with a great father. That is worth more than the finest rifle ever made by man. Well done, and congratulations.

Thanks. He loves it as do I. I cant wait till the day he gets to shoot it, and put it in his gun cabinet!

[LagerHead]

I will tell you the truth. When I got home, read these replies, (not less of a man), I almost broke down. Half cause I was proud of what I did to in refinishing, and half cause what I could hand down to my son, and cause of the great feedback ya'll gave me. I have never held on to anything in my life. I made a different life for my son. I moved every year of my childhood, never had stability, or never accumulated anything.

I have made it different for my son. I have vowed to have him in one place, raise him in one school, and accumulate relics for him. Things that are passed down. I just looked at my wife after reading the responses, and I tolf her I would not take $2000 for this gun. It will go to my son at no cost.

Thanks TGO for the support, response, and heartfelt comments!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know what you mean. 33 moves in 37 years, and I don't have a single thing left over from my childhood. The wife has a bunch, so the daughter will be squared away, but the son will only get what I can accumulate now.

Great job on the gun. This is a great new family heirloom.

[Guest guardlobo]

That is a pretty little gun. My compliments.

[Guest tnfireman]

The rifle looks great! Your son will have a treasure for many years to come.

[TNWNGR]

Really nice work on the stock and forearm, I'd leave the blued finish alone, it's just fine as it is and add's more character to the rifle. The 336 is my favorite of the lever action rifles and you've done yourself proud with this one.

Edited October 20, 2010 by TNWNGR

[Sidinman]

I'm with TNWNGR, I wouldn't reblue it either. It looks great just as it is. Congrats to ya!

[Chucktshoes]

I'm with TNWNGR, I wouldn't reblue it either. It looks great just as it is. Congrats to ya!

Another vote for leaving it alone. I believe they call it "patina". If it isn't rusting in open air, leave it, A good rifle should have a little character.

[Guest hms4407]

Gentleman, I hate to ask this, butt...........

My son and I were oiling it up and drooling over it tonight. He spouted off, lets sell it and get another one......

The root of this is, when he wants a new toy, we make him sell an old toy. IE: he had a new toy story bike, and saw a new jeep bike at walmart. I told him "Eli, if you sell your old bike, you can get a new one, but you cant have both". Of course, I pitch in.

I asked him why and he said he wanted to "Build a new gun".

I enjoyed as I think he did, just reviving the gun. I think we will enjoy doing this to many guns and possibly do it to others guns.

Would it be horrible to sell/trade it and me and him start a new project?

[Guest hms4407]

Nevermind, just reread this whole thread and I cant part with the rifle. I know my son wants to "sell it and do a new one", but I will keep this one as the first and just buy more to refinish. I see tired old rifles at the pawnshop for cheap that have a lot of life left, just look worn out.

This one will stay for the ages. Also, wanted to post:

Just messing around, sighted it in at a buddies house with the classic (found out it is a 1985 tasco scope) 4x 32 tasco scope at 70 yards to a 2.5" MOA. So a good gun afterall. And it looks GREAT on the wall gun rack I bought. Looks like its 1898 and ready to pop off a coyote or cattle theif at any minute!

[peejman]

... The root of this is, when he wants a new toy, we make him sell an old toy. ...

I think that's a fantastic habit to get your child in. Here's your out... guns aren't toys, they're tools. A man can never have enough tools.

Excellent job on the refinish. I wouldn't mess with the bluing either. Sometimes, trying to redo small spots makes it look worse. I'd rather have a few spots where the bluing is rubbed off than have several different colors of bluing. As stated, it gives it a little character. As long as it's not openly rusting, it's fine.

[Guest hms4407]

I think I will do it. You are right. It is a great hobby to get us in to and if I get attached to each one like this, Im gonna be broke. I think I will sell or trade it. I guess I cant post it in the sell forum though

[StPatrick]

I think I will do it. You are right. It is a great hobby to get us in to and if I get attached to each one like this, Im gonna be broke. I think I will sell or trade it. I guess I cant post it in the sell forum though

I was looking forward to seeing the custom engraving, but if you have to sell it, it won't last long. I hope you do well enough on the sale to make an even nicer project next time around, and share those pics too.