Bubba, What did I do to incur your wrath?

[Pete123]

I bought a batch of guns from an estate.  What I’m seeing is that I’m going to have a lot of fun, learn a lot about Civil War guns and make new friends - what's not to love?

 

You may remember my introduction to Bubba via a K98 Mauser.  In case you missed it, here are a couple of highlights.  I'm not sure whether removing the Nazi stamps  or the very thick epoxy attaching the stock is worse.  I can only hope that he didn’t file off the lip right behind the epoxy.

 

 

 

Well, Bubba has returned, this time with a Marlin 336.  The pics tell the story.  Interestingly, it feels like the gun action and trigger have been worked on.  Smoothest lever action I’ve ever felt.  Best trigger on a lever action by far.

 

Not sure if Bubba did that work, though feeling grateful that the gun isn’t a semi auto that he could have turned into a fully automatic weapon.

 

We now know that Bubba believes that epoxy is the answer, no matter the problem.

 

Any suggestions on how to salvage this vintage 336 would be appreciated.

 

Edited October 17, 2015 by Pete123

[Jonnin]

if the stock is original, keep it, but if you want to shoot it, you can try to buy a replacement that isn't broken.   If that is not available, you can decide to fix it yourself the right way ... which mostly means carefully cutting a slab of good wood and using wood glue (possibly, with a screw or pin or whatever) to attach it all back together, stained to match.   Its already been messed up so you are not really ruining the value to do this unless the fix is vintage/wartime field repairs (seems unlikely).   You don't want to fix field repairs ... those actually have value/merits in keeping as a history of a gun that has seen action.  

 

You might be talking about replacing the entire butt of the stock if that is rot.   If its just a big chunk that was knocked off and put back, you might can repair it.   I can't tell if the black is just fire marks (soldiers seem to carelessly put stocks in the fire quite often, actually) or rot or something else (stain or whatever).  

 

Your work has to be able to take the recoil over its lifetime.   And metal support you put in is a 2 way street that can make it worse under recoil so consider that as you design a repair.   The metal of the gun itself also stresses the wood under recoil.   Making it look nice is pretty easy.  Making it hold up to be shot is the key.

[hipower]

:stunned:  :stunned:  Some people should not have guns.

[Pete123]

:stunned:  :stunned:  Some people should not have guns.

 

I'm with you on that.  Why they has to mess up the good ones?  Those Marlins are in demand.  The bolt on that K98 has matching numbers expect for one piece.

[gregintenn]

What is the reason for all the glue? Are the stocks broken? How much stuff did you buy at this sale? :shrug:

[peejman]

Wow. I'd just replace all the wood. Too far gone to bother with trying to fix.

I'd also whack the butt on the ground several times and make sure the hammer doesn't fall.

[bubbadavis]

Never underestimate the wrath of Bubba...

 

I would replace the Marlin stock - it looks beyond (reasonable) repair at this point. Just removing the epoxy would probably cut the weight in half!

[gregintenn]

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/Search/Default.aspx?k=Marlin+336+wood&mfg=&avs|Special+Filters_1=Made+in+USA|In+Stock

 

Wood can be found easily enough. Did this guy have a barrel of epoxy or what?

[TNWNGR]

I'd remove the stock and forearm of the Marlin and take a closer look before deciding on a course of action. Overall the eposxy removal is going to be the largest PITA. The stock cracks aren't to bigh of a deal to fix but it looks like that stock has oil saturation damage. If it were my gun I'd probably strip the stock, gind out the epoxy, find some good donor scraps and have a go at it.

[Garufa]

FYI, that Marlin was made in 1971.

[Jonnin]

I got to look closer ... I read Nazi marks and just looked at the wood and not the metal.  I thought we were looking at a 80+ year old something.

Yea that isn't old enough...  get a new stock here seems the most efficient solution.

[gregintenn]

I got to look closer ... I read Nazi marks and just looked at the wood and not the metal.  I thought we were looking at a 80+ year old something.

Yea that isn't old enough...  get a new stock here seems the most efficient solution.

Well, you were in one pic. It seems he bought a whole truckload of Bubba's pride and joy. :lol: