Post 64 model 94 refinish

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  • Chazp89

    Active Member
    Sep 1, 2017
    283
    Tomorrow I’m picking up a Winchester model 94 in 30-30. It was made in 1974 and has bluing worn down and suffers from surface rust. Mechacally it is nice, wood is decent and the bore is good. Long story short, it’s going to be a little project. I’ll grab pics once it’s in my hands tomorrow.

    I hear the receivers on the post 64 rifles don’t like to take a blue. I’ve been contemplating color case hardening. There’s a kit that I’ve seen that seems to be almost like a cold blue system with a sealer. Any suggestions?

    I’ll let the rifle tell me what it wants to be after it’s in my hands. Anyone have any neat ideas to kick around?
     

    Chazp89

    Active Member
    Sep 1, 2017
    283
    I’m throwing around the idea of converting it over to a takedown, I’ll just have to borrow a lathe for a bit.
     

    Chazp89

    Active Member
    Sep 1, 2017
    283
    Here it is.. not as ugly as I remembered. Might just be a pull apart, check, clean and enjoy gun. At least for a little while
     

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    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    High nickle content I think is what the deal was on the receivers, alot of blemished ones became Sears and Western Auto store brands. Some m12's were also hard to re-blue according to more than one source I have used for finishing in the past. I learned they were some of the first with factory stainless steel barrels.
    I looked in to home color case hardening in the past, worst case is you could end up with a blue finish with some streaks of grey and other colors but I was always too chicken to try it. Small parts maybe but not a receiver because of how long you have to hold temperature above 1,400.
    I would probably just leave it alone but sometimes I have bad judgement when it comes to overdoing projects. As long as it's done well and the work is solid for the next guy, go for it as long as its an improvement.
     

    Chazp89

    Active Member
    Sep 1, 2017
    283
    Yeah it’s just going to be cleaned, oiled and enjoyed. I think it will clean up better than I originally thought. I’m still thinking about the take down conversion but that will be after a while if I get to it.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,948
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Here is my suggestion as I have done this to seven Win 94's and gave them to kids for Christmas presents. Strip all the bluing off everything. Birtchwood Casey blue remover works fine. Next, clean all steel parts with acetone and then you can get artistic. By dabbing different areas with mustard, ketchup, lemon juice or light mix of salt and water, you can stain the metal here and there. This process serves to make the rifle look weather worn and old. I also distress the wood by taking any shine off with crocus cloth and then putting dents, cuts and depressions in it. I coat it with hand rubbed tung oil (real tung oil not varnish) and rub out for a dull finish with some shine in depressions.

    I don't own a digital camera or I would post a picture. I kept a Rossi 92 and Win 94 for me and routinely pass them off as original to people I let shoot them at the range. I always tell them the truth afterward (even if they didn't know Rossi wasn't around way back when).

    Just my .02.

    Regards,
     

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