Help - Some advice please

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   I’ve  acquired a 50 year old springer as a project gun. I plan to refurbish the internals by replacing the mainspring, seals etc etc so that it shoots like new one. What I’m unsure about is do I also get the appearance looking like new.
Back in the day I’d have completed the cosmetic work along with the internals so the the gun looked and shot like a new one. 
However it’s  been some time since I’ve worked on a project gun and I’m wondering if  I still do what I’ve traditionally done  and get it looking like a new one - or is the modern trend to give the exterior a clean up and retain the patina built up over 50 years of use.
Your advice will be very much appreciated. Thanks. Declan.

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Declan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Nov 2020 Location: North Island Status: Offline Posts: 86	Post Options Post Reply Quote Declan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Help - Some advice please Posted: 19 Feb 2024 at 2:13am
	I’ve acquired a 50 year old springer as a project gun. I plan to refurbish the internals by replacing the mainspring, seals etc etc so that it shoots like new one. What I’m unsure about is do I also get the appearance looking like new. Back in the day I’d have completed the cosmetic work along with the internals so the the gun looked and shot like a new one. However it’s been some time since I’ve worked on a project gun and I’m wondering if I still do what I’ve traditionally done and get it looking like a new one - or is the modern trend to give the exterior a clean up and retain the patina built up over 50 years of use. Your advice will be very much appreciated. Thanks. Declan.

Pauly5 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Moderator Joined: 11 Mar 2013 Location: Titahi Bay Status: Offline Posts: 1663	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pauly5 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 2024 at 3:15am
	Sounds like good fun. I've never done a refurbishment like that. I like seeing what others do, but personally, I have no problem with "patina", opting for performance, or correct operation. Making it look new again is quite an art. So I look forward to a new thread hopefully.

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 2619	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 2024 at 8:16am
	From 2021 https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=188610.0

J-S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Oct 2014 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 484	Post Options Post Reply Quote J-S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 2024 at 9:10am
	http://www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=653&KW=hw77 This was my biggest restoration, and it would have been cheaper to buy a new gun… Edited by J-S - 20 Feb 2024 at 5:05am
	J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many..

RangerPete Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 19 Apr 2023 Location: Cambridge. Status: Offline Posts: 1023	Post Options Post Reply Quote RangerPete Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 2024 at 4:22pm
	Getting an old rifle back into good functional/shooting condition is always nice. Restoring it to original condition… personally I wouldn’t. You’ll loose a lot of its character, it’s “spirit” as we say in Afrikaans.
	Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.

nunga Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Joined: 09 Mar 2013 Location: Pukekohe Status: Offline Posts: 1081	Post Options Post Reply Quote nunga Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Feb 2024 at 2:43am
	I would leave it as original and just clean.
	2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014

J-S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Oct 2014 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 484	Post Options Post Reply Quote J-S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Feb 2024 at 4:05am
	What is the springer? that may also dictate what route to go down...
	J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many..

Mic Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 22 Apr 2021 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 28	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mic Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Feb 2024 at 7:12am
	My wife deals with antiques and says leave it as it is

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 2619	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Feb 2024 at 7:25am
	I think a good question would be are you planning to sell it? If so original would be best in my view as you'll never get the original varnish or stains they used 50 years ago to keep it original, probly differnt bluing as well, nor are air rifles a huge collecting market. If your keeping it, do it to what ever standard you want. It is at the end of the day an air rifle and if you want it looking immaculate for your own personal use, then make it how you are happiest with it.

Deano Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 11 Jan 2024 Location: Tasman Status: Offline Posts: 21	Post Options Post Reply Quote Deano Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Feb 2024 at 9:55am
	Personally if I was keeping it I'd "refurbish" but use as much of the original gun as possible. Nothing wrong with removing a bit of rust here and there IMHO.

J-S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Oct 2014 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 484	Post Options Post Reply Quote J-S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb 2024 at 8:48am
	I think you need to show us the rifle... we're all keen to see a project take shape
	J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many..

Declan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Nov 2020 Location: North Island Status: Offline Posts: 86	Post Options Post Reply Quote Declan Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb 2024 at 1:43pm
	Thanks for the replies everyone. The Mk2 BSA Meteor arrived today. When my wife saw it unpacked it nearly made the trash can as a heap of junk.Fair go to her it did really look like a heap of junk. If it were a vintage car I’d liken it to a barn find. However I reckon that it’s worth saving and retaining as much of the original patina/ character as I can. So the decision is - replace the internals with new parts, but retain it’s cleaned up original cosmetic look. It will never be a valuable airgun which means I need to work to a tight budget. I’ll start a new post in the next few weeks to keep you all updated. Cheers. Declan.

Billbobnz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2020 Location: Ashburton Status: Offline Posts: 918	Post Options Post Reply Quote Billbobnz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb 2024 at 2:50pm
	Awesome Declan, dive in boots and all. Custom air seals have piston seals I think for that model if needed.

KiwiTR6 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2022 Location: Stratford Status: Offline Posts: 382	Post Options Post Reply Quote KiwiTR6 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb 2024 at 3:00pm
	I have an old Gamo that is one of several unfinished projects and if it shoots any good when it's all together it'll go to my grandson. It's cleaned up very well but the stock is what may be of interest. It was originally coated with a mid-brown lacquer of some sort that was pretty scratched up. I decided to have a go and stripped the bulk of it off with paint stripper (2 coats), then scraped off the residual and sanded it back to clean timber. I then finished it with 5 coats of Trueoil applied with a small piece of cloth. The finish isn't perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than what I started with. It really wasn't hard to do and didn't take a great deal of time.
	Daystate Red Wolf .22 FX Dreamline .22 Diana Outlaw .22 AA S410 .22 HW98 .177 HW30 .177 Diana 340 E-Tec .177 FWB Sport 124 .177 Gamo 900 .22 Baikal IJ-22 .177 Crosman 2240 Custom .22 Brocock GP .22

Declan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Nov 2020 Location: North Island Status: Offline Posts: 86	Post Options Post Reply Quote Declan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 Feb 2024 at 2:24am
	Thanks for the stock info. Definitely food for thought.