Help - Some advice please
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: General
Forum Name: Flub's General Discussion
Forum Description: General discussion goes in here.
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=974
Printed Date: 10 May 2024 at 10:14am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.14 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Help - Some advice please
Posted By: Declan
Subject: Help - Some advice please
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2024 at 8:13am
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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. |
Replies:
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2024 at 9:15am
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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. |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2024 at 2:16pm
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From 2021 https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=188610.0 |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2024 at 3:10pm
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http://www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=653&KW=hw77" rel="nofollow - 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… ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2024 at 10:22pm
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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. |
Posted By: nunga
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2024 at 8:43am
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I would leave it as original and just clean. ------------- 2nd place HP springer - WFTF World Championships 2014 |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2024 at 10:05am
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What is the springer? that may also dictate what route to go down... ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: Mic
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2024 at 1:12pm
| My wife deals with antiques and says leave it as it is |
Posted By: kruzaroad
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2024 at 1:25pm
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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. |
Posted By: Deano
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2024 at 3:55pm
| 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. |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2024 at 2:48pm
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I think you need to show us the rifle... we're all keen to see a project take shape ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: Declan
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2024 at 7:43pm
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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. |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2024 at 8:50pm
| Awesome Declan, dive in boots and all. Custom air seals have piston seals I think for that model if needed. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2024 at 9:00pm
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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.   ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: Declan
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2024 at 8:24am
| Thanks for the stock info. Definitely food for thought. |
Posted By: J-S
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2024 at 1:26pm
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Sweet project by the sounds of it. Basic rifle, if you restored it it wouldnt be worth a whole lot. so agree; clean it up and try for performance. Ive got a BSA mercury coming that has aparently got a seized piston - externally nice but buggered inside. so that will be a bit of a fun "get up and going" project ------------- https://www.instagram.com/js_airguns/" rel="nofollow - J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many.. |
Posted By: Declan
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2024 at 5:31pm
| The Mercury is a really nice rifle. I look forward to your updates. Cheers. Declan |