Levergun Project delema

[Pat C]

Couple years ago a friend gave me an old Winchester 1894 semi deluxe rifle. In a box of parts .No barrel or forend, Mag tube cut in half.He had inherited it from a distant family member. Apparently in rough shape . The old barrel was not original and cut down IIRC. He was going to install a 64 barrel and New wood and refinish it. And had already started polishing frame to remove old pitting. The tang markings are shallow and still have pitting around them.

The rifle was originally plain pistol grip semi deluxe 30 WCF Octagon barrel. According to factory letter.

I found an original 30 WCF short rifle barrel that I will use on this project . My biggest hurdles is deciding what to do finish wise. The receiver would need to be charcoal blued but markings no that good dont believe it would be worth cost.

The original pistol grip buttstock is not in best shape , cracks, corners chipped , gouges. I think I can repair it to look good but certainly not perfect. But its numbered to frame so it will be repaired.

Thought about doing a patina grey brown finish to steel but I keep resisting having frame color case hardened.
Hoping to make a good shooter out of this rifle.

Originally I had planned to fully restore it but perfect condition cannot be had due to markings and stock .

[Pat C]

Kind wish frame was left alone but he was planning a hot blue not really knowing what he had . Then decided maybe I could give it justice. I still keep debating having frame charcoal blued like it originally was and maybe using tang sight to cover markings. If I polish pits out the markings will be gone mostly.

[Pat C]

You can see the tang markings are light and still fair amount of pitting around them. I kinda feel best to leave what's left and just do a patina finish like many of the old receivers are.
And rust blue barrel mag . This would look more authentic I believe.

[Pat C]

The pistol grip cap has wear as well plus the original hard rubber widows peak buttplate was gone. I have a broken top piece of one I plan to graft to flat style original.

[Bill in Oregon]

What a wonderful project! Nice that those parts fell into the hands of one dedicated to the history of that rifle.

[fordwannabe]

See if there is a laser engraver close to you, they may be able to make the tang markings more complete.

[4t5]

Maybe you could ask Louie Tuminaro of the the GUNFATHER show, for help ,from what I’ve seen , they do nice work.
Could recut the markings .

[coyote nose]

Hi Patc. Ive rebuilt several old Winchester rifles and fully understand your dilemma.
Looks like the tang markings have been re-cut already a little. As far as pitting goes bluing will make it look worse. Case colors though tend to make them a little less noticeable, but still there. However, a nice case color (or blue) with a not nice stock stands out like a sore thumb. Since you are using the original stock (and I would too) I personally would not spend the funds doing a case color. This is just my two cents here but if it were mine, I would let it patina back to the brown or silver-brown these receivers usually patina too. Handle it a lot. It will take time. I also would find a good original length barrel from eBay, it may take awhile (I once waited 5 years for a correct 1886 Winchester barrel). But they show up....eventually but always. In the mean time use your short barrel. I would either rust blue that and all hardware since with these Winchesters the receiver is often patina'd different than the barrel and mag tube etc. Herters Belgian Blue is what I use. The other option is to brown the barrel and hardware with a good rust brown like Tru-brown but NOT Birchwood Casey Plum Brown which I, and others, can spot a mile away as an unoriginal forced patina. Using a rust brown you can stop the patina at any level, remembering it looks a bit darker when you oil the parts up. It also tends to wears away on the sharper edges (due to carding with steel wool), just like on originals. Thats because it IS an iron oxide finish, just like the patina that develops on steel parts. I dont know if you ever used it but do not boil the parts after browning, they will turn blue-black as the iron oxide goes to another oxidized state. Speaking of that, you could also try the receiver with only an application or two of Belgian Blue....you would get a blue-silver color which you may find pleasing. If you want full blue, Belgian Blue is the way to go, about 8 to 10 applications. I do mine on the stove top (but I live alone!). Its pretty durable but highly handled areas (like the tangs) wear a little over the years and soon it looks original. I had an 1890 that I did a full Belgian Blue on and I had to convince people it wasn't original.
Your rifle, in my mind, is too far gone to make her look new, unless you have pits laser welded, then filed and polished, tang marking recut, new barrel, new stock, etc. Lotsa money and the charm is gone. You have a gun that has history. A silver-brown receiver, a shootable barrel made a bit better looking with a rust blue, and a stock slightly rejuvenated with a thin coat or two of tung oil or tru-oil (thin, I would not fill all the grain in as it is a weathered used finish and needs to still look that way) is probably what I would do. You then can show the gun along with the letter with pride knowing you saved it from the scrap heap or from being parted out, without having to defend all you did to it.
Here is an 1876 receiver that was missing side plates. I had a pair of plates that were bare metal like your receiver. Using Tru-brown I was able to match the color and texture of the plates to the existing receiver almost exactly. (The receiver is untouched).

1876rec-7.JPG

Now realize the receiver of an 1876 is different than your 1894. I believe your 1894 has nickel in the receiver, which with time migrates to the surface. I was told that is why so many old 1894s have silverish looking receivers. I believe the 1876 used an iron frame.... just wanted to show you how versatile Tru-brown is to match old patinas.
Just some ideas. Its a great dilemma to have by the way!
Good luck and keep us posted as to what you decide to do.

[coyote nose]

One more thing, you could also leave everything 'in the white' and let time do its magic. Here is an 1886 I once owned in 40 caliber (why did I sell it??) in the condition I received it. Looks pretty good I think. I did nothing to this except rub in a very very thin coat of tung oil.

59702-1.jpg

[Pat C]

The grey brown receiver patina is probably best , maybe rust blue bolt with thin coat and spring cover still has its blue.

Then thin rust blue barrel and mag tube. The original stock is a must keep. Its got gouges and cracks . But I believe I can repair it to look good. I have a matching original forend that needs work too.

This old rifle spent its entire life in the Pacific North West many hunts taking game. And shows that of a hard used rifle.

Typically old 1894 can have a patina receiver and have decent rust blue on barrel . Thanks for the added encouragement!