Post by bsutravis on Mar 5, 2010 16:37:53 GMT -5
I was fortunate enough to inherit one of my Great-Uncle's shotguns.... My uncle Tommy passed away a few months ago after living to the age of 92. He'd already given me one of his mounted walleye's, and now I have the shotgun that he most used.
From what I can gather, I THINK this is a Browning A-5 or Auto 5. There is no "model" listed anywhere on the receiver or barrel. The only identifiable inscription on the barrel says, " Special Steel - 12 Gauge - Shells 3" " I've went to the Browning website where you can ID your gun via the serial number (which is 71V87473) but I can't seem to get a match on the serial number.
Anyway... my question is, the gun had nasty surface rust on one side of the receiver, with the other side in fairly good shape. The barrel is in fairly good condition as well. At first I was not going to mess with the metal, as I wanted the 'aged' patina to be preserved. After seeing the gun there really isn't any patina, and I had to get the rust off so after knocking the rust off with 0000 steel wool I think I want to go ahead and re-blue the receiver and barrel.....and leave the aged wood parts alone. One of the really cool parts on the gun is that the forestock has a mark where my great-uncle's prosthetic "hook" put some gouge marks into the wood. He lost one of his hands in a farming accident, so the "hook" is what he had to use to shoot. I wouldn't remove those marks for anything!
Anyway..... what route should I go with re-bluing this old classic? Are the "do it yourself" kits worthy or should I send it off? What kits are the best?
Thanks...
From what I can gather, I THINK this is a Browning A-5 or Auto 5. There is no "model" listed anywhere on the receiver or barrel. The only identifiable inscription on the barrel says, " Special Steel - 12 Gauge - Shells 3" " I've went to the Browning website where you can ID your gun via the serial number (which is 71V87473) but I can't seem to get a match on the serial number.
Anyway... my question is, the gun had nasty surface rust on one side of the receiver, with the other side in fairly good shape. The barrel is in fairly good condition as well. At first I was not going to mess with the metal, as I wanted the 'aged' patina to be preserved. After seeing the gun there really isn't any patina, and I had to get the rust off so after knocking the rust off with 0000 steel wool I think I want to go ahead and re-blue the receiver and barrel.....and leave the aged wood parts alone. One of the really cool parts on the gun is that the forestock has a mark where my great-uncle's prosthetic "hook" put some gouge marks into the wood. He lost one of his hands in a farming accident, so the "hook" is what he had to use to shoot. I wouldn't remove those marks for anything!
Anyway..... what route should I go with re-bluing this old classic? Are the "do it yourself" kits worthy or should I send it off? What kits are the best?
Thanks...
...I'd have it done professionally.
