I just traded into a Winchester Model 12 in 16 ga. that my dad (now dead) traded to a relative in the early 70's. It is mechanically perfect but due to 25 years of being stuck in a closet and never oiled , its got some finish problems. It will need to be reblued and a good amount of surface rust removed from the reciever and barrel (in front of the mag tube). Any recommendation on someone who can do this type of work? I've started looking on the internet, but the main thing I'm concerned with is overbuffing and ruining the square edges and screw holes. The worst thing is that I know when this gun was traded it was like new--- I have all of my fathers guns that he owned when he died and they were kept immaculately. I also know how this relative keeps his guns . If the finish was not screwed up it would be in great shape (98+%), my guess is that its had less than 100 rounds fired through it. I am worried about getting good results as I don't get this type of work done normally and the gun would never return the $$ of having someone like Turnbull restore it. I am looking for a serviceable reblue and removal of the surface rust and hopefully minimal pitting under the blue. Suggestions would be appreciated.

I've had "toomany tools" reblue several rifles for me. I've been very please. I've had his satin finish and it looks very much like a rust blue. Bottomline having done blueing for a fee in my younger days. If the pits are two deep you simply can't remove them. Some try but then you get a real wavy finish. A satan or matt finish will make pits harder to see. Gloss shows every flaw.

Buckeye,

Please find someone like "Toomany Tools" or a firearms restorer like Doug Turnbull. As stated above it just isn't "knocking the surface rust off". I have an old Winchester lever rifle that "looks" very good, but the collection value is ruined. The work of a guy with a flat file!

Restoration isn't about money spent, it is about having a piece that will live on as a beautiful piece and retain an aesthetic quality beyond a "family hierloom".

Just my opine

I recently had a model 42 Winchester receiver reblued by Simmons. Good job reasonable price. Company that has been in business for many years. hated to do it because of diminishing collector's value but the gun had rust pitting. Loss of blue finish is one thing but pitting is another. I bought the gun to use not to collect.

I actually think there is a bit of pitting on the barrel that will be there once its reblued. So. I'm not thinking restoration but a shooter that I'll be proud to own. Turnbull lists $2000.00 for a reblue and $2800.00 for a model 12 restoration on the website. I'd like to spend alot less than that.

Send me a couple pictures and I probably can give you a quote. Send them too:

Toomanytools@comcast.net

It will cost more than a 600 aluminum trigger guard.
Butch

I would expect it to---- and in this case I would be willing to pay it

Just razzing you a little buckeyeshooter. Aren't rust blue jobs around $350-$500?
Butch

It's all good Butch! I certainly deserve it! Yes, I'm thinking that would be the range and give me something that I can use for small game and still look like I had not stored it unoiled in the corn crib.