Stevens Model 94 16 gauge project

[FF/EMT516]

So here’s the backstory:
I was out scouting with one of my best friends back in August, and I asked him if he still had his 16 gauge. He said, "You have it." I just looked at him and said, "I have it? What do you mean?" And he told me that he traded it and some cash at Gary’s gun shop in Caneyville for a pistol. And just so happens that I traded a pistol for this shotgun and two boxes of shells. So I said, "Do you want to buy it?" And he asks, "Why? Are you wanting to sell it?" And I told him no, but he’s the only person I’d sell it to and that I wasn’t going to get rid of it. So anyways, I thought that was really cool. One of my best friends gun, maybe his first gun actually that he got for Christmas when he was 16. We used to squirrel hunt all the time together and he always had that gun. But I thought was so cool that I had it and didn’t know it. I know it’s not worth much but it is to me. The barrel is pitting and I decided to sand the barrel down and reblue it and redo the forearm and stock on it. So tonight I started taking it apart and got most of the barrel and action sanded down and working on sanding the pitting out of it. So here’s the before picture, and I’ll update this thread as I go for anyone who may want to keep up with it. Also this is on a budget too, and the first gun I’ve ever done anything like this to.

 

[Nailer]

If the pitting wasn’t deep but just freckling 0000 steel wool and a good oil will usually remove it to the point you would never see it again. What are you going to blue it with? That is the part people struggle with.

Go slow on the wood and take your time, it’s pretty cut and dry. Don’t try to sand out dents or small impressions. Wet a rag down and lay it on the blemish then run a scorching hot iron over top of it and it will usually raise the grain back out. This can be done in multiple passes.

 

[riverboss]

Cool story I hope it turns out great!
Keep taking pics I would really love to see it's progress.

 

[FF/EMT516]

If the pitting wasn’t deep but just freckling 0000 steel wool and a good oil will usually remove it to the point you would never see it again. What are you going to blue it with? That is the part people struggle with.

Go slow on the wood and take your time, it’s pretty cut and dry. Don’t try to sand out dents or small impressions. Wet a rag down and lay it on the blemish then run a scorching hot iron over top of it and it will usually raise the grain back out. This can be done in multiple passes.

It’s fairly deep and quite a bit of it. I’ve been wet sanding it with 600 grit but that wasn’t enough so I went down to a 220 grit and am gonna just have to keep going finer on the grit after I get the pitting out of it until I get the smoothness I’m satisfied with. I’m just gonna use super blue cold blue on it. I don’t plan on using it much after it gets finished. Maybe gets 5 or 6 shells shot through it a year.

 

[Nailer]

It’s fairly deep and quite a bit of it. I’ve been wet sanding it with 600 grit but that wasn’t enough so I went down to a 220 grit and am gonna just have to keep going finer on the grit after I get the pitting out of it until I get the smoothness I’m satisfied with. I’m just gonna use super blue cold blue on it. I don’t plan on using it much after it gets finished. Maybe gets 5 or 6 shells shot through it a year.

Gotcha. I’ve done several old .22s and shotguns. Post the pics when you get done. I love working on old guns that are well used. I need to pick up a few more project pieces.

 

[woodsman92]

My dad has one of those I’ve squirrel hunted with a lot, love that shotgun. Really is probably my favorite shotgun in the squirrel woods because of how light it is and 16 gauge just seems perfect. I searched for one like it for years in 12 gauge with a 3” chamber but never found one.

 

[FF/EMT516]

My dad has one of those I’ve squirrel hunted with a lot, love that shotgun. Really is probably my favorite shotgun in the squirrel woods because of how light it is and 16 gauge just seems perfect. I searched for one like it for years in 12 gauge with a 3” chamber but never found one.

I killed my first squirrel with one identical to it belonging to my uncle. Good guns. My dad has a 20ga stevens that belonged to my great great grandfather and was made between 1929-1940 and is still the best shooting 20ga I’ve ever shot.

 

[FF/EMT516]

Gotcha. I’ve done several old .22s and shotguns. Post the pics when you get done. I love working on old guns that are well used. I need to pick up a few more project pieces.

I have a thing for old single shot shotguns.

 

[FF/EMT516]

If I don’t get the pitting completely out will it come back?

 

[koger]

I do hot bluing and English rust bluing, pm me if interested, been doing it for 38 years.

 

[Bullet&bow]

So here’s the backstory:
I was out scouting with one of my best friends back in August, and I asked him if he still had his 16 gauge. He said, "You have it." I just looked at him and said, "I have it? What do you mean?" And he told me that he traded it and some cash at Gary’s gun shop in Caneyville for a pistol. And just so happens that I traded a pistol for this shotgun and two boxes of shells. So I said, "Do you want to buy it?" And he asks, "Why? Are you wanting to sell it?" And I told him no, but he’s the only person I’d sell it to and that I wasn’t going to get rid of it. So anyways, I thought that was really cool. One of my best friends gun, maybe his first gun actually that he got for Christmas when he was 16. We used to squirrel hunt all the time together and he always had that gun. But I thought was so cool that I had it and didn’t know it. I know it’s not worth much but it is to me. The barrel is pitting and I decided to sand the barrel down and reblue it and redo the forearm and stock on it. So tonight I started taking it apart and got most of the barrel and action sanded down and working on sanding the pitting out of it. So here’s the before picture, and I’ll update this thread as I go for anyone who may want to keep up with it. Also this is on a budget too, and the first gun I’ve ever done anything like this to.

I have an old Springfield 16 side by side that Alan sold to me years ago (Basstar). I have killed a ton of birds with it. Great gun and simple to work on. I think mine must be close to a hundred years old now. Goes with me every time I bird hunt. I find that the buttstock gets wiggly after several outings; you might want to pay attention to the screw thread type and size back there to ensure that it stays tight.

 

[chadwimc]

If I don’t get the pitting completely out will it come back?

Not with proper care. Keep it well oiled when you're done.

 

[FF/EMT516]

I haven’t forgotten about this thread. I’ve been piddling on this gun when I get time. The barrel was pitted a lot worse than I thought. So I’m having to take a small file and file it all out and then I’m going to sand it with finer and finer grain until I’m satisfied with it.

 

[chadwimc]

I haven’t forgotten about this thread. I’ve been piddling on this gun when I get time. The barrel was pitted a lot worse than I thought. So I’m having to take a small file and file it all out and then I’m going to sand it with finer and finer grain until I’m satisfied with it.

Be careful with a file. Its better to live with the pitting than weaken the metal in a critical spot.

 

[FF/EMT516]

I finished it. The action looks pretty good. The barrel looks like garbage. I couldn’t get all the scuff marks out of it and the bluing streaked and looks horrible.