Why I love fixing up old guns even if I don't make money on it

Teku

Teku

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Brunswick County, NC
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This was something of a passion project to fix up this old veteran of two world wars to make combat ready once more.
P14 Enfield that given to me as a gift from my dad's friend and I took the time to make her look like she did in her days of glory.
I think it turned out well

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Looks great!
 
axrd said:
What kind of a neighborhood do you live in to be able to go thru a few clips?
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A very bizarre one.
There is a long version to the story, but the short version is that I got the word that as long as I didn't intentionally aim at people or other's personal property we were free to do as we pleased. While what I do may startle the neighbors at times, I try to keep what I do pretty short and only shoot 2 clips at most.
 
I got my start in repairing guns for fun with an old enfield my Dad gave me when I was a kid. It was missing the extractor and spring, no magazine, missing handguard. I picked up a shotgun news and started ordering parts until I got it running and looking like new.
 
I really enjoy the wood part of it. I’ve gotten pretty good at steaming out dents, picking the right wood dye, bringing old checkering back to life and really making the stocks shine.

I always have a friend cerakote them for me instead of bluing.

This was a 22 shirt that belonged to my grandfather. They called them soap guns because soap salesmen use to give them out if you ordered a certain amount. Only worth anything to me.

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An old, beat to hell browning A5.

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A destroyed browning I picked up in a pawn shop. Even tried my hand at gold lettering I this one.

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And a 20 gauge ruger red label I did for a friend. It was her grandfathers gun.

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Chdamn said:
I really enjoy the wood part of it. I’ve gotten pretty good at steaming out dents, picking the right wood dye, bringing old checkering back to life and really making the stocks shine.

I always have a friend cerakote them for me instead of bluing.

This was a 22 shirt that belonged to my grandfather. They called them soap guns because soap salesmen use to give them out if you ordered a certain amount. Only worth anything to me.

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I have an old .22 short very much like yours that my uncle found on the shore of the French Broad back in the 60's. The buttstock was missing when he found it, and another uncle made a new stock for it.
The uncle that found it passed away 3 years ago, and his son (my 2nd cousin) new that I was into firearms so he gave it to me.
 
I just laid away an M1917 US Enfield made by Winchester. It was sporterized, but not butchered. I figure it will cost me $500.00 (with the price of the rifle) to put her back to as issued condition. A price well worth it considering the value when complete will be $1300-1500.00. I don't do it to make a profit, I enjoy the work. The value increase is how I justify the expense to the wife.
 
sgtgeorge said:
I just laid away an M1917 US Enfield made by Winchester. It was sporterized, but not butchered. I figure it will cost me $500.00 (with the price of the rifle) to put her back to as issued condition. A price well worth it considering the value when complete will be $1300-1500.00. I don't do it to make a profit, I enjoy the work. The value increase is how I justify the expense to the wife.
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Where do you usually get your parts, stocks etc for the guns you restore. I have refurbished a few guns, but I would like to get my hands on a few, and try to put them back in original condition the way you do.
 
My newest Project. Vetterli Vitali. Got it for fairly cheap on a Black Friday sale in a small gunstore I was in. Needs a few parts, specifically:
-Nose Cap Screw
-Front Barrel Band
-Band Spring
I put up a wanted ad for it in the forum, so if anyone has the parts or knows someone here who might, direct them my way ;)

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"Restoration" of mil-surps is a losing proposition, unless you find a die hard collector, and even then you'll NEVER recoup your investment.

I've done a few that upon later, objective observations, I probably should've had therapy after their completion.

But the the search for the "correct" parts, and finally finding them is a HIGH, no doubt about it.
 
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