The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Shotguns => Topic started by: ronlarimer on November 29, 2011, 09:41:42 AM
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I have a 7rd 870 Express that works fine, I just don't like handling it and I am over the all black tactical thing, so I have decided to give it a face lift.
I have already stripped the receiver, I plan on polishing it, adding some wood stocks, gold front bead, plating the trigger and maybe some jeweling, metal follower, larger safety, maybe some porting, fitting choke tubes et cetera.
The goal in the end is to have a very functional SD gun, that looks like a field gun.
I am struggling with how I want to handle the bluing though. I think I would like to do heat bluing with oil quenching, but I don't know if it would hurt the receiver and I can't find anyone else that has done it. (I think that may be a red flag).
Are there any gun smiths that can tell me if and why this would be a bad plan?
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You should do this, sounds very interesting! Pics must be posted when complete. Did a quick check on YouTube, looks like Larry Potterfield and Midway USA have just about everything you need for Bluing. Larry actually is in some of the How to videos in regards to bluing. As for the receiver question, I am not qualified to answer sadly but am working on fixing that.
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I think you should do it as well. I mean hell, its only an 870, its not like you're doing this to an LC Smith or something. If it turns out ugly, well, it was ugly to start with. It will still shoot great and you will have learned something (and us as well by extension). On the other hand, it might look pretty sweet. I say go for it.
FQ13
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I have a 42 year old Wingmaster that takes offense to being called ugly! >:(
It's polished receiver and barrel, American Walnut lumber and care makes it quite a lovely little gun! Certainly not an English double by any means but for this poor old mick, it's quite sufficient.
It also serves to protect me in a pinch....
;)
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I have a 42 year old Wingmaster that takes offense to being called ugly! >:(
It's polished receiver and barrel, American Walnut lumber and care makes it quite a lovely little gun! Certainly not an English double by any means but for this poor old mick, it's quite sufficient.
It also serves to protect me in a pinch....
;)
i used to own one in 16 gauge. They are a stock pump gun. They are many things, but pretty ain't one of them. Settle for "a damn fine tool" and I'm there with you.
FQ13
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i used to own one in 16 gauge. They are a stock pump gun. They are many things, but pretty ain't one of them. Settle for "a damn fine tool" and I'm there with you.
FQ13
The new 870's are junk compared to the early ones! My daughter has one and it has no character. I looked at a Browning upland pump gun recently and it was crap as well! Made in Japan, poor fitting stock, etc...
Anyway, I don't like plastic stocks on anything. Can't even convince myself to buy a plastic handgun yet.
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Beauty is in the eye of the........well, you know... :D
I gotta go with Tim.....I've seen some right purty pump guns. A box-perfect Wingmaster or Ithaca 37 is a sight to see, in my eyes. My best friend has a Winchester Model 12 (with US property markings) that survived its military duty unscathed (probably sat out the war in an armory before being 'procured' and relegated to closet duty for decades) and looks practically new. It's one beautiful gun to me.
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Mr. Potterfield seems to be pretty knowledgable on things gunsmithing so you might try contacting him and ask your question about hurting the receiver. I talked to him at the NRA convention and he was quite nice to talk to.
FWIW
Richard
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if you want to fire blue the receiver I would call Turnbull restorations and see what they would charge . They are the best out there and would know if it was possible or practical.
http://www.turnbullmfg.com/store.asp?pid=20180&catid=19872 (http://www.turnbullmfg.com/store.asp?pid=20180&catid=19872)
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Alright, I have attached 3 photos one is the before, a completely serviceable 870, one is it in pieces and the last is with a polished barrel and mag tube(s).
When I got started I decided to remove the finish with sanding and it didn't go so well to I decided to use a chemical stripper. Aircraft stripper did nothing in 30 mins. Brake cleaner did nothing. Acidic tile cleaner made the finish VANISH! It bubbled up and it was just gone.
As the parts sit now I went through 80, 120, 180, 320 and 400 grit sandpapers and then I hit is with 0000 steel wool. It looks good enough, not a show gun, but that's not the point.
I called Turnbull Mfg and I was very impressed. They didn't want to tell me how to do it, but they did point out a few things to consider. The guy I spoke to mentioned that they had done this process a "couple" of times and agreed that with the relatively low pressures there shouldn't be anything to worry about.
I think my plan is to blue the receiver and the barrel in such a way as it looks like it was caused by the heat of the gun firing. I am going to do the mag tube to look like it was done with radiant heat from the barrel. If it is too much I am going to cold blue over it.
That's the plan.
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Can't wait til you get it all done. Looking forward to the pics
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To late to turn back now. I don't know if I am going to cold blue on top of it and just have the subtle differneces of leave it as is. What are your thoughts?
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I like it!
And I would love to see the affect under some bluing.
I may have to do the same thing to my HD 870...
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I don't know. You've kind of got that whole Road Warrior vibe going on right now, and there darn sure isn't another one like it out there. That's a plus. OTOH, a good deep blue is a beautiful thing. I guess if it were me, I'd either buy some nice wood for the stock and fore end and blue it, or keep the plastic and leave it alone (thus saving time and money). Gee, which would I choose? ;D As I said earlier, its an SD pump gun, its never going to be pretty. Yours as is, however, does look pretty bad ass which to me is in keeping with the spirit of the thing. Just my .02.
FQ13
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Heck, I kinda liked it in the white....... ;)
Definitely unique. I think the gun looks kinda cool with the varying colors.
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Veeeeery interesting!
Richard
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I decided the colors were just too bright and it had a ruger rimfire vibe so I put a couple coats of gun blue on it and the results are kind of interesting. It now looks like it has been a well cared for but hard used truck gun for the last 60-70 years. I'll post pics tonight.
The original plan was for some pristine walnut stocks, the new plan is for some old police stocks to refinish!
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:o Wow
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Here are a couple of photos... They don't quite do it justice. Maybe I will try in the sun tomorrow.
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I am somewhat amused. You went to a lot of trouble to make an older gun look, well, older. ;D Now hear me out, that's not a slam. The gun has a worn or "antiqued" look to it. It looks like its been through the wars and is still damn solid and ready to go. I refer to my earlier post when I said it would never be pretty, but could look badass. This qualifies. I kind of liked the punk rock/Mad Max multi color thing you had going on. But this? Its as bad ass. Its got a John Wayne/Clint Eastwood vibe. It seems, at least to me, to say "I'm old, I'm beat up, but you don't want to f@ck with me". And that's really all you need an SD shotgun to say. Leave it alone, it looks just great.
FQ13
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FQ... actually it was a nearly new shotgun (less than 50 shells through it) that I didn't shoot because it felt cheap and I couldn't build a connection to it, so my choice was to either fix it or sell it and buy something with a better fit and finish.
In the process or dismantling it, working with it and bleeding on it, I got to try a bluing technique that I had never seen on a gun and it morphed away from my vision into what the gun wanted to be. I have gone up to look at the gun more today than I have in the two years I have owned it and now I like the feel of the steel.
Now I have a connection to it and it will be easier for me to start to learn to run it and if I scratch it, it will just add character (plus I had the time).
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FQ... actually it was a nearly new shotgun (less than 50 shells through it) that I didn't shoot because it felt cheap and I couldn't build a connection to it, so my choice was to either fix it or sell it and buy something with a better fit and finish.
In the process or dismantling it, working with it and bleeding on it, I got to try a bluing technique that I had never seen on a gun and it morphed away from my vision into what the gun wanted to be. I have gone up to look at the gun more today than I have in the two years I have owned it and now I like the feel of the steel.
Now I have a connection to it and it will be easier for me to start to learn to run it and if I scratch it, it will just add character (plus I had the time).
As I said, I think it looks darn cool. It really does have that weathered look that adds some authority to the weapon. I know I sometimes get a bit snarky, but when I comment on a gun issue my posts are irony free. I really do like it, and I'd stop messing with it now (that includes not messing with the stock, unless you want a knox). The whole package works. Good job.
FQ13
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Your previous statement sums up the current line of 870 pump guns.
They feel cheap, need a few new parts replaced and a decent stock and finish to make them presentable.
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FQ... I didn't take your comments badly at all. I was just trying to make it clear that it was actually WORSE than you were joking about. I took a new gun and made it look like it was in WW1 & !!.
I realize it is dumb and that my reasons for "needing" to do were dumb, but I am completely over tacticool and this gun will be about as far from it as possible, and still retain all of the functionality.
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FQ... I didn't take your comments badly at all. I was just trying to make it clear that it was actually WORSE than you were joking about. I took a new gun and made it look like it was in WW1 & !!.
I realize it is dumb and that my reasons for "needing" to do were dumb, but I am completely over tacticool and this gun will be about as far from it as possible, and still retain all of the functionality.
There's nothing wrong with the need to do it.
Personally, I'd rather build the gun I want and not care what others think than try to conform.
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Original gun was plain Jane.
Version 2.0 was way cool.
Version 3.0 is even better with the aged steel look.
As a "steel and wood" fan (for the most part), IMHO wood stocks (maybe a distressed look) would be the icing on the cake.
FWIW
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Original gun was plain Jane.
Version 2.0 was way cool.
Version 3.0 is even better with the aged steel look.
As a "steel and wood" fan (for the most part), IMHO wood stocks (maybe a distressed look) would be the icing on the cake.
FWIW
+100000000
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Here is a link to the final write up and the wood stock...
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-qoOh_r1iA/TubJCRP9TwI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/CdtU8aUBMLw/s320/870after.gif)
http://balloongoesup.blogspot.com/2011/12/gun-porn-ruining-870-and-making-it.html
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Here is a link to the final write up and the wood stock...
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-qoOh_r1iA/TubJCRP9TwI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/CdtU8aUBMLw/s320/870after.gif)
http://balloongoesup.blogspot.com/2011/12/gun-porn-ruining-870-and-making-it.html
Oh ya... the old police stocks finish out the package. Good job, I may have to do the same thing now, I do have 2 weeks off over Christmas and the exact same 870.... ;)