Charity Has Its Moments, Marlin 336CS GOT PICS

[blackwolfe]

A couple years ago shortly before deer season a kid came into a sporting goods store while I was there.  He wanted to sell a used rifle back to the store or trade it back  on a used shotgun.  The kid started to pull it out of the soft case it was in and the clerk started to treat the kid badly saying they don't take stuff back.  I saw that it was a lever gun of some kind and asked the kid what he had.  It was a Marlin 30AS in 30-30.  It looked as if it was put away wet and was speckeled with rust spots.  Nothing deep, just surface.  As the area where I hunt, can have some very foul weather I was kind of looking for either an all weather gun, or a beater.  I asked the kid what he wanted for it and $75 and a fuss from the store clerk who suddenly became interested in it, I had my beater.

I took it home and cleaned it up pretty well with oil and bronze wool.  It cleaned up real well I thought.  At deer camp that year, we had some foul weather and took that one to the field that day.  I figured that if the weather got to it, I didn't have much into it dollar wise.  Even though I thought I had it cleaned up and oiled well, the damp weather really attacked it.  I could almost watch it turn orange. It cleans up again, but doesn't seem to last.  Any ideas what I can do to keep it cleaned up, or does it need to be reblued?  Even though I don't have many dollars in it, it still pains me to see rust more when it is damp. 

[billt]

I have never reblued an entire gun with it, but I just bought some Oxpho-Blue cold bluing liquid from Brownell's. I use it to reblue the inside of my scope rings after I'm finished lapping them. I figure it just helps prevent rusting by not leaving any bare metal exposed.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1072/Product/OXPHO_BLUE_reg_

The stuff really works fast, and gives the metal a deep blued finish. You could try it on a small part, like perhaps the lever and see how you like it. Another thing would be to keep a high viscosity oil, or even a light grease on the metal before you go out on a hunt. Cosmoline is good as well. You can heat it and it becomes liquid, then using a piece of terrycloth wipe a thin layer on it. You can always remove it after you're finished.  Bill T.

[m25operator]

For a corrosion inhibitor, there a good many that work. My favorites are FP10, Corrosion x, Kroil, Rem oil, and Birchwood Casey sheath. The last comes in foil packets like glasses cleaners, I always have a few of those with me, for when I get caught in a rainy situation, and wipe the firearm down as soon as possible, it has saved my bacon more than once. Of the above, I like FP10 the most, as it protects and LUBRICATES WELL, Rem oil does a good job of both, but Corrosion X and Kroil protect well, but don't lubricate at all. With any of the above, I wipe it on liberally by hand, then wipe off with a clean dry cloth.

[twyacht]

Pics are back on the top of the thread.

Thanks again for all the info.

[PegLeg45]

A couple years ago shortly before deer season a kid came into a sporting goods store while I was there.  He wanted to sell a used rifle back to the store or trade it back  on a used shotgun.  The kid started to pull it out of the soft case it was in and the clerk started to treat the kid badly saying they don't take stuff back.  I saw that it was a lever gun of some kind and asked the kid what he had.  It was a Marlin 30AS in 30-30.  It looked as if it was put away wet and was speckeled with rust spots.  Nothing deep, just surface.  As the area where I hunt, can have some very foul weather I was kind of looking for either an all weather gun, or a beater.  I asked the kid what he wanted for it and $75 and a fuss from the store clerk who suddenly became interested in it, I had my beater.

I took it home and cleaned it up pretty well with oil and bronze wool.  It cleaned up real well I thought.  At deer camp that year, we had some foul weather and took that one to the field that day.  I figured that if the weather got to it, I didn't have much into it dollar wise.  Even though I thought I had it cleaned up and oiled well, the damp weather really attacked it.  I could almost watch it turn orange. It cleans up again, but doesn't seem to last.  Any ideas what I can do to keep it cleaned up, or does it need to be reblued?  Even though I don't have many dollars in it, it still pains me to see rust more when it is damp. 

Blackwolfe, have you considered having it parkerized or coated with something like Dura-Coat or Gun-Kote?
I have good friend who bought a 'beater' pump shotgun that was good on the inside, but a pig on the outside. He disassembled it, and bought a parkerizing kit from Brownells and did it himself. Then, he sprayed it with a coat of stainless colored Gun-Kote.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN_KOTE_trade__OVEN_CURE__GUN_FINISH

[Sponsor]

[Pathfinder]

My pawn shop 336RC is in similar shape to TW's charity gun. Receiver is not rusted, but a former owner etched some letters and numbers into the left side of the receiver. Barrel and magazine tube are lightly pitted.

Blackwolfe, I called Marlin about re-bluing (this rifle is minted 1948 - the very first year for the 336, so I wanted a factory job done), but they are not re-bluing at this time. The guy I talked to suggested I call back at the end of April to see if the re-blueing was back on the schedule. I'm going to follow M25's suggestions and keep the barrel and tube well coated with lubes and see if that will slow any further rust. Mine doesn't leave the safe for now, OK, maybe to a range shortly for some fun, but only on a nice day and then right back to the safe. Since yours goes orange so quickly, I would listen to M25 until a more permanent solution can be found.

[david86440]

I have never reblued an entire gun with it, but I just bought some Oxpho-Blue cold bluing liquid from Brownell's. I use it to reblue the inside of my scope rings after I'm finished lapping them. I figure it just helps prevent rusting by not leaving any bare metal exposed.
 

I have done several complete guns with Oxpho-Blue and really like it.

Here are before and after pics of a Win 9422 that I did a couple years ago. It was really rough when I got it.

[MAUSERMAN]

Nice work.

[tombogan03884]

I'm going to start another thread on metal refinishing.

[Pathfinder]

I'm going to start another thread on metal refinishing.

Good. I was wondering what to do before I try to re-blue or have it re-blued. Cover Prep 101, would'ya? Thx