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Cleaning old guns?

woma951
I'm always afraid to clean my old Winchesters. IS cleaning the wood OK or is it better dirty? Oil the wood or not?

Boar cleaning what do you recommend and can you scrub it too clean. I'm always afraid one drop will hit the outer metal and it will silver out! will it? How much cleaning can you do or should you do to the patina. And what to use?
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Cleaning the wood is highly recommended. Use any quality wood furniture cleaning oil. Never use gun oil on the wood.

    Cleaning the bore is also recommended. On an old bore that has not been well cared for, I like to soak it with Kroil for at least 24-hours, then use a copper wire brush to scrub the bore clean. There are lots of different bore cleaning solvents that work well, but my old favorite is Hoppe's No. 9.

    Patina should be left intact to the maximum extent possible, as it is simply the original bluing that has turned plum or brown colored with age and handling. What I use to clean old Winchesters is 100% pure acetone. It will take off all of the old dried up oil, grease, gunpowder residue, crud, etc., but it will not harm the patina or the original bluing/case color finish. Never allow the acetone to touch the wood. I always remove the stocks and set them aside for cleaning before I start on the steel surfaces.

    After I have everything cleaned and reassembled, I apply a very light coat of Old West Snake Oil to the entire gun (not the bore though). Leave the bore clean and dry.
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  • woma951
    Thanks Bert,
    I guess now I need to get brave enough to remove the stocks! Any tips on that?
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  • rong
    Why leave the bore clean and dry?
    BTW- thanks for the info.
    Apologies for stealing thread.
    Ron
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by rong
    Why leave the bore clean and dry?
    BTW- thanks for the info.
    Apologies for stealing thread.
    Ron


    Ron,

    If you never intend to shoot the gun, a light coat of gun oil in the bore is fine. However, it you shoot the gun, you do not want to leave oil in the bore, as you can damage the barrel if you do not wipe the bore clean before firing that first shot. Nothing should ever be left in the bore on firearms that are going to be shot.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by woma951
    Thanks Bert,
    I guess now I need to get brave enough to remove the stocks! Any tips on that?


    Steve,

    It would help to know which Winchester Model you are going to be working on.
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  • charliemeyer007
    Start with a good set of proper screwdrivers/bits and punches.
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  • rong
    I was under the assumption the firearm
    was a safe queen, I misinterpreted the OP
    Thanks-Ron
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  • perry shooter
    Ballistol does a good job of cleaning grunge off of wood and will not harm wood or original finish on the wood. Will protect the metal after cleaning with KROIL and will also protect leather it is non toxic and Biodegradeable
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  • He Dog
    Murphy's Oil Soap is also good on the wood. I would never oil wood.
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