Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Pre 64 70 Refinish

Hawkshaw
To all you Winny experts, two questions. I just acquired a 1952 mod 70 300 H&H. What type of finish was used by the factory on this gun originaly? It appears to be a semi gloss varnish, but very thin coat. This is not a previous refinish I don't believe. I would like to duplicate the original finish if possible. It is not an oil finish either. Second question
In the process of steaming out the many dings etc,, I noticed that the terry cloth rag I put between the hot iron, and the wood, was also drawing out old oil around the receiver/tang area. In the past, I have used many pounds of whitting, and acetone to remove the old oil, before refinishing. That can be a forever job some times. I'm wondering if any one has used a heat iron, and cloth to draw out old oil. Any ideas, or techniques will be welcome. THX HAWKSHAW
0

Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • kumatelives
    tung oil,low gloss gives a pretty close coy and won't gum up in the checkering,use several coats.heat lamp or hair dryer works for oil removal
    0
  • CapnMidnight
    I use a hair dryer and cheese cloth to wick the oil out of old gun stocks. Patience, patience, patience is whats required for stock work like your doing. Low gloss Homer Formbys tung oil, as has been mentioned is as close to pre 64 Winchester finish as your going to get. Sometimes you can cut it a little with thinner to get closer to a lightly used look. Keep it out of the checkering, unless you thin it. Use a soft tooth brush to spread it in the checkering.
    W.D.
    0
  • Madman
    Hawkshaw;
    As my memory tells me Whitacker and Rule mentioned the original Winchester finish on the pre-64 Model 70's was seven coats of clear lacquer with the last one mixed with a wax. My '52 300 H&H is shiny also. Does yours have a metal butt plate? Original issue had metal not rubber. How about front hood, original rear sight and sling swivels? Best of luck refinishing.
    I just did a Model 43 Deluxe stock over and at the recommendation of Brownell techs I used a spray on satin that looks almost 100% accurate to the original. Taped off the checkering and used Dembart checkering oil with a tooth brush to finish..

    Paul
    Mountain Magic Gunsmithing
    0
  • yellowdog52
    I think John Kay still sells his pre 64 stock oil. comes with detailed instructions. John did the best restoration work on winchesters out there including stock finishing. If you call him please be gentle with him. His health is not good. 608-248-2965
    0
  • GuvamintCheese
    You will need to get a stain on it before you start the finish process unless you use John Kays finish. I have had good luck matching the color using a water based red oak stain mixed about 1:5 with mahogany. If you dont stain it it wont look like a Winchester. This would also be a good time to point up the checkering. Like Paul said, dont get the finish in the checkering (just the stain). I use BLO for the checkering after the stock has been finished, shiney checkering is a sign of a bad job.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity