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winchester model 94...1904 32 special

bigboy101
Hi, I have a pretty good old Winchester as mentioned above. The bluing on the barrel is around 90-95%, the magazine is around 40%. The problem area is the lever. There was some blotchy areas of surface rust on the bottom of the lever that were sanded off with 4 ott steel wool and oil. The area is now smooth, with no rust, but blotchy...bluing/bare metal. Anyone know who could re-blue and give it a worn look or maybe someone has a nice lever for sale with the bluing partially gone?? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • RCrosby
    Unless somethings already been done to remove it from future consideration as being collectible I'd leave it like is.
    Reblueing or replacing the lever will destroy any collector interest (except as a parts gun) and what will it actually accomplish?
    Enjoy it as is!
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  • Floyd58523
    Just a thought but the levers on that vintage of Winchester is Case Colored. Please post a picture. It sounds like the lever is how it should look.

    The levers are not blued.
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  • Bert H.
    Floyd is 100% correct[^]... the lever, hammer, and trigger were originally case color finished, and the appearance should be "blotchy".
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  • GuvamintCheese
    When did they start bluing them, This one is a .32 from 1927 and lever is blue.
    pix59424234.jpg
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by cartod
    When did they start bluing them, This one is a .32 from 1927 and lever is blue.
    pix59424234.jpg


    Sometime after 1920 but no later than 1924.
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  • He Dog
    Gotta love this board![^]
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  • glabray
    If the blotchy pattern is all over, then it may be residual case hardening as others have noted. However, if it is just in the areas where you removed rust, then it is most likely a result of whatever caused the rust in the first place.

    If you want to replace the lever, worn-look early 1894 levers are fairly easy to come by. There are often ones listed on this auction site. If you do a careful job of replacing the lever (don't bugger up screw heads, use a similar appearing lever from the same time period) you will in no way reduce the value of the gun as it will be impossible to detect that the lever has been changed. It's not like having the barrel changed.
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  • RCrosby
    impossible to detect???
    Since when was the likelihood of being found out the standard??
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  • He Dog
    Sad to say, for some guys not being found out is the basis of their livelihood. I have seen more old shotguns marked Wells Fargo, than Wells Fargo ever owned.
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  • GuvamintCheese
    There is a huge difference between replacing a lever and faking a wells fargo gun. I would venture to sat if the gentleman replaces the lever and divulges it, that it would not change the sell price of the gun much. However a fake stamp is pure deception!
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