Texan 35 Rem refirb.

[Flat Top]

I had received this old (1963) Texan in a trade deal a couple of years ago, and although it was "rough" and well worn to say the least, it showed a remarkable ability to shoot cast bullets very accurately. At the range it always drew attention not only by the way it shot, but for its old well worn looks too. I kind of got used to its looks, but, humidity started to rust and pit the areas that had lost finish. I was going to "restore" the rifle with a good hot blue and new wood, but after tallying up the cost of the project decided that the rifle would have never been worth what I would need to put into it to bring it back to showroom new. So, I decided to refurbish the rifle, but, I wanted to keep it "old school" so to speak.

I "fire blued" the lever, hammer, barrel bands, front sight hood, and screw heads, giving those pieces a nitre blue/straw color and the appearance of color case. Then, I reblued the receiver, barrel, and mag tube, sights, and loading gate. After bluing, I hot oil burnished the finish and brought it to a black/bronze hue. Someone had drilled a hole in the forend wood for a sling swivel mount. I found an old 35 Rem, 35 REM/UMC cartridge I had laying around, and inlayed the cartridge head into the hole. Forum member Jsteed supplied me with a classic and rare set (guessed to be about 50's or earlier) of sling swivels and an old, cracked and worn leather sling from about the same time period. I saddle soaped the sling and mink oiled it while still wet to soften it up a bit, and it matches the well worn look perfectly.

This old Texan was not a pristine beauty when I got it, but, now it is well protected, and maintains that old school well worn look. I can put on my old plaid flannel hunting coat, cowboy hat, and grab this old girl and throw it in the truck and she will look and feel just right.

Total cost: about 40 bucks and a days worth of elbow grease.

[358 Win]

Nice job Flat Top!! She sure is a beauty and I'm envious of your skill. That WFN cast bullet looks deadly just laying there!! Is it a Ranch Dod design?
358 Win

[biggog]

Flat top; You did a nice job redoing a classic Marlin that had been well used. Nice to see an old Marlin brought back to live on.

[Salmoneye]

An old rifle should look old...Even after your 'refirb' it still does...

That to me is the way it should be...

Nicely not 'over done'!

[deerhog]

looks good to me brother!

[Flat Top]

Nice job Flat Top!! She sure is a beauty and I'm envious of your skill. That WFN cast bullet looks deadly just laying there!! Is it a Ranch Dod design?
358 Win

358; Thanks! No, that bullet on my sig line pic is the new Beartooth Safari 410 for the .429 bore..........I shoot this bullet in my modified Safari Grade 444 (COL 2.750) at 2160 fps.....4250 ft lbs, with a TKO of 54 and a momentum factor of 126.............good for just about anything....anywhere.

Marshall Stanton designed this bullet specifically for my modification (.550 nose to crimp), but, with a Lee Factory Crimp Die this bullet could be used in an OEM 444 Marlin. The bullet with that die can be crimped anywhere on the long front driving band, so COL's can be adjusted for any particular rifle. Marshall did a great job on this one,. Made it heavier....shorter....and upped the SD/BC for improved performance over his old 405 grain .429 bullet. I cannot thank him enough. His bullet really takes my modification to its ultimate performance level!

[Roan444]

Nice job going old skool on the Texan, Flat Top, you can never relax can you?

[BloodGroove4570]

Sweet, you dressed that Ol'girl up just right, Classy!!!!

Nicely done Flat Top
BG4570

[CJ-5]

I really like the cartridge inlay.

[Flat Top]

Thanks all! Like Salmoneye said "not overdone".....that was not easy! For those of you that know me, you know I DO have a tendency to "over do" things!

CJ-5; The "inlay" was just a matter of having the need to fill a hole. I was going to put in a wood patch, and sand and try to match the old oil saturated finish of the stock....the cartridge head was just simpler and quicker, and I guess it doesnt look that much out of place.................

One more thing I WOULD like to do is fabricate a steel buttplate and fire blue it at well. Would kind of be the icing on the cake so to speak.........The original plastic is pretty rough...warping, etc.