Photos?

 

Made in 1991? Hell at my local gunshows the vendors call those “the new ones with that ugly cross bolt safety.” So many legitimately have no idea that the safety was added in 1983 - 42 years ago.

We’d like to see some before and after on this piece, can’t think of anyone that doesn’t like a good restoration project and a saved Marlin.

 

He said, " bought from one of his father's buddies in '91", so most likely the rifle could be much older.
Out curiosity, Kid what is the date of manufaturing?
And, Yes we'd like to see it before...

I have a 30-30 Texan that has a good amount of honest wear, lol, looks like it was carried a LOT.
Yes, it could use a good restoration, but that would change the values more than the honest wear does. And, I truly like it. Heck, many years ago I took one of the little Henry H001's and stripped the already scratched receiver cover and barrel bands down and let them tarnish a bit, then clear coated it, Even found and old Win. saddle ring and drilled and tapped it and added it.
It's a totally different looking little critter now.

Good luck on what you decide.

RP

 

I certainly would like to see before and after photos.

 

Its not a collector piece,its a beat up ole bush gun that needs some TLC before I would carry it hunting, I only hunt with nice looking guns.

This gun was used when my family bought it, I remember doing a search for year built but can't remember when,that's when I found out it was a texan model. Id probably do a matte for barrel and receiver and a dark red or brown for stain on wood,top it with a skinner peep sight ,Im not sure Ill do it for this year but we shall see,makes a great project for our -30 winters tho.

 

We got a few hours in today, what a brutal summer for heat, 43 today with humidity....hard to motivate anyone to work hard in those temps. This has been the hottest driest summer in my 45 years that I can remember and I have worked outside for 25 out of 27 years since I was 18...

 

Has been down here also. July was brutal, but Aug. has cooled a little, but seems to be warming back up.
I also work outside, and on the days we do, we have been getting to the job site at 6 AM, and then knocking off around 1 PM. We're off today and I went for my usual walk through the woods that I do on the days off. Already in the 80's and I was soaking wet when I returned.

RP

 

First of all, it’s your gun, do with it as you wish. A project like this is worth whatever you are willing to put into it. While it is true that unmolested, unrestored examples are the most desirable, this is not the fate of most rifles and there is nothing wrong with that.
From what I understand, Citristrip is a good nontoxic chemical stripper that works well for removing the original wood finish. Replacement stocks are also an option if you wanted to restore the original length of pull..
Duracoat is a good budget refinish option on the metal work, just keep in mind the pros and cons. The better you prep the job, the better your results will be.
Good luck and post some pictures; before and after are always appreciated.

 

Since you don't really have anything invested in it, consider sending it off to The Arms Room (http://www.thearmsroom.com/) for a takedown conversion. They'll have to completely refinish the stock, receiver and barrel anyway. Good way to turn a old beater into a nice rig. They did one for me a couple of years back.

 

Nice gun, I am going to have my buddy re do the receiver and barrel and I am going to re do the wood after my dad sands it down, he does a few guns now and then and I like how the duratouch looks and it has held up well on a few guns my buddies had done,no need to send this gun away when I can do most of the work and have the work done locally by a guy I trust....this gun has no sentimental value to me, or anyone else in my family,Its a beater than has been hiding in a safe for almost 30 years other than the few times I had it out. I'd like to keep the budget as low as possible to re do it,I'll probably be around 350-4ish tops, hopefully less.

 

I'd pass on the coat job but it's not mine . I bought a '94 Winchester that had a coating on it , good and dark and I thought I liked it but the more I look at it the more I don't like it .

 

I have personally had 7 turkey shotguns done in cerakote and like them,I may just use a rattle can of black spray paint on it as well.....maybe camo it up myself for a laff.....

 

Have ya got a picture of the ole gal??

RP

 

Duracoat, or Cerakote? The latter yes. The former, hard pass.

Howard's Restor-a-finish in walnut color, applied with #0000 steel wool does nicely on old wood stocks if you want to try something less drastic first.

 

Im going duracoat if I decide to do anything to receiver and barrel, If I have issues? my buddy will re do it...if he cant locate a stock and forend for me,I am going to order a boyds I believe, and have the old man refinish the old one maybe....no sentimental value at all for me,It could not be any less important other than Its here and was basically given to me 15 years ago after not being used in 15 years prior....Its just a beater,I don't think even a gang banger or Palestinian would steal it if they broke in!

 

Thanks but I am not looking to buy a Boyds stock at this time, or a used one but appreciate the offer, I was texting with my buddy last night and didn't realize he was away on vacation down east but he suggested just re bluing it,as he does that as well,and I thought it over and I will go that route and I am actually quite fond of the stock lop ,so my thinking is add a nice thick limbsaver to it,and this winter,I'll maybe sand it down,and go with a reddish/brown on it, I added a green dot to it this morning and I am going to take it up this weekend and get it sighted in at 100 yards with 170 gr corelokts.

I am going to wait until winter to get work done on it but we came up with a great plan for the look of the gun,I should be under $250 dollars for everything,I'll decide after if I am going to stick with the green dot or add a Ranger precision peep setup, that's what I will go with on my levers with peeps,I would rather have the flo optics then the normal posts....tho I do like the look of the skinners more,function or looks for a hunting rifle.

 

I ordered this to test out for now on it, I do have a lady that does all my leather work for my levers with slings and these things and I will get her to do the sling after I complete project but for the price I thought Id try this,if it sucks,I'll send it back to Amazon where it came from.

 

Ok, so I can't remember how I came up with this being a texan model,I vaguely remember doing a serial number search,however,It has a pistol grip stock and It has all numbers in serial number,I just tried to figure out what year and model with no luck,I know its micro grooved and is at least from the 1980's, maybe prior,no idea to be honest,I know it hasn't been shot more than 150 times,so I am going to put some TLC into it in next year and start using it more, here is a picture of the Lil' Cannon.....

 

That old girl is not that bad, but has been said...it is your rifle. If you like the LOP, the original butt plate and spacer can be easily refitted when refinishing the stock. The photos of the entire rifle do not show whether or not there is a safety (CBS) but if you were to supply the first two digits of the serial number (or letter code if there is one) the age can be determined.
Best of luck with your project...keep us updated please. Oh yes...if it was me, I would go with rebluing it, but then I am "old school" and unless it is going to spend its' life in a scabbard on a horse or snow machine with minimal care, I shy away from synthetic metal finishes and stocks.

 

To the Moderators...Sorry, I did not see that this individual was/is banned. Remove my comment if needed, please.