Bringing an old shotgun back to life

Discussion in 'D.I.Y.' started by chadwimc, Mar 20, 2020.

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  1. Mar 20, 2020 #1
    chadwimc

    chadwimc 10 pointer

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    Oct 29, 2004
    A dear friend left me a few of his old guns because he "...knew I would get their soul back and use 'em...". I use old Carl's Ithaca Featherlite almost exclusively for squirrels. I was able to share that with him before he passed. I came across the box o' parts that was his J.C. Higgins bolt action that he always wanted to get put back together. Why it was dis-assembled, I didn't ask at the time.

    A 12 gauge in fair to middlin' shape with just honest wear from a lifetime of use. I used acetone and extra fine steel wool to get what little was left of the original finish off. The wood was also darkened at the middle of the gun from being carried all over creation for years.

    The metal is soaking in Kroil right now. I'll try to get it as far apart as I can later today.

    carl1.jpg carls gun5.jpg
     
    chadwimc, Mar 20, 2020
    chadwimc, Mar 20, 2020
    #1
    hoene, rlb165, Buzz151 and 2 others like this.
  2. Mar 20, 2020 #2
    muddhunter

    muddhunter 12 pointer

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    louisville
    I like where this is headed. Can you post up a pic of the Ithaca? Is it a model 51 featherweight?
     
    muddhunter, Mar 20, 2020
    muddhunter, Mar 20, 2020
    #2
  3. Mar 20, 2020 #3
    chadwimc

    chadwimc 10 pointer

    1,768
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    Oct 29, 2004
    carl3.jpg

    squirrel2020c.jpg
     
    chadwimc, Mar 20, 2020
    chadwimc, Mar 20, 2020
    #3
    ratamahatta, JR in KY, barney and 1 other person like this.
  4. Mar 20, 2020 #4
    EdLongshanks

    EdLongshanks 12 pointer

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    Northern Kentucky
    Very cool. I’ve never understood a bolt action shotgun though.
     
    EdLongshanks, Mar 20, 2020
    EdLongshanks, Mar 20, 2020
    #4
  5. Mar 20, 2020 #5
    EdLongshanks

    EdLongshanks 12 pointer

    12,455
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    Nov 16, 2013
    Northern Kentucky
    EdLongshanks, Mar 20, 2020
    EdLongshanks, Mar 20, 2020
    #5
  6. Mar 20, 2020 #6
    muddhunter

    muddhunter 12 pointer

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    louisville
    muddhunter, Mar 20, 2020
    muddhunter, Mar 20, 2020
    #6
  7. Mar 20, 2020 #7
    rlb165

    rlb165 12 pointer

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    .
    This is so cool, chadwimc. My first gun was a J.C. Higgins bolt action shotgun, in 16 gauge.
    I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out.
     
    rlb165, Mar 20, 2020
    rlb165, Mar 20, 2020
    #7
  8. Mar 20, 2020 #8
    dirtstalker

    dirtstalker 10 pointer

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    Clay County
    Yeah..me either. They are neat though..and this looks like a great project.
     
    dirtstalker, Mar 20, 2020
    dirtstalker, Mar 20, 2020
    #8
  9. Mar 20, 2020 #9
    120+

    120+ 12 pointer

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    You can't get there from here.
    Me either. But I have an old one.
     
    120+, Mar 20, 2020
    120+, Mar 20, 2020
    #9
  10. Mar 20, 2020 #10
    barney

    barney 12 pointer

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    Bolt action and single shots make better marksmen of those who would otherwise... never mind..
    For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who don't understand, no explanation is possible.
     
    barney, Mar 20, 2020
    barney, Mar 20, 2020
    #10
    Carl, Brody, KY Swamp Beagler and 11 others like this.
  11. Mar 20, 2020 #11
    dirtstalker

    dirtstalker 10 pointer

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    I used to have a of mossberg 16 ga, with the adjustable accu choke. It was a shooter. Unfortunately, it was lost with the rest of guns in a old strip mine pond, which has since been filled in.
    I know were a 410 just like it is, that hopefully is passed down to my boys one day..
     
    dirtstalker, Mar 20, 2020
    dirtstalker, Mar 20, 2020
    #11
    CRFmxracer and barney like this.
  12. Mar 21, 2020 #12
    chadwimc

    chadwimc 10 pointer

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    This one had a piece of foam behind the trigger. I don't know if that was to help keep old Carl's trigger finger from getting pinched or if something else is going on. It seems to function without the foam. 'Cept it sprays Kroil oil around when dry firing...o_O
     
    chadwimc, Mar 21, 2020
    chadwimc, Mar 21, 2020
    #12
    jblack1 likes this.
  13. Mar 21, 2020 #13
    EdLongshanks

    EdLongshanks 12 pointer

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    Northern Kentucky
    I grew up shooting a marlin 55. It is a bolt action. The detachable magazine was broken so in essence it was a single shot. I did just fine rabbit hunting growing up. I still don’t understand the idea behind a bolt action shotgun.
     
    EdLongshanks, Mar 21, 2020
    EdLongshanks, Mar 21, 2020
    #13
    barney likes this.
  14. Mar 21, 2020 #14
    barney

    barney 12 pointer

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    Truthfully, I don't either.
     
    barney, Mar 21, 2020
    barney, Mar 21, 2020
    #14
  15. Mar 21, 2020 #15
    EdLongshanks

    EdLongshanks 12 pointer

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    Nov 16, 2013
    Northern Kentucky
    I love that old marlin 55 though. Nostalgia I guess.
     
    EdLongshanks, Mar 21, 2020
    EdLongshanks, Mar 21, 2020
    #15
    barney likes this.
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