What is the best way to restore an old Shotgun?
December 18th, 2009 by eranio
No playing around here. Just want to know what I should purchase as far as a kit to make this gun good for sale.
Thanks!
It appears to be in the 1950′s. Maybe 1948. It’s in great shape
Sorry, it’s an Ithaca model 37 pump. 16 ga. w/
2 3/4 barrel. Has engravings of what looks like pheasants and ducks.
Posted in best shotgun
December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 am
I concur, restoring the gun will ruin it’s value.
The best you can do is get some gun oil and go over the surface of the gun with it to prevent it from getting any worse
Whoever buys the gun is probably going to be better at cleaning it and getting it back in good condition than you are. Anyone buying an Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge is not just ‘buying a shotgun for hunting and home defense’ they are buying an old piece of hunting nostalga. Messing with it will destroy the value your gun has to them.
Besides, isn’t this the gun your grandfather left you? Why are you selling it? That is shameful. Best case, if he is still alive, give it back to and say you appreciate the gift, but it isn’t what you want. If he has passed, ask your neices and nephews and cousins and uncles and aunts and brothers and sisters if they are interested in it,and give it to them.
Or oil it good and keep it, maybe your son would like a connection to his great grandfather.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Sometimes depending on the gun any ‘restoration’ will lower the value. Tell us what you have and the current condition. Also, is it blued steel finish? Varnished or oiled wood? Etc….
December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Go to Cabelas… they have everything you need as well as good advice.
You may not want to touch it… sometimes, untampered is worth more than tampered.
Since you didn’t provide squat for details, I’ll make the presumption that its just an old gun you want to sell… nothing of collector value.
There are some EXCELLENT cold bluing kits available at some of the gun shows… try looking there first… you might sell it without even having to do anything if you bring it with you.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 am
It would help to know what kind of shotgun you want to refinish. There are some things you can do with a single-barrel gun that you can’t do with a double, and some things you can’t do with an aluminum alloy.receiver that you can do with a steel receiver.
In general, you can get a Birchwood Casey Cold Blue Kit, some rubber gloves, a pack of 0000 steel wool, some lint-free towels, and a bottle mineral oil.
Doc
December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 am
take it to somebody who knows his stuff(a gunsmith preferably) and ask about it there. they might take a quick look at it for free.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Its worth more in its original condition.* They are selling for $375.00 and up depending on condition.* The 16 gauge is more valuable because they did not sell as many as they did the 20 or 12′s
December 18th, 2009 at 7:36 am
I would just clean it with a gun cleaning kit. You have an Ithaca Featherweight model 37 from the sounds of it. They are a very good shotgun and unless it is a rust bucket, I’d just clean it and oil it. Doing too much will make it look like what it would be… an older gun where an attempt was made to spruce it up. Save yourself the trouble and money. If it is cleaned and oiled. ( Don’t even have to take it apart) it will sell.
The only problem with this particular gun, and many older ones, is that they have no disconnector. So if you hold the trigger back and pump the shotgun, it will fire each time you run the slide forward. The industry started putting disconnectors in these in the late 60′s I think but am not sure.