From lamp to shooter

[snert]

My neighbor came to me with this old Trapdoor after saving it from becoming a lamp. 1884 Model with M and 1890 cartouche.

The bore was very rusted and it took weeks of soaking and brushing before the patch wasn't rusty. The active surface rust on the metal was removed using butches bore shine and the rim of a 308 rubbed lightly, a lot, on the rust, leaving the patina. The action area was a mess, and it was soaked in kroil and butches on a rag for a month. The stock was cruddy. I wiped it with olive oil, then followed with acetone on a towel to lift the oil and crud. I carded the stock with turpentine and rottenstone on a hard felt pad (Brownells) and then acetone to take that all off. A lot of buffing, then ten coats of handrubbed boied linseed oil. After it dried for a week in 33 percent humidity, I buffed it and I waxed it with Brownells micro-chrystiline wax. The only thing I could not get working on it was the sight screws on the Buffington sight.

I think he will be pleased. Darn expensive lamp! Glad we saved it.

 

[Ccrider]

WOW! That’s gorgeous.

 

[snert]

Thanks, but photography makes it look better than it is. But it is one of the nicer ones I have run across. It helped that this one appeared to live in an armory till it went civilian...only to be shot with BP and not cleaned....ever.

I was stunned to see the cartouches and even the paint in the number 14 on the heel of the stock where it sat in its numbered place on the rack. And a perfect ramrod, not even slightly rusted. (because it wasn't used to CLEAN THE GUN!

We might shoot it...depends on how adventuresome the owner feels. All indications are it is solid and can be shot.

 

[Ccrider]

Nothing like old wood.

 

[ND shooter]

WOW! That’s gorgeous.

This^^^^^

 

[hoz53]

Thanks, but photography makes it look better than it is. But it is one of the nicer ones I have run across. It helped that this one appeared to live in an armory till it went civilian...only to be shot with BP and not cleaned....ever.

I was stunned to see the cartouches and even the paint in the number 14 on the heel of the stock where it sat in its numbered place on the rack. And a perfect ramrod, not even slightly rusted. (because it wasn't used to CLEAN THE GUN!

We might shoot it...depends on how adventuresome the owner feels. All indications are it is solid and can be shot.

terr—iffic job- seems like with all that work it would be yours now

 

[RegionRat]

The results speak for themselves! Well Done!

 

[joshb]

Nice job, Parker! That’ll take a groundhog’s head clean off!

 

[hpshooter]

Great save! Stick that Buffington in a can of 50/50 Aceton and ATF for a month or two and see if it loosens up.

 

[snert]

terr—iffic job- seems like with all that work it would be yours now

nah...I like to help. My neighbor has fixed my lawn tractor several times, so this was a trade of knowledge/labor. It was fun too.

 

[snert]

Oh, and the table belonged to my great grandmother, then grandmother, then mother. I ate dinner at it till I was 19 at our home in PA. Then my mom gave it to my wife and it went to NY with us for 35 years. Now after my mom's passing I have inherited the house and moved back to PA. Table had seen better days...had been stained an ugly brown, hinges were shot. So my son in law used a plane and took down the flats, and I used a belt sander on it to get past the ugly brown stain. We left the character and fixed some splits. Then I refinished it. I figure it was made about 1890. I hope it will make it to 200 years old. It matches the Frigedaire refrigerator that is in my basement...it was bought new by my grandmother as her first, after an ice box. It has run continuously since, with only two 6 month breaks...once before my mother got married in 1958, and again when she went into assisted living in 2016. It keeps my pop and sundry veggies cool when we have large gatherings. Someday I will repaint it, as the white is rubbed off in places. I defrost it every two months.

If you look again at the photo of the rifle you will see what looks like a mud spot on the brick above it. It is actually my initials, from when I was a tyke, and I got a whooopin for writing on the soft brick cause it doesn't come out.

I guess I like old stuff.

 

[tsyarnall]

That is some awesome personal history and that is a great looking table. I have a few things that have been passed down. They are very precious to me.