Dad recently passed away. He had several guns that went through a house fire sometime back, including two model 94s. First question is, does anyone have a reputable gunsmith they’d recommend in the Houston area, preferably north Houston? At a minimum, I’d like to get confirmation they’re safe to shoot. Additionally, if they are safe to shoot, would probably like to get them restored, wood refinished, re-blued, etc. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.
Jess Briley’s firm is a fairly large enterprise that used to offer a number of services. I don’t know whether they do general gunsmithing anymore. The company at one time manufactured the Invector Plus chokes for Browning.
It would be useful for you to post photos here of the guns in question, so our Member experts could advise you.
You mention these guns have been through a house fire so I assume they suffered some degree of damage, although, if there’s wood left to refinish, they surely weren’t subjected to much heat. As a non-expert with a semi-ignorant opinion, I’d think any exposure to heat intense enough to anneal or distort the steel would ignite and consume most or all of the wood.
If the damage is minor and strictly cosmetic, the value of a highly collectible Winchester could be more adversely affected by the refinishing than by the original disfigurement. My opinion would be worthless but there are other Members here who are the experts’ expert on Winchester guns and willing to share their considerable knowledge, gratis.
Edit: Google Jess Briley Manufacturing for the Website. They still advertise gunsmithing and custom gun services. I’ve seen some of their work. It’s top shelf and priced accordingly.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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