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Hello everybody
I finally got to disassemble my 94 and the rusted mag tube is stuck to the forearm. Any suggestion on how to remove it properly.
Attached below is avedio.
Thanks
Linseed oil or something similar that won’t hurt the wood in channel, let it soak for a while and give it a try. Might even want to gently ‘shock’ the mag tube with a rubber mallet after soaking.
You didn’t say what era 94 you have but there was guns made with wood that had salt used in the process and they rusted the metal anywhere they touched. I forget the details. If thats the case you don’t want to reuse the wood. Splitting the forearm would be the best way to remove it since you would want new wood.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Hi Bob:
It’s Legendry Lawmen 1977.
And I don’t want to damage the wood.
Thanks
Online
I believe the salted wood was in the late 1960’s through the early 1980’s era. The problem was caused by the curing process. After removing the tube seal the wood.
Browning had a problem with salt water logs they used on fancy guns. Rust would come out between the wood and metal, I think it was when they had guns built in Japan. Any Browning collector could shed some light on the problem. T/R
TR said
Browning had a problem with salt water logs they used on fancy guns. Rust would come out between the wood and metal, I think it was when they had guns built in Japan. Any Browning collector could shed some light on the problem. T/R
Browning was not the only company that used this wood.
Sam56 said
Thanks Chuck:The problem is how to remove the tube safely.
Sam
Sam, I don’t know. I would soak it like others have said and gradually try to loosen it.
Sam,
Rust on the tube in the wood is going to have a very good grip. The good penetrants that will break down the rust could also hurt finish. So you could try them or use a oil. If I was trying to break it loose there would be two other things to try.
one would be trying to twist the the tube by holding the tube and twisting on the forearm by hand. With old mag tubes they were made by rolling a flat sheet of steel into a tube and soldiering the seam. The problem those old tubes if you twist too much you break the soldier joint. You would clamp the tube in a padded vise you first make a dowel of hard wood or metal so it just slides inside the tube. if you don’t have the plug inside when you clamp on it will crush the tube or slip. Now if the newer guns have seamless tubes you safer but you still need a plug inside.
The second thing I would try is to tap the tube and hope it brakes loose. To do that you would drill a hole the diameter of the tube through a board and pad the around the hole with rubber or leather as to not damage the end grains. You would also need to pad the end of the tube with wood when tap it.
You can try any combination of them and any one of the methods could damage or break something. You will have to decide how much force to use or if its worth trying. its just like removing a tight bolt. How much can you put on it before you twist it off. One additional bit of advise I would give is if you get it loose do not side the wood off forward over the the front part of the tube because the rust that is stuck to the inside of the forearm will scratch the bluing big time. The tube has to come off out the front of the forearm.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Hi Bob :
Thank you for the detailed information you provided.
Can I use some kind of oil in the inside of the forearm so that it will loosen the bondage btwn the tube and the wood. And would it affect the wood.?
Sam
Anything you use will have affect on the wood in some form. Linseed oil would have the least affect but its not that thin out of the can and will not seep down the tube. It would have to be thinned and what you use to thin it may have more affect on the finish or wood. linseed oil by it nature gets hard when it dries and that will have the opposite affect your trying to have. Penetrating oil is basically a solvent mixed with a oil and some additives to dissolve rust if its a good product.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Anything you use will have affect on the wood in some form. Linseed oil would have the least affect but its not that thin out of the can and will not seep down the tube. It would have to be thinned and what you use to thin it may have more affect on the finish or wood. linseed oil by it nature gets hard when it dries and that will have the opposite affect your trying to have. Penetrating oil is basically a solvent mixed with a oil and some additives to dissolve rust if its a good product.Bob
Hi Bob
I am opting to do as you suggested and will make the jig.
I ‘ll keep you posted on the progress.
Thanks
Hi
I tried the tapping of the mag tube and the twisting for an hour, still won’t budge.
What if I use oil, what kind of damage to the wood will it cause?
Any oil will soak into the wood and will cause the wood to get darker. When you see old guns that have been set butt down for many years you will see the wood darker next to the receiver if they were over oiled. Here is a picture of oil wicking from the receiver. Rust on the tube expands and makes the joint tighter. You no longer have a smooth tube in the wood. Its like you knurled the tube and pressed it into the wood. Even a good penetrating oil might not get down the sides of the tube. As last resort you could cut a slot down the forearm on the inside where its thin and would not be seen when reassembled. This is just like you removing a frozen nut by cracking it. The only issue is the wood has to spread open to make room for the rust which could split the forearm. And again once you make a slot then you can try all of methods I suggested plus you can put a penetrant in the slot were it can get to where you need it. I would use a Dremel to cut the slot.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
If you are applying oil on the under side of the forearm who cares what it looks like. The only time it will be seen is if someone takes it apart and it will posibly be a little darker.
Hi Chuck
I am not worried about the discolouring of the wood, rather I am worried that the wood would swell then crack.
Thanks
1873man said
Any oil will soak into the wood and will cause the wood to get darker. When you see old guns that have been set butt down for many years you will see the wood darker next to the receiver if they were over oiled. Here is a picture of oil wicking from the receiver. Rust on the tube expands and makes the joint tighter. You no longer have a smooth tube in the wood. Its like you knurled the tube and pressed it into the wood. Even a good penetrating oil might not get down the sides of the tube. As last resort you could cut a slot down the forearm on the inside where its thin and would not be seen when reassembled. This is just like you removing a frozen nut by cracking it. The only issue is the wood has to spread open to make room for the rust which could split the forearm. And again once you make a slot then you can try all of methods I suggested plus you can put a penetrant in the slot were it can get to where you need it. I would use a Dremel to cut the slot.Bob
Hi Bob
Does the cutting of the forearm affects the function of the rifle. And will it reassemble properly?
Thanks
Hi Bob
I am opting for the cutting of the forearm. I am attaching some close up shots of the forearm.
Thanks 
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