model 1894 25-35 WCF|Page 2|What's New!|Forum|Winchester Collector

twobit said
Hello all,

You 25-35 hounds might want to take a look at this one!  https://www.gunbroker.com/item/935595600

Michael

  

Very nice

bStrongTO said
I know this thread is older, but it’s a great title.
Unfortunately the lack of experience may have contributed to this disaster. When trying to confirm any markings on who or where the refurbishment, based on notes past down done in 1970, a little splitting of the wood.
SN shows 1911, I’m waiting for the letters.
I’m hoping to get this done by Turnbull case coloring. Any ideas? The blueing and finish on the wood is a little wrong dates?
Luckily we have a few other models, but in 1894 1 94’ 25-35 (1911)1 30 (1901). 

  

As you can see this one stands out and seems like it needs a little change?

As Bert says, the damage is such that it cannot be undone at any reasonable cost. 

If the gun has no sentimental value – an inheritance,  for example,  I would not throw good money after bad. There is a market for shiny old Winchesters and cashing out of it makes the most sense, to me anyway.

If it IS an inheritance and the bore and mechanicals are good enough to hunt with, there are some things you could do yourself or might have done at modest cost to make the gun less painful.to the eye, although It will never be collectible:

With the rifle disassembled, taking care not to round any edges, knock the gloss off the wood with 0000 steel wool. Don’t remove any wood, just flatten the top layer of finish. If 4-0 isn’t enough, drop back to 000 or 00 but use a very light touch. With care, the finish can be made to approximate oil. It would help if you have seen the various Winchesters on display at Cody. 

The other step is more drastic and that is to age the steel, which requires flattening the existing blue and removing it realistically in places – sharp edges and at the carry point. This is at best fooling the eye because the real problem was overpolishing the bare steel. But it can create an imperfect illusion of an older finish. 

None of the foregoing will fool a knowledgeable collector but it would make the gun more appealing in appearance. More to a knowledgeable person’s taste, I expect including you. 

I can say these things with a clear conscience because I’ve been down this road myself. Like the man trying to carry his tomcat home by its tail, I learned some lessons that will never grow dim or doubtful.