Protective clear coat?|Page 3|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Rick C said

TR said

TR said
 I have been going to large national gun shows for 30yrs, I have bought and looked at expensive Winchester 73s, 76s, and 86s. Other collectors have showed me guns and asked for my opinion, when I see proud wood, cased screws with chatter marks, original wood finish, and areas of bright case colors in the protected areas with a coating of “something” on it, I smile. T/R
  

  My opinion has not changed, I still smile.
  This coating comes off easy with lacquer thinner or alcohol, oil doesn’t touch it. It was applied when the gun had all the vivid case colors and sometimes turns so dark it mutes the colors. And yes I ‘m guilty off taking it off when it gives the gun a dirty look. I then give the gun a coat of hard wax to bring back the color and shine. The colors don’t fade in my safe even after 35 years. My only experience is on 73s, 76s, and 86s.
  As to what it is, I don’t know. As to who put it there, probably the factory because it looks and reacts the same on all the guns I’ve seen it on. T/R
  

I don’t want to remove mine. The next care taker might appreciate it. 
  

   The guns I removed the coating on had active rust under translucent darkened coating. A gun with a transparent coating over case colors that are without rust like yours should be left on to show off the original condition. The coatings shine up very nicely with hard wax much like old cars and furniture. It is my experience long term storage of wax over the coatings is good. T/R