Need help, old Win. model 12 not looking so good

[b23]

I have an old Winchester Model 12 16ga. that was my Great Grandfathers.  I looked the numbers up a few years ago and if I remember correctly it had a production year of 1914 or 1916.  Other than it being my Great Grandfathers, it's your basic run of the mill plain barrel Win. Model 12 16ga. nothing special about it other than the obvious family value.

My concern, is it has what I would call light to medium, freckled, surface rust on pretty much the entire barrel and part of the receiver.  Some very light pitting on the barrel as well. 

The condition of it is far from great but like I said earlier, this is just your basic model 12 16gauge, certainly not a show piece. 

So, for those who read this, I would like to know what you all suggest I do to at the least slow, and or stop, its deteriorating condition.  Is there something I can do myself to stop the progression or should I send it out to a professional and have something done?  I would like to prevent it from getting any worse so it will be around for another 100 years and more.

Thank you for any and all suggestions.

[bobcat]

I would take it to a gunsmith and have it entirely re-blued. It should only cost around $150 I believe.


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[jackmaster]

I just refinished the double barrel 16 ga my grandpa gave me, it sat in the closet for a very long time, I wish I could post pics of the finished product, my advice, tear it completely down, dont be afraid, they are simple, sand it completely down, wear medical gloves so the grease from your hands dont stain it after the finish is sanded of,take it all the way down, and finish with a 220 or smoother wet sand, then completly strip the barrel, I I used different course steel wool, I just have to blue it now, I gotta find a do it yourself bluing kit, or if you got the coin have it professionally done. If the wood work part of it scares you I will do it for free, I love refinishing old guns.

[b23]

I'm typically more in to modern firearms so this stuff is a little outside my wheelhouse but is it possible to keep the 100 year old look less the surface rust as well as prevent it from happening again?  I'm sure a complete refurb and reblue would likely give it the greatest level of protection for years to come but I would like to avoid it from looking like it was new or newer than it actually is.  I guess what I'm trying to say is I would like to keep the look of a well used and loved trusty ole go to shotgun but somehow without the surface rust and with some amount of protection to the elements for years to come.  Does any of that even make sense?   

I know what you're all probably thinking right now because it's the same thing I hear from my wife on a regular basis, "not asking for much am I" 

I'm ok spending money to get a good job done I just want to make sure I don't do anything to make things worse than they already are and I've, unfortunately, seen a few reblue jobs that looked like hell and I want to avoid that.

Thanks again for any and all help.

[CP]

Don't re-blu or refinish it, that just ruins the value of any classic firearm.  Use oil and brass wool to remove the surface rust and let the patina stay intact.  Keep it oiled to prevent the rust from reappearing.

[ICEMAN]

b23, I have an old hand me down Remington 721 in .270 that had milling marks and the beggingins of rust on the gun. I loved the rifle and spent hours sanding the gun smooth, I think I finished with 600 grit paper...  I then had it professionally re-blued. It cost more to get it re-blued than the rifle was worth in it's condition for sure. But, very happy with the result. I kept hunting with it and shot plenty of muleys with it and a few elk. Still sits in my safe, I would not mind being buried with it.

Good for you for attempting to save the shotty. Good luck.

[Bullkllr]

Don't mean to highjack- but interesting coincidence- and it may apply to your situation-

I have the exact same gun- got it through family also. I'd like to actually use it (a little, at least). The slide seems to be bent or otherwise out of alignment so it doesn't operate.

Haven't looked into it yet. Are there gunsmiths likely to specialize in older guns like the model 12, or would most any gunsmith be able to work on it?

[j_h_nimrod]

Don't re-blu or refinish it, that just ruins the value of any classic firearm.  Use oil and brass wool to remove the surface rust and let the patina stay intact.  Keep it oiled to prevent the rust from reappearing.

 

I like an old family gun to look its vintage and history.  That said it kind of depends on how bad it is already.  The rust should not get worse with care, it is not like the rust is going to grow of its own volition.  A little oil and brass wool as recommended should take care of it. I have a couple old rifles without much finish left at all and love them that way, shows that they were used and likely loved.

[bobcat]

I have an old Ithaca Model 37 that was from a family member who passed away. I plan on having it re-blued and the fact that it will supposedly lose its value, well I just don't care. I'd like to have it looking new again, and I'd like to do some pheasant hunting with it.

But I do understand if you want a gun to keep its "old" look. I just don't know how you would do that and prevent it from rusting more in the future.

[CAMPMEAT]

CLP and 0000 steel wool. Get the steel wool wet with CLP and message the barrel very gently with the steel wool/CLP. That should work very well.

[jackson7]

personally, would have it re-blued and do the wood myself. it is not very expensive. As far as the value, I do not see it hurting much. any competent gunsmith can do the work. good for another 100 years. good luck.

[Smokeploe]

If the rust is not too much you can take a #2 pencil and rub the rust off using the graphite  then when done rub with your gun oil and wipe down then you don't remove what left of the original finish
 Smokeploe

[b23]

Don't re-blu or refinish it, that just ruins the value of any classic firearm.  Use oil and brass wool to remove the surface rust and let the patina stay intact.  Keep it oiled to prevent the rust from reappearing.

I'm not very concerned about the monetary value as I think it likely has little but I am interested in keeping it looking "old."  I would really like it to not look "ruff" and "old" which is what I currently have.

Saving money is always cool but I like the idea of doing the work on this old shotgun myself.  It'll sort of give me a tiny bit of connection with it versus it just being some old shotgun that belonged to a family member I never knew. 

Soooo, do I saturate the brass wool with oil and scrub the surface or do you lightly dampen it with oil or??  Also, is there any particular type of oil I should use with the brass wool and then when I'm done and the surface is clean what type of oil should I use to coat it with to prevent surface rust from forming again???

I get my Great Grandfathers  old 16ga. Model 12 cleaned up and I'll have it and my Grandfathers Model 12.  My Grandfathers is a late 40's 12ga. Model 12 with a solid rib.  Neither has much monetary value but it's cool to have both of them.  My dad has the twin to my Grandfathers model 12 and if I hadn't been such an IDIOT when I was younger and traded my late 50's 16ga. solid rib model 12 in on a new Rem 1100, I could have passed four generations of Winchester Model 12's on to my daughter.   

[Bofire]

I don't think it will ever have any real value as a collector, get it polished and reblued and the wood done. parts are availble and the gun is simple. You will NOT get it done for less than about 500$ in my opinion, at least not in a way I would want it. high polish bluing is high labor!!
Carl

[Elkhair]

It Sounds as though re-blueing is not what you want.
I like my heirlooms to look like they did when my ancestors  were done with them too.
  I would try some of the remedies to remove the surface rust to find the best one for your Model 12,without removing any more of the blueing. When you are done degrease all the metal and then apply a product called Renaissance Wax.
  It is what they use to protect  precious metal historical pieces in all the major museums. Including firearms, swords, knives ect.
It will protect whats left of the original blueing and keep the Patina the way your Great Grandfather left it.
 You can also use Renaissance Wax on the wood furniture to protect the wood and patina of the wood as it will fill in any tiny cracks in the wood grain and protect the wood from drying out any further. and rubbed and buffed (by hand) will bring out the natural character of the wood and any hunting scars and scratches it collected with your great grandfather.
  Good luck with your preservation I'm glad you chose this over restoration!