Smith for a model 94 restoration

[poor_choices]

I was gifted a Win 94 (1964 manufacture) that needs a serious overhaul. It was left in a case for probably 20 years, so it’s covered with surface rust and the stock is in rough shape. It still functions perfectly when cycling dummy rounds, and it will fire primer (no powder or bullets) cases 100%.

I’ve been thinking about salvaging it but I don’t have the time to take the project on myself. I have a good friend who hunted with one when he was a kid and I’d like a o patch this one up enough to be a fun working gun for him. Nothing fancy, just functional. Anyone know a decent smith who’s done similar work?

[hookr88]

You might try it yourself. I’m still pecking away at a Ruger M77 restoration. Never done it before and so far it looks great. You can spend 15-20 minutes a night whenever you do have time. Most of the steps aren’t time intensive or something you can’t stop in the middle of. The prestaining, staining and finish don’t really take much time to do as the stock and foregrip aren’t that big. Scraping the old finish and cleaning the metal is a stop and resume when able operation. Feel free to PM me with your preferred contact info if you’d like to talk about it.

[Caseknife]

Paul does wonderful work from everything I have seen.  Tempted to send my Dad's 1937 Model 70 down there for a redo.  https://countrycustommetals.com/

[JDHasty]

I was gifted a Win 94 (1964 manufacture) that needs a serious overhaul. It was left in a case for probably 20 years, so it’s covered with surface rust and the stock is in rough shape. It still functions perfectly when cycling dummy rounds, and it will fire primer (no powder or bullets) cases 100%.

I’ve been thinking about salvaging it but I don’t have the time to take the project on myself. I have a good friend who hunted with one when he was a kid and I’d like a o patch this one up enough to be a fun working gun for him. Nothing fancy, just functional. Anyone know a decent smith who’s done similar work?

Restoration vs overhaul/renovation?  I'm guessing the latter.  Restoration would set you back $5K.  If the latter, if you can locate a GOOD gunsmith who has a bead blasting cabinet and LIGHTLY bead blast that would be my inclination on a hunting gun that I wanted to look nice but wasn't original (when I say gently or lightly to my kids, it usually goes gently, gently, no GENTLY!, and that is not what you want in a gunsmith doing it), then reblue and reassemble the barreled action you are looking at something like $200.  Refinishing a stock maybe about $150.  I know a guy that can do a reblue for you who does good work for me, but he gets my stuff ready to throw in the bluing tank.  I can't vouch for his polishing only because I have no personal acquaintance with it. I think he has a bead blast cabinet.  Drop me a PM if you would like me to reach out.     

[poor_choices]

You might try it yourself. I’m still pecking away at a Ruger M77 restoration. Never done it before and so far it looks great. You can spend 15-20 minutes a night whenever you do have time. Most of the steps aren’t time intensive or something you can’t stop in the middle of. The prestaining, staining and finish don’t really take much time to do as the stock and foregrip aren’t that big. Scraping the old finish and cleaning the metal is a stop and resume when able operation. Feel free to PM me with your preferred contact info if you’d like to talk about it.

Thanks for the tips. I should probably quit being lazy and just do it myself a little bit at a time. I'd be tempted to just dig out a can of Rustolem and call it good though.

Paul does wonderful work from everything I have seen.  Tempted to send my Dad's 1937 Model 70 down there for a redo.  https://countrycustommetals.com/

I went to that website and got distracted by some of the other work they do. I knew I was in trouble when I saw his Marlin 1894 conversion to 480 Ruger. I happen to have a 44 Mag Marlin that never gets used and would make a great candidate for a conversion.

Restoration vs overhaul/renovation?  I'm guessing the latter.  Restoration would set you back $5K.  If the latter, if you can locate a GOOD gunsmith who has a bead blasting cabinet and LIGHTLY bead blast that would be my inclination on a hunting gun that I wanted to look nice but wasn't original (when I say gently or lightly to my kids, it usually goes gently, gently, no GENTLY!, and that is not what you want in a gunsmith doing it), then reblue and reassemble the barreled action you are looking at something like $200.  Refinishing a stock maybe about $150.  I know a guy that can do a reblue for you who does good work for me, but he gets my stuff ready to throw in the bluing tank.  I can't vouch for his polishing only because I have no personal acquaintance with it. I think he has a bead blast cabinet.  Drop me a PM if you would like me to reach out.     

You're right, renovation would be more accurate. I'd be happy with just blasting it and cerrakoting. It doesn't need to be pretty, just safe and functional.