Andy_Roo Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Hi all, Bit of advice needed from the community please! Have recently purchased a 1962 Belgian side by side shotgun. The receiver has been heat treated so has a nice finish but the stock and forend look a little tired. There's a nice grain hidden by quite a few years of oil / varnish / use. Would love to strip the wood and retreat with tung oil, maybe also cold blue the barrels again. Anyone here done a similar project who can give some advice? Don't want to completely make 'as new' as the ageing does add something, looking to just 'enhance' what is there! Comments welcome Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moblies Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 I purchased a mid 50's Belgian single, worth probably a tenner and the wood was a bit rough but it was a project after all. I just stripped the varnish with nitromors and rubbed in some linseed oil. Several coats and it looks far better but still old if that makes sense. Probably worth 11 quid now. Barrels I'm not sure about, never bothered as its not worth it for a single and it looks its age. Do some before and after pictures sure you will get some good advice with a few pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Roo Posted November 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Thanks Moblies, Only cost £180 for the gun, has non ejectors with fixed choke (1/2 left and 3/4 right - based on the choke key I used for my MK38 with Teague chokes). Barrels in good cond with only a few surface scratches, will post some current pics soon and prob treat as a project with minimal Restoration etc. what are your thoughts on Tung V Tru oil? Cheers Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moblies Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 If you search the forum I seem to recall reading Tru oil is not easy to get a good finish. Trade Secret get s good reviews as does Tung oil. I also read various good things on linseed oil and it's cheap. Your gun is worth considerably more than my single so probably worth going for something better especially if the wood looks promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 what are your thoughts on Tung V Tru oil? Cheers Andy Tru oil carp varnished based finish has no place on guns. Tung oil ok for wood but not the best for a gun stock. Gun stock oil boiled linseed bases (ie trade secret or cci designed for guns and the traditional method highlights grain and figure,finish latest and is easy to maintain and repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 If the blueing is a little thin then you can polish it up with very fine wire wool, de-grease and then go over with a product called Klever Brunierung. I'm doing a Spanish sxs at the moment, it isn't as permanent at hot bluing but there is no need to sreip the old surface and it works very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPhantom Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 There is a lot of satisfaction to be had if you do it yourself. I refinished the stock on my old Spanish sidelock using the Trade Secrets oil kit and am very pleased with the final result. Was a bit nervous about doing it to be honest, but it is really quite simple as long as you take your time. Currently doing the same on my sbs .410 stock. I actually look forward to doing it! Been applying the finish daily for about 2 weeks now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Thanks Moblies, Only cost £180 for the gun, has non ejectors with fixed choke (1/2 left and 3/4 right - based on the choke key I used for my MK38 with Teague chokes). Barrels in good cond with only a few surface scratches, will post some current pics soon and prob treat as a project with minimal Restoration etc. what are your thoughts on Tung V Tru oil? Cheers Andy hello, they have some wood oil in the pound shop that i know some use for shotgun stocks, once you strip back the old varnish a few coats and well rubbed in looks much better, but also depends on type of wood on your belgian gun. let us know how goes. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 £180 is a lot of money for a 20th century Belgian non ejector. You almost certainly wont knock any value off the gun by restoring it like you might with a British game gun, but by the same token I doubt you'd get your money back on it restored or not. Having said that, if you just want to have it as a project and a knockabout gun, then I'd say go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Roo Posted November 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Thanks for all the info peeps. I bought it with the intention of having a go at a little restoration after seeing and reading many others experiences with 'older' guns and having good results. It was never a purchase with intention of selling on for a quick buck etc, just nice to have a second in the cabinet (good fun to shoot it too!). Price paid was towards top end, but the gun is in very good condition for age and I had recently done a few extra hours with work (meaning less time for clays / more in the pay packet!) so thought it about time to treat myself Will probably look to start as a project in the next month or so, will make sure to take plenty of pics along the way and post them so you can all have a look how I get on...... if it all goes wrong well nothing ventured etc Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Messing up the slots on the screws will make things worse - have you got turnscrews to suit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browning123 Posted November 10, 2015 Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Thanks Moblies, Only cost £180 for the gun, has non ejectors with fixed choke (1/2 left and 3/4 right - based on the choke key I used for my MK38 with Teague chokes). Barrels in good cond with only a few surface scratches, will post some current pics soon and prob treat as a project with minimal Restoration etc. what are your thoughts on Tung V Tru oil? Cheers Andy I recommend Trade Secret gun stock finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Roo Posted November 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2015 Thanks again for all the advice, I have a set of turnscews (borrowed) which seem to have a nice fit - didn't want to attack with an old screwdriver from my work box! Still undecided on which oil to finish with but you guys have given some great advice on the topic so thanks again to you all. Will be sure to post plenty of pre, during and post pictures......might even start a weekly page update. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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