First Tru oil finish

[tws3b2]

Just finished my first tru oil stock finish. This is a Stevens model 54 410ga. made between 1933 and 1942 that I picked up at the gun show. Still looking for bolt assembly parts so its not finished yet. The stock was really nasty with several layers of crap on it. I stripped it down to the wood and was surprised to find no cracks or chips. Just a few small dings that I did not fully remove. I only put 4 coats of tru oil on it when I decided it was where I wanted it to be, not perfect but good. Below the 54 is a Winchester 67a I did over 10 years ago with stain and poly. It has held up really well i think. Its kind of hard to tell in the photo. Have to say I like the stain and poly. more than the tru oil. I just did not like the way the tru oil went on. Just me I guess.

 

[B00ger]

Looks very good to me!

Years ago, when I first got into shooting and had more time (fewer kids) I enjoyed taking beat up older guns and refinishing them. Made a lot of mistakes along the way and no longer do it, but I found TruOil to be pretty awesome.

 

[Chdamn]

A tip for next time with tru oil. Armorall has a chemical reaction with it that causes it to harden much faster. By much I mean it will be ready for a second coat in an hour or so.

Spray a rag with armorall and wipe down the stock. Wipe it dry. Then, either using bare fingers or latex gloves, dip them in the truoil and hand rub the stock all over. It will start to tack in a couple of minutes. Set aside and then repeat as many times as you want to.

This procedure makes the finish slightly hazy. So after you get as many thin coats on as needed you skip the armorall for the final coat.

 

[tws3b2]

Looks very good to me!

Years ago, when I first got into shooting and had more time (fewer kids) I enjoyed taking beat up older guns and refinishing them. Made a lot of mistakes along the way and no longer do it, but I found TruOil to be pretty awesome.

I guess it was just me. I put it on with my fingers. I tried to keep it thin but it would build up between my fingers and drop on the stock where I had finished. On the second and third coats I would find small places that I had missed. It was just awkward to me. Maybe next time I can get comfortable with it.

 

[tws3b2]

Looks very good to me!

Years ago, when I first got into shooting and had more time (fewer kids) I enjoyed taking beat up older guns and refinishing them. Made a lot of mistakes along the way and no longer do it, but I found TruOil to be pretty awesome.

My kids are up and gone. I have a lot more time now. Retired. I like refinishing old long guns. This Stevens 54 is giving me a hard time. I've looked about every where there is to look but can't find a bolt body for it. I have about all the parts I need but not the bolt body. But, I'm on a quest and will find it. Just a question of when.

 

[B00ger]

I guess it was just me. I put it on with my fingers. I tried to keep it thin but it would build up between my fingers and drop on the stock where I had finished. On the second and third coats I would find small places that I had missed. It was just awkward to me. Maybe next time I can get comfortable with it.

Yeah, I found that putting on a layer...letting it dry, then sanding it down with fine grit paper before applying another helped keep it even. I used steel wool a few times, but found that if you aren't careful tiny flecks of steel can get imbedded in the finish and look bad in the future.

Chdamn above knows his stuff, I should have asked him a lot more questions when I was tossing around the oils.

 

[Burt Gummer]

hand rub

 

[B00ger]

View attachment 158319

Well...at least you have one hand left...

 

[Schattenreiter]

My kids are up and gone. I have a lot more time now. Retired. I like refinishing old long guns. This Stevens 54 is giving me a hard time. I've looked about every where there is to look but can't find a bolt body for it. I have about all the parts I need but not the bolt body. But, I'm on a quest and will find it. Just a question of when.

Is this what you seek?

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/991600A

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/991580A

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/savstevspgfld/shotguns-sav/54

The last one is currently out of stock.

Just found this one.

https://thea.com/Vintage-Gun-Parts-Savage-Stevens/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/183977541642

 

[Schattenreiter]

Looks very good to me!

Years ago, when I first got into shooting and had more time (fewer kids) I enjoyed taking beat up older guns and refinishing them. Made a lot of mistakes along the way and no longer do it, but I found TruOil to be pretty awesome.

Kinda like fishin. If ya don't get hung ya ain't fishin. But when ya get hung ya learn from it.

 

[tws3b2]

Is this what you seek?

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/991600A

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/991580A

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/savstevspgfld/shotguns-sav/54

The last one is currently out of stock.

I have been going round and round with gps for over two weeks. I need a bolt body. There are 4 very similar models that have some parts that will interchange. The 54, 54b, 37 and 37b. I have a 37b bolt body. Gps says all 4 models use the same bolt body. So I purchased all the parts I need for the 54. Put them on the my 37b body. They seemed to fit the 37b bolt body fine. The new bolt assembly seemed to be in good working order. Problem is, It don't fit my gun. I have since found out the model 37 is likely to work in my 54. 37b and 54b No.

 

[Schattenreiter]

I have been going round and round with gps for over two weeks. I need a bolt body. There are 4 very similar models that have some parts that will interchange. The 54, 54b, 37 and 37b. I have a 37b bolt body. Gps says all 4 models use the same bolt body. So I purchased all the parts I need for the 54. Put them on the my 37b body. They seemed to fit the 37b bolt body fine. The new bolt assembly seemed to be in good working order. Problem is, It don't fit my gun. I have since found out the model 37 is likely to work in my 54. 37b and 54b No.

Check my post up above. I updated it since you replied here.

 

[tws3b2]

Nope, not it. They don't know what model that 947 bolt is. If you look close you can see a pin holds the bolt head to the body. The 54 does not use a pin. I check every site I can find everyday. The 54 is rare. I'v even not found a gunsmith that knows anymore than I do about the 54. They just don't see them.