Stevens Bolt

tws3b2

tws3b2

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This is a Stevens model 54 410, single shot bolt action. Made sometime between 1933 and 1943. I picked it up at a gun show several years ago. It was missing the bolt assembly when I got it. The wood and metal was in pretty bad shape. I refinished the wood and re-blued the metal. No problem. Then, I spent the next year and a half looking for a bolt assembly. To make a long , aggravating, expensive story short. I found the bolt assembly. It works great. No problem there. But, it looks terrible. I "Think" the finish is nickel But not sure.
I would like to pass this gun on to one of my great grandsons.
Ideas on how I can get this bolt looking better than terrible?
Could the old nickel be removed and redone?
Could the old nickel be removed and the assembly blued?
I have no idea what so ever.
So, Ideas??20211206_110453.jpg20211206_110650.jpg
 
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It looks to me like the lighter colored nickel finish is worn down to the darker steel in those areas. I am no expert, but I am sure that someone could removed the old nickel finish. Getting it blued would be much easier than nickel plating I would think. I only know of the process of electroplating nickel on brass though. Not sure how it is done on steel.

You probably shouldn't do this, but if I were going to DIY it, I would get some felt polishing wheels for the dremel and a very very fine polishing compound. That should be just barely enough to wear off that nickel. With the right compound it should be very gradual and controllable. From there, I would make the decision to blue it myself, or, leave it steel. From what I understand, rust bluing seems pretty simple and can be done with some hydrogen peroxide, salt, vinegar, and a bath in some boiling water.
 
I usually like doing things myself. But, I would just as soon let someone else remove the nickel. (Depending on cost) It was a long, aggravating and costly ordeal to find this bolt. I would hate mess it up. But I think could I handle the bluing myself. Maybe.
 
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