I recieved a bittersweet shipment yesterday. My $80 AIM Gunsmith Special No4 Enfield that was supposed to be a parts gun. It was ordered to supplement the previous $140 No4 for parts. After sandblasting, sandinding, painting, baking, odering stock replacement, etc, the parts gun shows up.
Guess what?
The $80 parts gun is in btter shape than the original $140 gun!
Here's the difference in how they'll be treated, believe it or not:
$140 original: Teardown, sandblast, paint, and bake all metal parts, after Oxpho Blue touch up fails miserably at refinishing a gun that has 10% of the original finish, repencilled S/N and other markings, courtesey of an aggressive re-armorer. Wire brush marks were no extra charge. Discard most of the lumber that was in multiple pieces and reorder new stuff. Consider rechambering due to exceptionally deteriorated condition, and may still follow through. I don't like scrap metal hanging around in my safe. It make the other queens feel bad.
$80 "Gunsmith Special": Teardown, degrease metal and stock, refinish stock with 000 steel wool and tung oil, and decide if I should touch up the light spots with Oxpho Blue or not, as it still retains 75% of the finish. Re-assemble, take pictures, brag, and shoot.
You guys aren't gonna believe this, but I had more fun with the first one! Whats up with that????
Guess what?
The $80 parts gun is in btter shape than the original $140 gun!
Here's the difference in how they'll be treated, believe it or not:
$140 original: Teardown, sandblast, paint, and bake all metal parts, after Oxpho Blue touch up fails miserably at refinishing a gun that has 10% of the original finish, repencilled S/N and other markings, courtesey of an aggressive re-armorer. Wire brush marks were no extra charge. Discard most of the lumber that was in multiple pieces and reorder new stuff. Consider rechambering due to exceptionally deteriorated condition, and may still follow through. I don't like scrap metal hanging around in my safe. It make the other queens feel bad.
$80 "Gunsmith Special": Teardown, degrease metal and stock, refinish stock with 000 steel wool and tung oil, and decide if I should touch up the light spots with Oxpho Blue or not, as it still retains 75% of the finish. Re-assemble, take pictures, brag, and shoot.
You guys aren't gonna believe this, but I had more fun with the first one! Whats up with that????
