steve white
AH legend
And by stray dog, I mean a gun with known problems that have to be addressed, but you decide for reasons either sentimental or practical/functional to adopt and restore them. For example, I have rescued two Mannlicher Schoenauer "bubba'd up" rifles that I basically bought to restore out of respect for the Marque. (and of course to use myself) I utilized the actions, but replaced both the stocks and the barrels, and rust blued everything. Both are dependable, smooth, "go to" guns that look appropriately restored to my eye. It helps that I am able to stock and to rust blue myself, otherwise the project would probably have been aborted before it began, due to financial restraints. (the financial restraint's name is Teresa BTW) I had a machinist friend help me with the barreling, though a new barrel is a justifiable replacement expense in itself. Barrels are consumables, after all. The wood, I cut and dried it myself years ago. I came out ahead because of sweat equity. If I had to have all the work done, it could have cost more than a pristine original--but it didn't. Some might have said, that was more consideration than the guns were worth dollar wise. But darn it, some guns just DESERVE to be saved! And some may deserve it even if it costs a pretty penny. There are only a finite number of pre-war guns by English makers, for example.
What are your guiding principles when it comes to adopting a stray? Surely, there are examples of a bridge too far, where we wave farewell and light a candle to the memory. But some CAN be rescued.
My bridges too far include:
Too thin/over honed shotgun barrels/dangerous chamber lengthening
I draw the line at dented barrels, you may find them fixable
Welding or weakening of the receiver ring area on a bolt gun
Unless a family heirloom, something that was just too cheaply made in the first place, that I would not have purchased new
Probably problems complicated enough to scare or confuse me....man's got to know his limits
Reasons to "go for it"
It is a work of art/it has the potential to be a real beauty
The action is of a quality that you would buy one just to do a custom build around it in and of itself
Just because, by God, you want to (this despite odd calibers which are acceptable to you)
Ever rescue one?
What are your guiding principles when it comes to adopting a stray? Surely, there are examples of a bridge too far, where we wave farewell and light a candle to the memory. But some CAN be rescued.
My bridges too far include:
Too thin/over honed shotgun barrels/dangerous chamber lengthening
I draw the line at dented barrels, you may find them fixable
Welding or weakening of the receiver ring area on a bolt gun
Unless a family heirloom, something that was just too cheaply made in the first place, that I would not have purchased new
Probably problems complicated enough to scare or confuse me....man's got to know his limits
Reasons to "go for it"
It is a work of art/it has the potential to be a real beauty
The action is of a quality that you would buy one just to do a custom build around it in and of itself
Just because, by God, you want to (this despite odd calibers which are acceptable to you)
Ever rescue one?
