Matt's Grandfather was given HIS dad's shotgun. Papa had it stored in his garage and it was "destroyed" by the humidity. Upon finding the beloved heirloom rusted, Papa was very sad, but hung onto the gun. When we recently visited Papa and Grandma, Papa proudly showed off his guns to Matt. Matt somehow persuaded Papa to let him take the shotgun home to fix it. Matt completely restored his Great Grandfather's shotgun and below is the process in pictures from start to finish.
(Now, Matt has a new hobby - restoring guns!)
1898 Chicago Arms 12 ga. shotgun hammer pump
BEFORE
You can see how the gun is rusted and pock marked. This piece took extra time getting "clean" due to the pock marks.
The gun butt was completely replaced.
The wood was reworked and fixed
SANDBLASTING
Matt sandblasted each piece of metal to rid the rust. It came out so well!
SHINING
Some of the pieces had to be "sanded" and scrubbed extra in order to smooth the surface from where the rust really did a number.
No more pockmarks!
See the shine compared to the barrel?
The "cap" is shiny while the tube isn't. We used abrasive wools to scrub the metal.
I helped a tiny bit. This was a lot of arm work!
I'm now shinning the metal so when it is blued it will look great.
One evening, Lilah provided us with music while we worked.
BLUEING
Matt "blued" each piece. He did a couple of layers in order to achieve a consistent look.
The wood looks incredible.
That is one nice looking gun
THE UNVEILING
Papa and Grandma came over from Augusta to celebrate Wendy's and Matt's birthdays - and to get his shotgun. (Papa says he made out better than the birthday folks with getting his gun.
I recently purchased a Chicago Arms Model A Pump Action Shotgun like the one your restores. You did a good job--it looks great!! I'm sure you're Papa was proud. I'd like to know how you determined the year manufactured. Also, how to disassemble it. How can I determine whether the barrel is Damascus steel or Belgium?
ReplyDeletei just aquirred this same shotgun in a trade I know 0 about It, could U possibly send me a detail set of instructions on Disassembly of barrel and Pump from action and field strip? My EMail Addy RONSERESURPLUS@Gmail.com
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job!! It looks brand new, and a bit better than mine which is unrestored. About once a year I do a search to see what info I can dig up about the gun, and I've never found much of anything. Where were you able to find a year? I also inherited mine, which as far as I know has been in the family since new. I found an old picture of my great great grandfather standing in the snow, with the gun in one hand and a goose or something in the other.
ReplyDeleteYou should submit your story to some kind of shotgun magazine!
Beautiful family, shotgun and work, sir! Well done!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic bit of restoration work! I have a model A-G in the closet that my grandfather got right after he got back from WWI. He had admired the Winchester trench guns during the war and wanted a civilian counterpart. Got it at Sears in Flint, Michigan sometime around 1917-1918. About 30 years ago I used it to shoot skeet (low brass loads). It is chocked X-full as it's a goose gun. A friend who is a gunsmith advised be NOT to continue shooting it. Good advice. If the single retaining bar snaps, the entire bolt moves back about..say...36". You did grand work!! pbrooks.1227@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI have a model A 12 ga. that my grandfather bought new. My grandson took it apart, completely apart, I can not get it back together. Any chance you know where I can get a schematic for this gun.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Bob Martin