New on the bench series..
 

I had a lot of good comments on my recent spoon find. Also a few positive comments on my past " On The Bench" threads that I thought I would start a new one with the show find. First I took it all apart to inspect and clean all the internals.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243000.jpg
Let's look at the locks first....not real pretty but salvagable..but it's 112 years old and I am the first one in here since it was built in 1903..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243110.jpg
all the parts cleaned up good..a brass wheel does a wonderful job. Using a steel wheel is a no no....
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243185.jpg
by comparison..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243233.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243267.jpg
now the other side..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243303.jpg
cleaned up good as well..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243335.jpg
reassembled and coated with a light film of RIG. If you guys aren't using this stuff...start. Great universal gun grease that has excellent rust preventing properties..
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243456.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243472.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243491.jpg

now on to the trigger group....

The trigger group was pretty ugly as well....
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243838.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243861.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243876.jpg
start by knocking all the pins out dropping the safety slide, triggers, and trigger return spring and post.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243952.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243974.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427243992.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427244022.jpg
A whole different group now...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427244046.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1427244074.jpg

all cleaned up and re-assembled. I found out the triggers were nickel, this is a high end gun with stuff like that.
Enough for today. Think I'll go smoke a cigar now...more to come in a few days. The receiver is next...gotta work on Henry's M 12 .........

That looks like quite the project, well worth the time to bring her back to life.
I'll be watching....

BTW: got crazy busy today and forgot to call. I'll try to remember tomorrow..

As always - beautiful work, David.

Your photographs are excellent as well - nice job.

Can't wait to see the finished product - what a privilege for you to work on such a beautiful spoon....and for us to watch your craftsmanship!

Thank you!

Crazy busy is a good thing ....I'll be out running around errands with MJ most of the day tomorrow Henry, evening call would work good or I'll call you when I can..starting a thread on your M12 tonight as well..

thank YOU Baz...

True craftsmanship. Very nice.

Going to polish everything up? Too bad that custom screw on the right side got boogered up. Thinking of having it remade? Looks like it had some engraving on it.

Good luck.

I'm not going to polish anything. I want to keep the patina. Just a deep cleaning and then rub a little grime from my diesel tractor motor into the engraving to bring it out. I'll do my best to save the screw, then have a friend of mine re engrave if needed.

That's really nice. Ornate but not gaudy. And you get to be the cherry-poppin' daddy? The fruits of a life well lived!
Overall, what is/was the condition? Was this abused, neglected, ridden hard and put away wet or is this the normal wear and tear of vintage cutlery like this.

(As an ignorant observer I'd say "Not used much, but taken care of when it was new, then used a little bit too much in middle age without the benefit of lubrication, then relegated to display duty in a slightly damp environment, maybe hanging on a basement wall or in a gun cabinet in a family room for the last fifty years. Maybe a little oil on the furniture once in a while?)

I think it was owned by somebody who loved it and shot/carried it a lot. I noticed the right firing pin was much more worn than the left one. SXS's fire R first L second. He must have been a good shot or shot a lot of trap with it. It was cared for maybe even too much. It had a LOT of finish and varnish on it. A sign of care. I think it's owner stopped shooting it for whatever reason and it was sent to the wall or cellar for a long time. Then it was discovered and brought out for sale. I was there to save it I think..all things happen for a reason. I haven't been to a gunshow in a long time. I went to this show on a whim...i think your observations are spot on

I just found out from a very reliable source that this, in fact, is a rare find. It is marked #58 on the water table and that is the highest grade they made at the time. After Parker took over the company they called it the Diamond Grade. Pretty cool!

What is a water table in this instance?

BTW, your threads are the bomb.

the water table is the flat area on the receiver that the barrels rest on when closed.

Always a treat to watch your work. Thank you for sharing

No no no a Water Table is how far down the water is in the earth.;)

Zeee questieon that Ich haben vor de Meister issss....Can you take oil out of a stock that has been saturated and darkened over the years so that you can once again see the figure in the wood.. Very nice figure on this one if you look.

Also the particular SXS has Damascus Barrels that have surface pitting from less than ideal storage...bores are bright and shiny. Can the Damacus pattern be brought back and can the gun once again be shot with Blk powder loads?

The engraving on the spoon is wonderful and best of all it says KRIDER on the spoon.

I know I know with out pictures.......

Lots of questions. Yes you can save a stock by soaking it for a while completely submerged in acetone. It will draw the oil out. Then you can refinish it as you like. For the barrels try using a pot scrubber from the dollar store and go over it with that and good fine oil. You can use 00 steel wol as well. You can also try an old school method. An old trade process for polishing metal used white black-board chalk sticks in combination with oil. First coat the barrels with a light film of gun oil or KleenBore Formula 3 Gun Conditioner. Then rub the barrels with the chalk stick, focusing on the rusted areas, but to include the entire surface. The rust is lifted by the chalk sticks without damage to the damascus pattern. Wipe clean with a soft rag and repeat as required until all the rust is removed. To have them refinished in B&W I would recommend Keith Kercher Double Guns and Gunsmithing: Kody Kearcher Restorations
shooting it has been the basis of debate for some years. I myself will not shoot them..

I've had 2 guns done by Keith, both LeFevers a 16g and a 10g. Excellent work. The 16 is the one I need the pinch (?) springs for. I could send you the gun David, no rush on getting it done if your plate isn't too full.

refresh me are they hammer springs?

Yes, I think the "V" shaped ones similar to the ones in your pic. I could send pics this week, I'll pull a sideplate off.