Side by Side refresh

[One Eye]

Can anyone recommend a quality shop for a side-by-side refresh project?  I have an older double barrel 12 guage that was handed down to me from my grandfather that I would like to have freshened.  I don't believe it is anything special as far as a collectable.  The blueing is very bad and one of the firing pins (right side) will misfire once and awhile.  The gun is still functional and I shot my first game with this gun.

This is strictly a desire to refresh a family heirloom and not a dream of increasing its value, as I know that refinishing older guns does not add to their value.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Dan

[Mike Britton]

One Eye,
You might give the Schuetzen Gun Company, P.O. box 203 Drake Co. 80515, 970-635-2409 a call.
The craftsman I worked with on several rifles was Mr. McKinney, and the work done on my rifles was without reproach.
I don't know if they do doubles, but they may be able to send you in the right direction. Mike

[Graybeard]

Most any gunsmith who is a REAL GUNSMITH likely can do the work but bluing of a double is a task for only those thoroughly and completely familiar with the task as the barrels will separate if heated in a normal bluing tank. A proper restoration of such a gun is going to cost you far far in excess of the value it has now or will have afterward. Are you prepared to pay five to ten times the value of the gun to have the work done?

If so get back with me and I'll look thru some issues of a shotgun magazine to come up with some recommendations for you but understand clearly up front we're talking over $1000 almost for sure to have the work done by such a specialist.

If you're not then just choose a decent general smith and make darn sure they are aware they can't drop those barrels into a bluing tank.

[Mike Britton]

I do the Tulsa gun show regularly, and ran across a pile of parts on a table once that looked like they might be gun parts. After some conversation, I found out they HAD been the barrels off a Stevens 311 that had been put in a bluing tank. The guy was hoping to find someone optimistic enough to tackle putting it all back together again.

[One Eye]

Most any gunsmith who is a REAL GUNSMITH likely can do the work but bluing of a double is a task for only those thoroughly and completely familiar with the task as the barrels will separate if heated in a normal bluing tank. A proper restoration of such a gun is going to cost you far far in excess of the value it has now or will have afterward. Are you prepared to pay five to ten times the value of the gun to have the work done?

If so get back with me and I'll look thru some issues of a shotgun magazine to come up with some recommendations for you but understand clearly up front we're talking over $1000 almost for sure to have the work done by such a specialist.

If you're not then just choose a decent general smith and make darn sure they are aware they can't drop those barrels into a bluing tank.

A $1000 price tag is not a problem.  The gun is worth more than money to me.  Thanks.
Dan

[Questor]

I'd be surprised if $1000 would cover it.

[rbwillnj]

Old Doubes must be Rust Blued rather than Hot Blued.   Its a multi-step process that is more time consuming and more expensive than Hot Bluing.   The caustic in the hot bluing salts attacks the solder used to attach the barrels, and as Graybeard said, they will seperate....maybe not in the bluing tank, but sometime later.

[Questor]

I've read a lot of good press about Doug Turnbull as a shotgun restorer. He seems to do the kind of work you need:

http://www.turnbullrestoration.com/store.asp?pid=20180

Did a search for a picture example of a customer's gun:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/detail.cfm?id=100043901&string=cid=510&row_start=51&row_start2=47&order=ads.ad_id%20DESC

[Questor]

Let us know how it turns out. We might all encounter such a gun at one time that drives us to do more than just clean it up and shoot it.

[rbwillnj]

George Carrell it Mount Bethal PA does a very nice job of restoring old doubles.   I have seen his work and its excellent.   I'm sure its expensive, and probably only worth the price if you have something really worth restoring.   George is also an excellent pistol smith who built my 45 wad gun for Bullseye.

[Drilling Man]

  Here's a Remington model 1900 that my dad bought in the 40's, it was made in 1905...  About 25 years ago i did some work on it, including HOT BLUEING it and it's still going strong...



  NOT EVERY double will come apart when hot blued...

  DM

[One Eye]

Thanks to those of you that have responded.  I have exchanged emails with Turnbull and I am considering sending it to them for an itemized quote.  Turnbull's prices are very high, but their work is exquisite.

Please continue to send any more suggestions, as I do not want to jump at the first place I contact. 
Dan

[FourBee]

Can anyone recommend a quality shop for a side-by-side refresh project?  I have an older double barrel 12 guage that was handed down to me from my grandfather that I would like to have freshened.  I don't believe it is anything special as far as a collectable.  The blueing is very bad and one of the firing pins (right side) will misfire once and awhile.  The gun is still functional and I shot my first game with this gun.

This is strictly a desire to refresh a family heirloom and not a dream of increasing its value, as I know that refinishing older guns does not add to their value.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Dan

Wondering what One Eyes' decision was