Author Topic: Drowned guns (Read 1133 times)

Goatwhiskers · « **on:** September 18, 2005, 05:05:17 AM »

I seem to recall that the real old world maps would be marked on areas beyond the known as "beyond here be dragons". This may be one of those trips into uncharted waters. I have a customer inquiring about restoration of some guns still under about 4 feet of Katrina's water, mostly brackish water and sewage. I did tell him to get them to me ASAP upon recovery and not to let them dry out if possible. Not overly concerned about the metal parts, but do have some worries about the wood and finish as salt water is involved. I know a lot of the procedure will be judgement as the job progresses, but do any of you have any experience, thoughts, facts, or opinions on this type of problem?

mr.frosty · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2005, 07:24:14 AM »

if you talk to that guy again tell him to wrap them in newspaper it may keep the wood from drying to quick

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2005, 05:20:21 PM »

I don't have any specific experience in this area. Just wanted to get that out up front!

But I did stay in a Holliday Inn Express once... as the commercial goes.

Seems like to me that you would want to get the guns out of the nasty water and into clean water as soon as possible. I would flush them with clean water but I would also want to keep them wet (submerged in cold, ice cold water) until I was able to tear them down and WD-40 all of the metal parts.

The wood I would want to dry out in a controlled manner but fairly slowly. I wouldn't want to get checking and cracking going. If I had a bunch of guns to do I would think about building a box with racks to hold the stocks. I would think about ducting a small amount of cool air from my central AC through the box to promote slow steady drying.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2005, 06:31:33 PM »

Hard to say for certain but in '93 and '95 we worked on several that went under the Missouri. The big rivers water seems quite base and pitting of metal parts begins almost inmmediately. The Stocks should not be force dried but will likely dry OK is done slowly. I've not dealt with long term submersion as far as wood goes.. however I've seen logs that were hauled from rivers and sawed into beautiful lumber... The metal should be clean asap with high pressure clean water and detergent. Then heated to force moisture out... At this point it'll be clean as all get out and will rust like crazy.. I would use a product called 'HOLD'. It's sold by Brownells and is used to hold and cure recently blued guns.. My second choice would be a penetrant called 'KROIL'. It also is sold by Brownells and others and is highly pentrating... Heat is the best agent to remove moisture... and flushing with hot clean water is likely the best thing for those weapons..

LaDano · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2005, 03:03:10 PM »

I dropped off a couple of guns at my local smith Thrus. He said he's been taking in as many as 140 guns a day since the 2 hurricanes. They were way to busy for me to talk about the clean up, but he did say 75% were salvageable.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2005, 05:51:03 PM »

A lot will depend on the condition of the guns before they were under and the composition of the water incolved. Well maintained weapons with a normal protective coat of lube and water that's not too alkali or acid will survive better. I'm not familiar with salt water but have indeed seen the effects of salt wood on several fine Brownings. A thorough cleaning with fresh clean water would be high on my list.. Wood does strange things when soaked for a period of time. sometimes the swelling was permanent, sometimes not. I certainly hope all works out well for you and all the folks struggling in the aftermath of noth storms..

Steve P · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2005, 08:36:49 PM »

I do not have first hand experience, but I have talked with my brother on this. He is a dive specialist for the sheriff's dept. He has recovered guns that have been lost due to hunters accidents, thefts, and crime disposal into water. They would bring the guns up, but would not subject them to air. They would put them into a bag with water until they could get them brought into another area where they could submerge them in cleaner water. They would then do some rinsing (may have had something in the water ) and I believe bring up the heat of the water. Guns would be removed from heated water and placed into a controlled drying area. He was talking about air begining the rusting process and controlled rinsing and drying stopping this. You may want to check with local law enforcement. They may be able to help also.

Just more to think about.

Steve

Kragman71 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2005, 09:48:24 AM »

Hello,
Go to the www.beartooth bullets.com message boards.
There is a member there from New Orleans who is in the process of salvaging whatever he can from the flood.
He has posted,over time, the results of his efforts.
We can benefit from his bad luck.
Frank

lostchild · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2005, 01:20:01 PM »

I don't know if this will help but there is a site called stove bolt ( might be one word ) it's a site for car restoration and has two methods for metal restoration, one uses electrolysis and the other uses a molasses mixture. A buddy of mine used the elelectrolisis method on some hand guns that had been badly rusted and he said that it worked great. This is all hearsay but it might help. I don't have the link but it may be on google. hope this helps....... lost