Savage 99 restoration FINISHED

[p_ham]

Okay! Another project.
This Savage came into the shop in plastic baggies, never a good sign.
The owner had taken it somewhere to get reblued and they Cerakoted it instead. Not only was that not the finish he asked for but it was thick enough that the action would barely cycle.

If I'm getting the story right, this was his grandfather's gun, then it was passed along to his father and finally him.
The original buttstock was gone but he had a stock his grandfather had made many years ago. Unfortunately there was a large chunk missing and the wasn't much left around the inletting. The forend was there but it was pretty much worn down to a toothpick along with a large piece missing from that too.


P.S. I know it looks like I'm doing this on the floor. There's carpet over my steel bench top.

 

[p_ham]

First step was the gently sandblast the coating off and sand it out to 320grit.





I had a hell of a time getting the lever pivot out. Somebody jammed it in the wrong direction and broke off the anti rotation pin.


Starting the bluing process. We're doing a rust blue on this given the age of the rife.
I made a super high faluting humid cabinet out of a ladder and a tarp. A heat gun and humidifier does the work.

After a couple cycles


This was after 4 cycles. 1st photo is how it looks when it comes out of the high pressure steam bath, then how it looks after carding.


Finally after 6 cycles it gets a coating of mineral oil and cures out for a few days.

Stay tuned for the woodwork!

 

[Sawtooth]

Love the old 99's. Glad to see you are able to save this old classic from the scrap pile. I like cerekote on modern firearms but on vintage firearms it's unacceptable. Will be following this thread and can't wait to see the woodwork.

 

[TN2shot07]

That bluing looks great. I have one of the Remington made 336’s that I was considering having cerakoted (no collectible value). Now you have me reconsidering after his experience…

 

[F250]

p_ham, you sir, are talented !!

 

[Four22]

What are you using for bluing? I’m trying to find a replacement for an old bottle of “true blue”

 

[jt13]

That looks friggen awesome

 

[crock239]

That's really cool! Had no idea that kind of restoration was possible, thanks for sharing the process. It looks incredible!

 

[p_ham]

What are you using for bluing? I’m trying to find a replacement for an old bottle of “true blue”

The brand is "Rust Blue" this is the "American" formula.

 

[noharleyyet]

Obligatory

 

[brownbear932008]

I'd love to have a nice 99.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I hope that lettering is going to be neatly stamped.

Nice work! Loving the process.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Great work,

 

[Steve O]

So interesting! How do you thing the rotary magazine got so buggered up?

 

[JLS]

Fantastic work. My dad had a M99.

 

[HSi-ESi]

Echo'ing on the beautiful work. I'll gladly follow this one along.

 

[MoDirt]

I had forgotten about these rifles-now I am telling myself I need one. God knows I don't really need one but they are sweet looking. Very nice work you are doing there!

 

[Four22]

The brand is "Rust Blue" this is the "American" formula.

Thanks!! The finish of true rust bluing can’t be beat.

Beautiful rifle by the way!!

 

[p_ham]

So interesting! How do you thing the rotary magazine got so buggered up?

It's dinged up a little bit but I think the reflection in the photo makes it look worse than it is. According to the serial number lookup it's from 1925.

 

[mtmuley]

The brand is "Rust Blue" this is the "American" formula.

Could a do it yourselfer pull off an acceptable blueing job with with Rust Blue? mtmuley