AusVarmint

Well I have started the first part of bringing my old No4 Mk1 303 back to life. I hope you guys enjoy following the old girls rejuvenation as much as I will enjoy doing it.

Stage 1

The rifle has been stripped of its stock, sights, trigger and guard. Now I have moved onto getting the old metal finish off the barrel and action. The finish that is on her looks to be a paint of some sort, now I'm not sure what the finished them in from the factory but this stuff is pretty durable by the looks and is just as hard to get off

progress pics so far: now there is plenty of pitting and manufacturing marks on the old girl as you would expect from a firearm of her vintage, I will do my best the get them out but I think a lot of them are too deep. The add a bit of character anyway

Stay tuned for stage 2, where she will get a new crown cut and have final prep for a coat of blue!

cheers

BB

Good onya Buff, its good to see a restoration, should turn out pretty good. Are you going to keep the wood work or sporterise it ? Let me know if you want some 1000 grit wet and dry, I have around 30 meters left on a roll, its 1200 wide, I'll stick it in the post with the young fellas trophy when its finished.

Cheers Camel!

here she is after a bit more rubbing? she looks ok in silver ha ha ha
cheers BB

Looks errr good BB (you know i like mine original)
Have you thought about cerakoting the dull silver?

I did think about cerokote Mick, just too expensive for my liking. I'm pretty confident I can do a good job with the birchwood bluing kit.

I know you're a purist mate but this old girl is going back to work so the timber is being set aside and the ATI stock will fit the bill nicely.

I honestly think I might end up collecting a few of these pieces and keep them original as I enjoy the history they hold..... if only they could talk!

Cheers

BB

Great job on the sanding mate. I think it looks good in silver

Buff Buster wrote:
I honestly think I might end up collecting a few of these pieces and keep them original as I enjoy the history they hold..... if only they could talk!

Cheers

BB

When the time comes and you decide on it, come over for many beers, and you can look over my collection. I am more than happy to give you a few pointers on what to look for etc. I am still learning along the way too.

If they could talk mate, they would be able to tell stories that would sour your beer, and send a chill down your spine. They would also be able to speak of mates, comradeship and courage under fire.
Of being as cold wet and miserable as their "handler" and the bloody mud of the trenches. History is full of their stories - you just have to listen.

If you ever decide to do a No1 Mk III as a bush gun, i "MAY" be tempted to let you have a sporter stock, that was hand carved from an original stock into the Schnabel type (think Brno .22), comes with a cheek piece butt. Nice timber, not sure why i kept it, as you said I am a purist .

Mick

sounds good Mick, especially the "many beers" part.

Well The old girl and I have spent the day together today. It consisted of some quality time in the sand blasting booth and then more elbow grease, autosol, wet and dry as well as some steel wool.

here are some of the results.
Coming up on Monday is the barrel shorten and re-crown and Thursday will be time for the re-blue

cheers

BB

Looking great BB excellent results.

I will be looking for a 303 one day, to go with the No 4 mkI scope I have sitting here from the family hand me downs.

Ryan

cheers Stink, I'm looking forward to seeing what it comes up like with the blue.

That will make a fine pig gun mate.

Thanks Fen, that's the plan mate!

Hard hitting 150gr pills, 10 in the mag, what more could you ask for?

cheers

BB

BB if you feel like getting rid of the metal band that goes over the wood on the forend I have a good home for it...

GriMo wrote:BB if you feel like getting rid of the metal band that goes over the wood on the forend I have a good home for it...

I'll have look at the bag of bits tomorrow mate, if it's there I'll take a pic and send it to you...... if you want it mate, it's yours.

Cheers

BB

Sweet as. Cheers mate