Marlin pistol cap removal- Rifle has been finished.

[Masterbuck54]

Ok my son not only brought down the Winchester 94 for me to refinish the stock but a Marlin 336 came along.

So took some time to disassemble both this evening but can't seem to get the pistol cap off.

Yes I've removed the screw but can't seem to break free from the wood.

Not sure if the spacer has "glued" itself to the wood or what.

I've tied tapping on it but nothing seems to work.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Masterbuck54

[30-30remchester]

Yes I have a suggestion. Leave it. Recoil pads and grip caps are left on at the factory before final sanding. If the buttplate and or grip cap are removed and the stock then sanded, neither will fit right afterwards, Besides being to large after sanding, the edges under the cap or butt will be slightly rounded. From the little I have seen in your picture I can see no reason to refinish. But that is just my opinion. I hope the Winchester 94 is not a pre 64 model you are working on.

[bearfoot]

if i remember correctly. a friend asked me to refinish a marlin 35 cal. stock. the cap had 2 nails that went into the stock.

[Masterbuck54]

Originally Posted by bearfoot

if i remember correctly. a friend asked me to refinish a marlin 35 cal. stock. the cap had 2 nails that went into the stock.

So it had the screw down the middle in addition to the two nails?

Masterbuck54

[Masterbuck54]

Originally Posted by 30-30remchester

Yes I have a suggestion. Leave it. Recoil pads and grip caps are left on at the factory before final sanding. If the buttplate and or grip cap are removed and the stock then sanded, neither will fit right afterwards, Besides being to large after sanding, the edges under the cap or butt will be slightly rounded. From the little I have seen in your picture I can see no reason to refinish. But that is just my opinion. I hope the Winchester 94 is not a pre 64 model you are working on.

The forend has the biggest finish issue.
I wasn't planning on sanding the stock where the grip cap is located...just a strip and a recoat with tung oil.
The 94 isn't a pre 64.

Masterbuck54

[30-30remchester]

Originally Posted by Masterbuck54

The forend has the biggest finish issue.
I wasn't planning on sanding the stock where the grip cap is located...just a strip and a recoat with tung oil.
The 94 isn't a pre 94.

Masterbuck54

I have only owned a dozen or so Marlins so am not an expert by any sense, but I detest the white line spacers and removed all of mine. IIRC they are slightly stuck either by dried varnish and maybe a small tack nail.

[gwpercle]

Leave it in place. Use some masking tape to mask it off and re finish.
You might bugger it up trying to remove it. Sanding around the edge of the cap with the wood will not damage it and might provide for a neater job.
Gary

[Masterbuck54]

Finished putting this back together this morning.

Now to start on the Winchester.

Some after photo's...didn't take any before.

Masterbuck54

[dmar]

Originally Posted by Masterbuck54

Finished putting this back together this morning.

Now to start on the Winchester.

Some after photo's...didn't take any before.

Masterbuck54

Rifle looks beautiful, nice job. Did you end up removing the cap prior to refinishing...?

I'm not generally a fan of refinishing guns, but if it were to happen, I'd hope it would end up looking like that!

[Masterbuck54]

[QUOTE=dmar;139537277]Rifle looks beautiful, nice job. Did you end up removing the cap prior to refinishing...

I ended up leaving the cap on while stripping and refinishing.

I figured it wasn't worth the effort of trying to remove and chance damaging it.

Masterbuck54

[Inusuit]

Originally Posted by 30-30remchester

I hope the Winchester 94 is not a pre 64 model you are working on.

Years ago, I responded to an ad for a Winchester 94 in .25-35. The owner was shocked when I told him he had greatly decreased the value of the carbine by over sanding the stock so the receiver and the butt plate were 1/16 inch above the wood. And rounded. Of course, the high gloss varnish didn't help either although he was very proud of his work.

Lots of guns damaged by inexpert refinishing. Not the case for the OP, the rifle looks very good.

[Brian in Oregon]

I hate the white line spacers too. Never had a problem with them coming off. Someone either glued yours, added brads or a small screw, or varnish of some sort crept in. You could try a fresh Xacto chisel blade to try to separate the white spacer from the buttstock. The flat edge should be on the wood side, and the beveled side towards the spacer. Tap gently with a small hammer and go slowly and deliberately, constantly checking it. I've done this and if very careful no wood damage.

Replacement black caps are available from Midway and Brownells. This will allow you to shape the cap to the wood, instead of shaping the wood to the old cap. Put a lot of tape on the wood as you work the cap down, then use less tape as you get closer to flush.