First attempt at gun restoration

T

ToddS112

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Since it's a Ruger I'll post it here. I put it on a Ruger sight too. I found this gun in a drawer where it had sat for 30 years. Destined for the trash, I had to grab it. It was crusted over with rust and carbon. It had obviously been in a fire. There were 4 cooked off rounds with cases still in the cylinder. One of the rounds flying out the front of the cylinder bent the take down pin over. The spring on the ejection rod had balled up and pushed through the side of the tube.

I think it got hot enough to warp the frame a bit. The barrel seems to tilt to the right and the cylinder sits in the frame crooked.

Now the disclaimer: I KNOW THIS GUN IS UNSAFE AND COULD NEVER BE FIRED. Yes, I will ensure the gun is rendered inert so someone 3 years from now doesn't find it and try to fire it.

I decided on a whim to see if I could get the gun apart and clean it up a bit. Using just CLP and a bronze brush I scrubbed and scrubbed. I had to pry that take down pin out to further dissassemble it. I was shocked when the spent cases just popped right out. I didn't take any "as found" pics.

I was actually able to get the thing to function. Of course the springs were all ruined, but it turned the cylinder, etc.

Here are the post clean up pics:

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I thought it would make a cool wall hanger. Found a set of well used grips:

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I read some things on the cold bluing kits and watched a couple You-Tube videos. I decided to try it as I had the perfect test bed. I wasn't out anything if I ruined it.

I bought the Birchwood Casey kit locally and went to work.

Lots of sanding and steel wooling I ended up with this:
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I followed the instructions: degrease, dry, rust and blue remover, steel wool, clean and degrease again. Then I started bluing: apply blue, rinse it water, steel wool to smooth and blend, clean it again and repeat, repeat, repeat...I ended up with 4 applications of the blue. I have to say I was shocked how it was turning out. Much better than I thought it would.

Almost done:

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I did order a few small parts: springs, a missing screw,etc. I am waiting for those to arrive before final assembly. I'll end up with about $30.00 in it. It occupied my time for a few days, so I think it was worth while.

I'll add the final pics once I get it together.

Thanks for looking.
 
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Nice job, nice project, looks great. However; you must render that gun un-shootable since it was in a fire you have no idea what the tempering of the metal is especially in a .44 Magnum. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
Y'all help out someone unfamiliar with gunsmithing:

What would be the easiest and most effective way to render a gun like that unshootable?
 
I ground off the firing pin. I'm going to inject some epoxy into the hole to seal it up with what's left of the firing pin. I am also thinking of having someone make me up 5 dummy bullets then epoxy them into the cylinder. I'm sure there are other ways to do it.
 
Take whats left of the firing pin, it's spring and the firing pin bushing right out of the gun.

Open the gate,,you'll see a pin coming into the frame at an angle from the upper left side of the frame. That intersects the firing pin bushing and holds the assembly in place.
Just drive it out to the left far enough to punch the remains of the firing pin & bushing out into the cylinder opening, then tap that pin back into place.

I'd solder, TIG or at least epoxy the cylinder pin itself back into the frame once the dummys are in place in the cylinder. Otherwise it's too easy to place another cylinder in place in an attempt to fire the thing.

You can go wild and TIG the edge of the cylinder & the hammer to the frame, TIG the gate shut ect,,,but then you can't fan it...!

Like you said,,lots of ways to do it,,you just have to decide under what conditions the gun may end up in where someone might try and fire it.

Most of these extreme damage fire guns get stripped for the few small parts that are still salvagable and the rest get destroyed.

You did an awfully nice job cleaning that one up!
 
Wow, my hat is off to you. What a transformation. Great Job!
 
You did a great job. It took many hours to achieve that kind of result.

Charlie
 
Very nice! Makes a great curio to have on your desk or bookshelf because you don't need to worry about someone picking it up and shooting it.

How about write a note about the gun having been in a fire and restored by you, rendered inoperable for reasons of safety, etc., and slip the note under a grip panel for the edification of posterity?
 
Hi:
Before you "Deactivate" it, contact Ruger Customer Service. Advise Ruger this revolver had been in a fire and you would like to determine if it is safe to fire. It could very well be the metal is not unsafe. Its worth a phone call. Ruger might replace it in order for them to get it back and destroy it theirselves for liability reasons.
 
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