House Fire "Victim"
- Thread starter RMS272829
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What I did with what was a pretty much brand new Kit Gun (in the later 1950's) was to buy the gun as a REAL MESS, and give it to a full time St.Louis P.D. Sergeant and part time gunsmith, who cleaned it up, and had it refinished in nickel------a masterful job---looked to be factory, but no such markings.
It lives to this day, as the "Boss Lady's Gun", which has dispatched more than a few Groundhogs, Raccoons, and such who had the very poor judgement to mess up her garden---also one Bobcat she thought was a Raccoon. (???)
As an aside, it came back to me wearing a pair of Fitz Gunfighter grips which absolutely transform it into a REAL gun!!
Ralph Tremaine
It lives to this day, as the "Boss Lady's Gun", which has dispatched more than a few Groundhogs, Raccoons, and such who had the very poor judgement to mess up her garden---also one Bobcat she thought was a Raccoon. (???)
As an aside, it came back to me wearing a pair of Fitz Gunfighter grips which absolutely transform it into a REAL gun!!
Ralph Tremaine
If the gun got hot enough to seize the internal parts I would not consider any useful use of the gun. It might make a nice display in a shadow box with other remembrances of your Grandfather.
I'm no metallurgist, but cooking a gun in a house fire can't be a good thing. If it has sentimental value - soak it in some Ed's Red to loosen things up and give it a good cleaning. Hopefully you can get it functioning again. Add some period correct grips and put it in a display. You probably should not shoot it.
If it doesn't have much sentimental value - take it to a gun buy back program.
If it doesn't have much sentimental value - take it to a gun buy back program.
Get a gallon of a good solvent. like paint thinner, turpentine, penetrating oil like WD40, Kroil, etc. Get an empty gallon can, cut the top out of it, put the whole gun in the can, and fill the can with the solvent. Let it soak outdoors for a week or two. Take it out of the can, let it drain for a bit, and then try to remove the sideplate screws and the the mainspring screw, which will release the mainspring. Use a piece of wood as a space-bar, place it in back of the thumbpiece, and tap it with a hammer. If it moves, work the thumbpiece back and forth, loosening it up. Once loosened, tap the side of the cylinder with a rubber mallet, and see if you can get the cylinder open.
Keep proceeding this way, until you can get the entire gun dis-assembled. As parts come free, rub them with a oil-soaked 4-0 steel wool, removing any loose rust and any sticky matter on the surface.
Mike Priwer
Keep proceeding this way, until you can get the entire gun dis-assembled. As parts come free, rub them with a oil-soaked 4-0 steel wool, removing any loose rust and any sticky matter on the surface.
Mike Priwer
leonardocarrillo
Member
I share the opinion of H Richard, the fire could have altered the heat treatment of the metal which is dangerous.
Clean it well and keep it as a souvenir.
Clean it well and keep it as a souvenir.
StrawHat
Member
A huge part of my brain says the 32 pLong is not a high pressure cartridge, go ahead and use it.
BUT, an equally large part of my brain says how many of which body parts can you live without?
If you are not willing to destroy it so someone else won't use it, make sure to mark it some way so the future owners know it's history.
Kevin
BUT, an equally large part of my brain says how many of which body parts can you live without?
If you are not willing to destroy it so someone else won't use it, make sure to mark it some way so the future owners know it's history.
Kevin
Maybe it's because I'm stubborn but I would want to make it function. Almost anything can be repaired if one has the time and the inclination. Heat treating can be removed from metal but it can also be returned.
The gun was originally just metal and was heat treated. If the heat from the fire removed that treatment then I have to believe that there is a way or process to restore it once again.
I would try Ed's Red as someone stated and see if that does anything.
If however, the heat from the fire did more than just remove the heat treatment such as warping the frame then perhaps the shadow box approach is the only option. Perhaps a small brass plaque included explaining the history and the cause of its ultimate demise.
The gun was originally just metal and was heat treated. If the heat from the fire removed that treatment then I have to believe that there is a way or process to restore it once again.
I would try Ed's Red as someone stated and see if that does anything.
If however, the heat from the fire did more than just remove the heat treatment such as warping the frame then perhaps the shadow box approach is the only option. Perhaps a small brass plaque included explaining the history and the cause of its ultimate demise.
Model19man
Member
I would remove the rust with Evapo- Rust and re - blue it.
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If a year in Kroil didn't help it, about the only thing left is heat. Set the temperature of a toaster oven, or something similar, to about 250 degrees. When the oven has come to temperature, put the gun in the oven, and let it soak for 8-10 minutes. Take it out, and try turning the screws. The heat will cause the screw holes to expand slightly, which will usually break the bond between the threads and the screws. Don't let it soak too long, as the screw will expand in the hole, and tighten it back up.
Another technique is to touch an ice-cube to the head of the screws, but not the surrounding metal. This will cause the screw to shrink, usually enough to break the bond.
What looks like a slotted screw in the cylinder-release thumb piece is actually a nut. You can try touching a hot soldering iron to that, trying to get it expand slightly around the internal threads. Alternatively, you can touch a hot iron to the thumb piece itself, near the slotted headed, trying to expand slightly the hole for the nut.
Mike Priwer
Another technique is to touch an ice-cube to the head of the screws, but not the surrounding metal. This will cause the screw to shrink, usually enough to break the bond.
What looks like a slotted screw in the cylinder-release thumb piece is actually a nut. You can try touching a hot soldering iron to that, trying to get it expand slightly around the internal threads. Alternatively, you can touch a hot iron to the thumb piece itself, near the slotted headed, trying to expand slightly the hole for the nut.
Mike Priwer
notsofast
Member
I have a compulsion to fix stuff and I do fix a lot of stuff but maybe in this case you could leave it as it is.
I once had a Model 36 that had gone through a house fire. It was covered in creosote. Once I cleaned it up and replaced the springs, I had it Rockwell hardness tested. It passed and I carried it for a number of years as my ankle gun/BUG.
If it were mine, I would soak it in a ATF/acetone mixture and try Mike Priwer's suggestions.
If it were mine, I would soak it in a ATF/acetone mixture and try Mike Priwer's suggestions.
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Sounds like those critters that messed with the "boss lady's" garden got what they deserved. 
I'm hoping you can get it apart using the above advice. Beyond that, the shadow box display idea sounds like a good one. Best of luck with it.
I'm hoping you can get it apart using the above advice. Beyond that, the shadow box display idea sounds like a good one. Best of luck with it.
Wow...that's a tough decision. I admit that I am also a fan of project guns and enjoy trying to restore them to operating condition. But sometimes you have to throw in the towel and say that the piece is just too far gone. Years ago I bought an early 1970s Marlin 1895 (.45-70) at a local gun show for cheap. It had been in a fire, had a badly fitted replacement stock, and needed some love. I bought it with the intention of practicing my "shade tree" gunsmithing skills. I did get it working after making a few replacement parts and buying some screws, then polished and cold blued the rifle. However, I would never shoot a high-power .45-70 that had been in a fire, so I ended up turning it in at a local police "Kicks for Guns" event for a Walmart gift card! Around the same time I purchased an original Colt 1862 Pocket Police (.36 cal., ca. 1866) at a local auction. I paid $150, but I knew that it was a relatively rare handgun and might be a fun project. The revolver was in the bottom of a rusty toolbox, and it was literally a solid block of rust. It also looked like kids had been playing with it outside for decades, because besides the rust, pieces of the brass frame were broken off. I spent a few months cleaning it up, freeing up the internals, and getting it 80% functioning. Although it will never be a shooter, it is an interesting piece of history and I had a lot of fun working on it. This is the route that I would recommend to you since it was your grandfather's revolver and is now a family heirloom and conversation piece. Good luck!
Attachments
Here is the tell take. If it got hot enough to ruin the springs it wrecked the frame to. If the springs are still springs then the temper should be fine. Normalize, harden, temper and the temper cycle for a frame would be up near that of springs.
Alk8944
US Veteran
What do you with a gun in that condition? Build a shadow box with a plaque describing who it belonged to and keep it as a family memento to pass on to your children and grand children!
AJ
US Veteran
I am in the school of conserve it to stop any further rusting and put it in a shadow box with Gramps picture and a note on the circumstances that got it the way it is. At this point it is a memento of your Grandfather.
It may be fine to completely restore it to shooting condition. But why? Do you need it for protection? If that is the case, use the money earmarked for the restoration to buy a new gun. Would hate to see someone get hurt for an unseen defect from the fire.
But as with any personal possession it is yours to do with as you see fit.
It may be fine to completely restore it to shooting condition. But why? Do you need it for protection? If that is the case, use the money earmarked for the restoration to buy a new gun. Would hate to see someone get hurt for an unseen defect from the fire.
But as with any personal possession it is yours to do with as you see fit.
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