I am not dumb about tools or processes but...

I'll be brave and throw my 2 cents worth in - but that's all it's worth.

Just how bad is the rust on it? What condition is the bore in - will it require that the barrel be reworked and sleeved? When you locate a supplier of parts, how much is going to be wrapped up in them.

From the photos (if I remember correctly) - you did very well on it at the price you paid. But, as soon as you start reworking it - any value as a "relic" is going to be destroyed - both money wise and desire wise. I guess there are a variety of "collectibles" the carbine woudl fall in to. Civil War relic collectors, gun collectors who can't afford a higher priced example in really nice condition, and then of course - shooters like yourself.

Over the years, I've seen way too many antique muzzleloaders that were "restored" - basically over cleaned/altered with new parts, etc. True, in our ancestor's time, it was common to "fresh out" a bore when worn - I've seen some good work and I've seen some shoddy work as well with the installation of bore liners, etc. As far as collectibles, such guns have lost a lot of their value and unless they are something "special", don't appeal much to shooters as well. But, you are well awae of those things.

I guess it's a decision that you have to make - if you really want a "shooter", and we all know on here that you certainly have the skills and ability to do the work and make it one - are you willing to trade the collector aspect as opposed to the "shooter" aspect? Or, is the amount of money it will take to make it a shooter the same as opposed to a good used replica that has known steel/condition as it's make up? I would think that if it was "restored" to a shooter, there would always be appeal to a NSSA carbine shooter or someone who wants one that's been made into a shooter.

For parts - check with Lodgewood Mfg.. Hunt up the NSSA site (North South Skirmish Assn.) - they have a "link page" that will have other suppliers as well. If the barrel is going to be required to be re-lined - check with Whitacre - they can be found on the NSSA link page as well.

Please don't consider my thoughts as any criticism as they aren't intended as that. The photos are nice but you know better than anyone else what the true condition of it is as it's in your hands. Such things as how deep any pitting is also is a consideration. If it's so deep or the rust is so bad that it has to be polished out, are the markings going to be removed? (Like buffing a fine Colt to reblue it - markings, edges, etc. are very evident that it's been "cleaned up". You could end up with a nice shooter but to a collector, it's going to be a "over cleaned" gun with little value as opposed if left in "as found" condition. On the other hand, if the bore can be cleaned up so it's decent and it's functional, internals cleaned/replaced with original or new parts to insure safe operation, maybe all it needs is a little TLC - stock washed with Murphy's Oil Soap to clean dirt off and oiled and some basic cleaning to the metal so as to not remove the patina - I would think it would be a very interesting and worthwhile project - and we all know how you like projects!

If you decide to take it on as a project, I hope you'll keep us up to date with lot's of photos. If anybody can do it, you can.

Thanks!

__________________
If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

View the original article here