Tune ups for Guns?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Abner, Aug 15, 2008.

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  1. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    My Uncle passed away last year and left me his service revolver. He was a Korean War hero, police officer, professional dancer, and a teacher. In short, he really cared about his pistol.

    Are there tune ups where a gun shop can really clean it up, take it apart, and give it some pampering? This is an FBI special rare edition revolver, and I do not plan on firing it. I want to maintain it along with his badge for sentimental reasons. I want to take care of it the way my uncle "Tio" would have. Any advice would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Abner
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Yes, this is definitely possible. However, I wouldn't just bring it to a gun shop and ask them to clean it. There are people working in gun shops who know very little about firearms and there's at least some possibility that they might damage or otherwise mess it up. You would do best to find a gunsmith. Sometimes gunsmiths are associated/own gun shops but sometimes they have their own workshops and don't actually sell firearms (although many will build one from scratch according to your specs). You seem to have some connection (through your uncle) to local law enforcement. I'm sure they would be happy to point you toward a reputable gunsmith in your area. Also, make sure that you give explicit instructions to whoever does the work. Some people, even a good gunsmith, will occasionally take it upon themselves to make "improvements" on a piece. They think that they're doing you a favor and are then perplexed when you express your unhappiness. This revolver clearly means something to you and it's nice that you want to take proper care of it. You'll feel better if you do it right.
     
  3. buckwheat3

    buckwheat3 Master of the Obvious

    Gun tune up

    Hi Abner,
    The best way is probably to do it yourself. Use proper fitting screw drivers.
    Remove the grips and side plate, and give a good going over with "Break-free".... It’s decent gun oil. Or you can simply take it to a well known gunsmith for a complete going over....wow you are bring back some memories.

    I use to do it on the side but it became too much to handle and had to give it up, I still, have people coming around or asking me to do something for them.
    Once upon a time I was making and selling rifle barrels as fast as I could make them. Had my federal licence...everything. I was at the point of buying a Pratt & Whitney Model "B" gun drilling machine just to keep up with demand; it could drill/ ream two barrels simultaneously. They are left over from WWII war production but are still consider some of the best barrel making machines today.... probably pick one up for about 25,000 bucks. The rifling part of barrel making was actually nothing too it, just make a hydraulic press and make carbide buttons; grind them to the proper taper, diameter & helix, for the twist rate and the number of lands and grooves you wanted; attach it to a pull rod with silver solder...and you were ready for another 5000 barrels or so...or until it broke :)

    Many people in the past and even still today say “Damn Gavin, why didn’t you stick with it?" I would have....but finding liability insurance was a mo-fo, I could have gone LLC or Type "S" or "C" corporation for a little liability protection but I didn’t think that was good enough. I just felt there were too wanna-be's... kitchen table gunsmiths who had good intentions but wanted to go beyond what ordinary gunsmiths did. I felt some of these folks would eventually get themselves hurt, by not knowing basic machining practices and would cut a chamber out of round etc. etc. Try explaining that to a jury while a widow is hamming it up in front of a potential cash cow.

    Clean the gun up yourself, just dont "bugger-up" the screw heads.
    all the best,
    Gavin
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Hi Gavin - I have a question that you might be able to answer. I'm enrolled in an M1 Garand training clinic. At the end I'll get a certificate that I can use to buy an M1 through CMP. They have different grades of weapons available and it's hard for me to know if it might be worth the extra money to go for a higher grade. I'm thinking of just going for a rack grade M1 and crossing my fingers. If you have an opinion I'd love to hear it.

    http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm
     
  5. buckwheat3

    buckwheat3 Master of the Obvious

    Kizmet,
    Any Garands will hold their value....problem is, you never want to sell them. I would go for the Harrington & Richardson Arms, Garands, service grade if you can fork out the 595.00.

    Any military arms made by subcontrators in WWII holds usually better than average value over the armories such as Springfield.

    For example, if its an carbine look for United Postal Meter or Rock-ola etc.
    I have a good friedn who bought a M1-D and it came with the paper work from Anniston Army Depot....it probably worth close to 4000-5000 now.

    If you can get an M1-C in about any condition...orginal not a rebuild...gobble it up!
    Heck buying any garand is worth it!...Be careful of the Garand bug...I was bit by it over thirty years ago! If I was to be a castaway on a remote pacific island and I had one rifle to choose...it would be the garand
     
  6. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Thanks. That's just the sort of info I was hoping to get.
     
  7. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    If you don't know anything about guns, I would also recommend a professional gunsmith. If you're not going to shoot it, a tune-up in gun terminology isn't necessary, just tell them you want a comprehensive cleaning.

    One you get it back, store it in a dry place, buy a silicone cloth (any sporting goods store will have them) and wipe it down a couple of times of month to inhibit rust. I still have my first police weapon, a blue-steel S&W Model 10 revolver and it doesn't have a speck of rust on it after 20 years of storing it like that.
     

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