Savage/Stevens model 325C

[TINCANBANDIT]

I decided to try and drive the rivets out with a punch and they came out without a fuss, the mechanism is pretty simple

https://i.imgur.com/Jgleq9wl.jpg

Here is the back side of the screws holding the trigger group assembly to the action, you can see they have been staked in place

https://i.imgur.com/0TAeLwFl.jpg

I figured they would be hard to get out and I was right, I tightened, then loosened, tightened, then loosened...finally they broke free. They had been screwed into that receiver since 1948/49 and never came loose.



https://i.imgur.com/XM778vYl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

The threads survived ok, but the screw heads not so much, Gun Parts has them for $5, might not be worth restoring them for $5

https://i.imgur.com/uAIrYdgl.jpg

A quick bath in Hoppes #9, these parts do not need refinishing, so they will go in a zip-lock bag until reassembly time.


https://i.imgur.com/XkkFZY3l.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

Now we can strip the old bluing and begin polishing the metal



I used vinegar this time, it didn't work near as well as Naval Jelly, but I was sanding every part of this gun anyway, so I really didn't need to remove the bluing chemically

https://i.imgur.com/KBKGl5El.jpg

I started with the barrel nut and recoil lug, I burnished them on the wire wheel, this will give them a satin appearance

https://i.imgur.com/15eo0xdl.jpg

There was some light freckling and dents in the metal, but over all it went smoothly. I started with 100 grit, then 150, 220, 280, 320, 400 then 600, I finished with a light buffing on the buffer

https://i.imgur.com/mT3HnTxl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iHCVVygl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

Here is the barrel/receiver after bluing

https://i.imgur.com/4gBgMefl.jpg

Note the contrast between the polished and burnished pieces.

https://i.imgur.com/LXGxGnXl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

I blued the front sight along with some other parts in a small pot, the bluing didn't turn out that great, but we'll see how it looks on the gun, I may strip it down and reblue it.

https://i.imgur.com/vwkpvW2l.jpg

I then started on the stock, I wanted to add some sling swivels so I gathered the tools



https://i.imgur.com/8XpILmvl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

and found the proper places to put the holes, had to measure multiple times to make sure I had the holes centered

https://i.imgur.com/t615pCml.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wiIp6lUl.jpg

Then drilled the holes

https://i.imgur.com/t615pCml.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7sWrrIfl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

I then put the first coat of oil on the stock, I am using Minwax Antique Oil. I rub it in hard and then let cure for 48 hrs

Here it is after curing

https://i.imgur.com/g1wU9oll.jpg

Now I fill the grain, I use the Minwax oil and 600 grit sand paper

https://i.imgur.com/76IohGRl.jpg

I put 5 or 6 drops onto the stock and then sand with the grain, the result is sanding dust that is suspended in the oil, I then rub the slurry into the grain (in all directions). This does two things, it removes the high spots and fills the voids in the grain. We will do this two more times

https://i.imgur.com/GDHj116l.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

After 3 sanded in coats and one top coat, rubbed in by hand and then wiped off.

https://i.imgur.com/CYN6KW7l.jpg

close up, showing the satin finish

https://i.imgur.com/GAWwZAAl.jpg

While the stock was curing, I prepped the screws and nitre blued them.


There are two take down screws, one escutcheon, two butt plate screws, one trigger guard screws and two front sight screws (not shown). The two small screws and larger pair of butt plate screws are for a different rifle

https://i.imgur.com/5T4hdUul.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

Nitre bluing in Potassium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrate and ....I can't remember the third ingredient...

https://i.imgur.com/7ct78ull.jpg



Hard to tell in this light, but they are a peacock blue color

https://i.imgur.com/h0dnQP2l.jpg

I went ahead and installed the butt plate screws

https://i.imgur.com/flypcdAl.jpg

[DesertDug]

Great restoration, keep them coming.

[Big Al1]

I like to use the wet sanding method, too. I start wet sandingwith 320 grit and go to 1200, then rub it out with rottenstone and oil on a cloth pad. I've tried about every finish there is, I use Permalyn for durability, and Velvit Oil if I just need it to look purdy. I use a sanding block made from a cut up hockey puck, and 2" squares of paper. Here's a stock I recently did for a JW-15.

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000058873586/media/34073632075/large/1537365438/enhance



https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000058873586/media/34073632071/large/1537365438/enhance

[TINCANBANDIT]

That is some nice looking wood there.....

blog post catching up with this thread

https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2018/09/project-deer-stalker-part-3.html

[TINCANBANDIT]

Now that we have the stock finished and the barrel/receiver blued, it is time to re-assemble the rifle



I need to put the trigger assembly back together and attach it to the receiver, in this case we have to do it in reverse order. Attach the trigger housing, then assemble the parts and installing the rivets that hold everything together.


Here is the trial assembly

https://i.imgur.com/3NYGRu6l.jpg

I had some 5-40 bolts, I used them to fit everything to make sure I had everything in the right place and working.

https://i.imgur.com/0eUcEVPl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

The pins I ordered did not want to go into the trigger bracket, I didn't really want to try and pound them in while at the same time trying to hold the parts in place. I checked the stock to make sure there would be ample room to install screws, there appeared to be enough space (except for maybe the bottom trigger screw).
So I ordered up some 3/4" long #5-40 screws and locking nuts

https://i.imgur.com/bOKIrrPl.jpg

The nut and bolt approach did not work out, there was just not quite enough room to make them fit and I didn't want to inlet the stock any further, so back to the rivets. I cleaned up the original rivets, installed them and then peened the back sides with a center punch

https://i.imgur.com/sTT519El.jpg

I had to do a little bending to get the trigger guard to fit just right, these never fit tight, but this stock is actually for the model 340, which has a much straighter grip profile

https://i.imgur.com/yFg2Mgsl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

I needed to adjust the firing pin protrusion (forward maximum travel)...this is as close as I could get, the next setting had it sticking way too far out which could puncture a primer.

https://i.imgur.com/sDbjHurl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

Finished!


https://i.imgur.com/f4vPI5al.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0sOVCvKl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

duplicate

[TINCANBANDIT]

https://i.imgur.com/PsKugRMl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Y1M6MOll.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1uI6io0l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/X5uFpbsl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

https://i.imgur.com/WP6bDKMl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hjwo67Nl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wGzEJVal.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/A0OE4cSl.jpg

[TINCANBANDIT]

A few before and after comparison shots

https://i.imgur.com/sEh3Pahl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/agWCuHfl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WY7YXlgl.jpg