Stevens Model 77 16 Gauge Refinish

[Halwg]

I bought this gun back in 1964, when I was 13, with money from my paper route. It wasn't an expensive gun, I'm thinking at that time it cost me around $50. The Stevens 77 was the cheaper model of the Savage Model 67. The gun doesn't have a removable barrel, so it was always cleaned from the muzzle end with brushes and swabs.

I used this gun very hard for about 20 years. it was carried more than shot, but was my sole small game shotgun. 28" Modified barrel. For the last 30+ years it's basically set in the gun closet, except I'd take it out occasionally to shoot rabbits or squirrels.

Looking at it recently, I realized how worn the gun was. Probably 90% of the bluing was worn off the receiver and the wood had the finish worn off and was scratched and bruised from being carried so much through rabbit briars and grouse thickets. I decided to refinish it, but really didn't want to put a lot of money into it.

I had no idea how to take the gun apart, but lo and behold, I found a series of videos on YouTube. I broke the gun completely down and I was appalled at the gunk inside the action and trigger assembly. I knew it felt rough when I worked the action, and there was some rust on the bolt and cartridge lifter, but inside the gun it looked like varnish. Hardened oil mixed with crud. The mag tube was disgusting.

I cleaned up all the parts, soaked in mineral spirits and went about stripping and refinishing the stock, and cold bluing the receiver and mag tube. Unfortunately I did not take before pics, because the gun was in rough shape, although it was not rusted or pitted.

I finished the stock with Tru-Oil and looked for a good cold blue and bluing process. After trying 4 different blues, I got the best results with Oxpho Blue Creme.

So today I got all the parts and pieces put back together. For a 51 year old gun, that was carried much more than shot (I think it may have 500 - 600 rounds through it), I think it came out pretty well. I'll take it hunting again this fall and see how it shoots. The action and trigger are much smoother with the cleaning and lubrication.

Here it is:

[BlueDog]

Hawlg, beautiful job on a beautiful old classic. Hope it stays in the family and becomes an heirloom.

[Halwg]

Thanks, I hope to pass it along to my grandson along with my Dad's old Remington Model 17.

[BlueDog]

That Remington 17 was the inspiration for the Ithaca 37. I have a couple of those old workhorses. I love showing them to folks and they turn it over from side to side trying to figure where it ejects. My favorite 37 was given to me by a farmer when I was in high school, he had it leaned against the tire of his tractor, you can guess what happened next. It could shoot around corners! He gave it to me "if I could fix it", I ordered a NOS barrel and presto! If I ever refinish it, I hope it turns out half as good looking as your 77. Glad they are staying in the family.