Savage/Stevens model 325C

[TINCANBANDIT]

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





Then drilled the holes

[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



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



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

[TINCANBANDIT]

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



close up, showing the satin finish



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

[TINCANBANDIT]

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





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



I went ahead and installed the butt plate screws

[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.

[TINCANBANDIT]

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

blog post catching up with this thread

https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/20...er-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



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

[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



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



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

[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.

[TINCANBANDIT]

Finished!

[TINCANBANDIT]

duplicate

[TINCANBANDIT]

[TINCANBANDIT]

[TINCANBANDIT]

A few before and after comparison shots

[TINCANBANDIT]

[DesertDug]

Wow great job.

[Big Al1]

Amazing how the grain of the wood just pops out!! The before pics make it look like a throw away!! That's probably birch, and it's surprising how nice birch wood can look.

[TINCANBANDIT]

FYI, that is not the same stock, I purchased a walnut stock from a stock maker in NY

[Big Al1]

FYI, that is not the same stock, I purchased a walnut stock from a stock maker in NY

You shouldn't have told me that! I would have kept thinking you're were a gunstock wizard!!

[DesertDug]

I did not notice that either big al, but after op stated that it look obvious. Still great work.

[TINCANBANDIT]

I bought another one....this one a 325A, the price was just $10

It was in pretty rough shape, someone welded a ball bearing to the spoon bolt handle, they they tried their hand at enletting a piece of mother of pearl....it was also missing the magazine





So I decided before refinishing the gun I would have a little fun, here is the result....a post apocalyptic rifle







and the blog post links showing the work:

https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-savage-stevens-325a-project-part-1.html

https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-savage-stevens-325a-project-part-2.html

https://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-savage-stevens-325a-project-part-3.html

[PhilC]

Great work, don't know how I missed this post!!

[Savagebrother]

great restore and just love the 325's and their butter knife handle. i have had mine now for 5 years its perfect for here in the east and with leverevolution powder and hornady bullets she's a 250 yard rifle!!!!
SB

[Jarnac42]

Any progress on that new project? I read through everything from your previous project. I am in the process of rebuilding a 340B i won on accident in an auction. It was basically just pieces but was almost complete. Needed a stock and a couple small parts.