Trying to decide...leave dark finish wood alone or refinish to show grain

[Bang]

Recently bought a Winchester 62a shooter. It's a Frankenrifle, having a stock with a single number painted on it (indicative of a gallery gun) and a 1950 serial number differing from the receiver which is also a 1950 but in .22 S,L and LR making it doubtful it was ever a gallery gun. Winchester marketed the gallery gun model in .22 short and a unique loading port in the magazine tube which this one lacks.

The finish is so dark the grain is barely discernible, but the grain is there and I am torn between refinishing to expose it and letting it alone to preserve the "antiqueness" and evidence of half a gallery gun.

Thoughts requested and appreciated.

[bogey1]

Preserve.

[gghbi]

Since it is not a matched set, I would go for the looks. I have fond memories of shooting the gallery guns at the New Mexico state fair back in the 1960s. If it were all original with the 22 short action, I would leave as is.

[Emptymag]

I too agree with turning it in to local law enforcement for destruction.

It's always the right thing to do.


But if you keep it, it doesn't sound particularly "collectable", so do what makes your heart happy.

[McSull]

Can we get a couple of pics.

[Bang]

I have never figured out how to send a photo. Sorry.

[Gman106]

I have never figured out how to send a photo. Sorry.

Several ways, but one is to:

1. Save desired pic on your device, e.g., laptop.
2. Go to https://postimages.org/ and select "Choose images"
3. Navigate to folder where photo is stored, highlight photo and click 'Open"
4. From the available options in PostImage, look for option "Hotlink for Forums" and click on the Copy Icon to the right side of the link. The word "Copied!" appears
5, Go to thread in PAFOA and click "Ctrl V" to paste link in post. Voilà!

Note: This method only allows you to do one pic at a time but you can repeat process for multiple pics and just paste each link into you post.


.

[Bang]

Thanks. I'll give it a shot. Pun is coincidental. Meanwhile, I'm leaning toward letting it be, and ordering a new stock and fore end, yielding the best of both.

[markshere2]

Make sure it shoots accurately first, else you would be paying to polish a turd.

[Bang]

Good thought ^ . Fortunately, I have already established that it is acceptably accurate. An interesting thing... I had been consistently ringing steel at 50 yards when suddenly I began missing. Turned out the take-down knob had become loose. That allowed a little play in the two halves, affecting the poi.