doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com Repairing, and Re-Building a 12 Gauge Hammergun

For those of you who have never heard of, or attempted it, smoke fitting is a very tedious process, and those men who still use it have my utmost respect. [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img]

After final sanding came the staining. I chose colonial maple, I thought it would be darker to be honest, but still not a horrible look. Here it the butt stock after two coats along with the unstained fore end for contrast. [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img]

Following the staining I applied three coats of semi gloss polyurethane. Sanding while wet to fill voids in the grain. I plan on applying more, but three will suffice for now.

So........what now? We're done right? The stock is finished, the gun's cosmetics have been drastically improved, what else is there to do? I thought I was done too, and began to use my double to evict a resident grackle (similar to magpies) population. Well some of those more experienced double gun users will have noticed a significant absence of solder on the under rib in the first few pictures. I noticed too, but the rib was solid, and I felt no need to take action, though I anticipated having to repair it at some point. Well, one night I bumped the barrels on the door of the car while taking it out of the back seat. I checked it over immediately for dents, and fount that the last 6 inches of the under rib had let go, now it could have been the result of firing, or the bump, but at any rate it needed to be fixed. so I tied down the under rib with the help of a broken drill bit, and an old guitar string, and re soldered it like a pipe. [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img]

After the required solder scraping.... [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img]

Still a few solder touch ups here and there, and a few more coats of polyurethane, but I'm finally done.....until I get nit picky and decide that I can build a better one. [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img]

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.....or in this case solid to saw dust.... [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img] [img]https://plus.google.com/u/0/101346482586...482586753260765[/img]

Nice work. You have above average skills!

Thanks

I've been reading your progress on your rebuild project. By coincidence, I came across a flea market buy of a Steven 235.



It was crusted with rust, buttstock gone, and, like your's, left hammer missing.

The action is otherwise complete and barrels match and is tight. The forend is a missmatch. Maybe off a 311 or some other Stevens. It had a good and correct buttplate.

I visited a retired gunsmith that went through a pocket full of Stevens hammers. All right hand! He had one left hand hammer that would work but didn't match. I suspect it's off of a 215 or 225.

I'm looking for an original 235 buttstock in usable condition just to complete the gun. But this winter I may drag it out and make a buttstock and forend.

Keep up the good work.