My 1965 Sheridan RE-build UPDATE

[cwlongshot]

(I posted this over a about a week on another board. I'm coping it to here. They are not a airgun board.  )

I have had one since I was a young boy... I lent it to a friend about 8-10 years ago and he dropped off the radar and disappeared...

I have acquired a 1965 model ''C'' as a replacement from a generous man I talk with on another board, only this one is pretty rough and doesn't work. (Didn't but just a overnight oil soak got it firing!) SO I am undertaking a complete rebuild and refinish. The re build part will be handled by Mac1 Air rifles. I shipped it out to him Back on The 4th of April. Tim says in about 10 weeks and I'll have it back with 900+fps and much more reliable functionality.

The wood I'll do my self. I will also install a but plate or rifle pad as the butt of the wood is water damaged too much to restore.

Here is what I am starting with...








First I fit a pad to the stock and sanded it completely with coarse paper, I began reshaping the grip with a file.



I used a Marlin rifle pad. I chopped about 1/4'' off the stock and added the pad.





Ill post pics of the re shaping and progress with the sanding then steel wool.



CW

[cwlongshot]

I finished sanding the stocks. I started with 80grit paper to take off the remaining finish and sand out a couple imperfections. Then I went to 100g, then 150g finally twice with 220g. Wetting with damp cloth in between. These stocks are HARD and I actually saw more material removed with the finer grits. I then took a rasp to the pistol grip. Re shaping the toe and grip cap. Mostly defining them better and then I slimmed the grip for my larger hands.





Suttle changes, but should show some of the nuances of the grain better as well as feel better in the hand.

I also finished the forend. I had a little filling to do as I did on the butt. Unfortunately both will show as they didn't take the finish as well or the same as surrounding wood did. BUT they are what I like to call ''character'' marks.



Here is the butt after a wipe down with water to ''whisker'' the wood.



Here is same with fore stock



Here is both ready for finish.




I hit the pump/fore stock with Dark Walnut stain. Then rubbed it warm, with clean cloth to remove excess. I think its a pretty good match, at least I should be closer then it was... (Guess I forgot to snap a pic.)

Tomorrow one last rub down with 000 wool and then first coats of tongue oil.

CW

[cwlongshot]

I already steel ''wooled'' the stock this AM back to nearly bear wood and its now drying. I hope to get fourth coat on late this afternoon. But the wood is looking better and better with each coat. Tomorrow ill will it back to wood again then give it another coat. At that point ill give it a couple days to "harden up" and decide if I want more coats. Generally I like oil finish, this is new can of finish and seems glossy to me. Maybe because the stocks are so dense and right grained.

OK here is what I had first thing this AM. (This is with to coats)




Im filling in the grain little by little...


I ''wooled'' it down almost to wood..




I managed to get one last coat today before I had to leave. Tomorrow AM I'll start all over again.


I got two more coats on yesterday. Each one was willed in between. Each time I take a little less off. I'm really just building the base and filling in what ever grain I could not sand out. It's looking fabulous!

Had to come in here early this AM. Got the problem rectified now I have a bit of time till shift change so I steel wooled them one more time. I was thinking of quitting but I found two spots I did not like. One drip and one dull spot? So at least one more coat today. It's drying now.  No pics as I'm finding the indoor lighting pics are showing the wood too dark or darker the. It truly is. Pics are not doing real justice but at least outside in good sunlight they start to show some of the depth in getting.









CW

[cwlongshot]

 

I had a Sheridan Blue Streak as a young boy, growing up. Many years later, I lent it to a "friend" who has since moved away and completely dripped off the grid! Occasional and repeated eMails to last address have gone unanswered...

CW

UNTIL NOW...

Well well... Last night, I'm checking emails and I see one i do not recognize. as I read thru it turns out to be from the fello who borrowed my original Sheridan back around 2003/4!!! 

Says something about having moved and the rifle was in storage and apologies he forgot and lost track yada yada yada... Long email shortened; he is fairly certain he knows where the rifle is and should be able to get to it this weekend and ship it back to me next week!!!

Now after all this time, I'm not holding my breath. BUT the thought of having the old girl back is appealing to me!

I'm into the waiting game on the project Sheridan. I should see it back mid June. The stocks are "hardening" and maybe this weekend I will buff off the gloss to the matte finish I prefer. I will post pics if/when I do.

I also got a email from pyramid air saying a couple of my back ordered pellet tins have been shipped as well. Seems I'm 5MM pellet rich at the moment.

CW

[LAalex]

Nice work CW--those old Sheridans and Benjis had some really nice wood.  Once you get it steroided it will be one beautiful beast.  Hope you get your old one back too.

Scotty

[cnjl3]

Your stock sure came out nice. It looks even better to the one who did the work.
Good Job!

[Sheridan 74]

Wow, that stock is looking awesome. The before and after are pretty dramatic. Really nice work.

Jeff

[daveb50]

Great job on refinishing the stock CW. Hope you get your old Dan back too.
Dave

[cwlongshot]

thanks allot for the compliments guys!!!

I enjoy refinishing old stocks and working with wood. It's amazing the beauty that can be "brought out" with elbow grease and oil finishes.

The stock was actually finished to the poit of my last picture about two weeks ago now. It should be completely hard to the point I can give it a rub down to take off the gloss sheen. The grain is nearly 100% filled in so its nearly glass smooth.

As for the original '76 Sheridan. I'm remaining hopeful, but I must say he surely doesn't seem to motivated to return this to me. I could read into that any number of ways. But in remembering his personality, he was always laid back and easy going... So I'm Tring to be patient. (I must admit, its not one of my strong points, under the circumstances.) another email apologized for the delay and said he had put it in storage and had not yet "put his hands on it" AND he will be away until Tuesday the 23d. He should locate it after then and hopefully ship by next weekend.

CW

[OleTomCat]

CW, this is awesome...

I have to do my Blue Demon, I already got it back from Timmy and it has taken a TreeRat too....

I haven't done a stock since I was in Highschool building Muzzle loaders in my dad's basement...

This looks like something I am going to do after I get the yard cleaned up and the pool open so the wife won't have anything to complain about for a little while...

ps: my order from PA for .20 and .177 should be here anyday....

[Bullit]

CW,
Very good post on the stock transformation to something that looks so proud.  Very nice Man!  Post finals when you get it back together.  Kudos!

[DD789]

cwlongshot you made me do it.   you showed me yours now I'll show my 56 > 58 Silver Streak.

I will be sending the action off to Mac1 when I get the funds.
http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/DD789USN/library/?sort=6&page=1
hope this works first time using photobucket.

[OleTomCat]

cwlongshot you made me do it.   you showed me yours now I'll show my 56 > 58 Silver Streak.

I will be sending the action off to Mac1 when I get the funds.
http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/DD789USN/library/?sort=6&page=1
hope this works first time using photobucket.

The album is showing up as Private.

[cwlongshot]

cwlongshot you made me do it.   you showed me yours now I'll show my 56 > 58 Silver Streak.

I will be sending the action off to Mac1 when I get the funds.
http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/DD789USN/library/?sort=6&page=1
hope this works first time using photobucket.

Yea like OTC said, its a private album...  When you look at your pics in PB, If you would like a pic to show up, Copy the ''IMG code'' tab and PASTE in your posting. Then it will show in your posting.

I WOULD  like to see!!! 

THANKS guys for the compliments!!! 

I like working with walnut! I am not real fond of the glossy finish personally. I like a dull or oiled look. Simular to how the wood looked before I applied anything and whiskered it one last time..



I need to buff it out with some pumice or some such to ''knock down'' that gloss.

You can count of finished pic's sometime in June, when I get the workings back from our friend Tim. 

CW

[DD789]

[URL=http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/DD789USN/media/pumplever_zps6f69ad1d.jpg.html] [URL=http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/DD789USN/media/1coat_zps232e2b28.jpg.html]

hope this is the wright way to do it

[cwlongshot]

Got the pics now!!

Thats some good looking wood!! 

I like the forend wood! Looks great!

CW

[DD789]

Got the pics now!!

Thats some good looking wood!! 

I like the forend wood! Looks great!

CW

Thanks a lot of coats and sanding.  the picture of the lever was in there because its' worn out and can't be fixed    have to get it replaced so I'm going for the Steroid treatment

[OleTomCat]

Very Nice George, want to do mine?

I really need to take it apart and do this, the action looks so good but the stock looks plane old worn out...

[cwlongshot]

Its a labor of love really... GO FOR IT, OTC!!  Make your baby gorgeous again! 

I have also been picking up a couple different cans of pellets to try and shoot once its back! Still looking for heavy Eun Jin pellets...

 Still waiting for the original Dan too... another e Mail, he is away this working, left Thursday, but is pretty sure he will be able to ship it out next week...

OK this AM I took another piece of 0000 wool to the stocks with a bit of pumice.





I also polished the trigger guard ready for a re-blue.




 
All Blued, (Brownells cold blue) and new brass screws.


CW

[DD789]

Looks good. I'm going to powder coat my trigger guard. last time I had a small item to powder coat they just put in with their next batch of parts to be coated. I think they only charged me about 10 bucks or less.