a gun to refinish

trent · Post by **trent** » October 3rd, 2007, 5:19 pm

I wan't to refinish a handgun, (this made worse by finding the sistema refinishing projects done on the box o truth website)

What I am mainly looking for is a sistema 1911 (argentine colt copy) but I am having alot of trouble finding one at a good price, I'm still waiting on word back from the cruffler.com guy to see if the ones on his site are actually in stock and for sale or he just hasen't updated for a while (I called him and left a message, If he doesn't respond in a day or 2 I'll keep bugging him ;D) I almost won one in the exact condition I was looking for (no blue left, prime for refinishing) for $250 but got outbid in the last minute when I wasn't home http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=81457621

I am still looking for a gun to refinish (hoping cruffler will come through). something like a 1911 but others are not out of the question (I'm not really into old revolvers, but I like military stuff (any military). I'd like to know what you think would be a good buy and know where I can get it.

Thanks,
Trent

carguy · Post by **carguy** » October 3rd, 2007, 7:37 pm

It's too bad you mentioned this now. Makarov.com moved and stopped selling firearms. They had closeouts on a bunch of stuff. I never liked the condition of any of their stuff (at least the photos they posted), that might have been a great opportunity to pick up something cheap and play. I know they had several VZ50 in 32 (which I'd love to have but they were not C&R or "Compliant" in Mass. Maybe they have something leftover???

Or else just post on Gunboards that you WTB a project milsurp semi-auto pistol. YOu never know nor do you know who you can trust but just a thought.

I just looked on CenturyArms.com under rifles they have a section titled u fix em...there is a Star BM listed as poor condition and incomplete for $49. That sounds like a project!! You'd need an FFL to buy it for you but from there do a little gunsmithing and probably some bluing.

trent · Post by **trent** » October 3rd, 2007, 10:47 pm

ya know I hadn't really given any thought to the cz50/70's thanks, and are parts avaliable for the star pistols?

volfandan · Post by **volfandan** » October 3rd, 2007, 10:59 pm

Trent,

+1 on the CZ 50/70. I know that in another post a while back I said they were ugly.....but for the price and C&R and that FAST velocity.....sounds like a fun project. If you want to check out star parts....I'd check Numrich and/or Sarco

http://www.e-gunparts.com/

http://www.sarcoinc.com/

trent · Post by **trent** » October 4th, 2007, 9:29 am

guys, I'm taking all ideas into consideration so don't be shy. oh and are there any other auction/classified sites for guns aside from gunbroker.com bluebroker.com auctionarms and gunsamerica

volfandan · Post by **volfandan** » October 4th, 2007, 10:10 am

I've seen people list firearms on craigslist

saands · Post by **saands** » October 4th, 2007, 2:17 pm

FYI ... the CZ-50 is C&R, the CZ-70 is not. The Sistema's on Cruffler are a VERY old reference to a shipment that came in through JL Denter several years ago ... that page is like looking at a really old Shotgun News

You might try looking for a beat up Hi-Power ... I've seen some go for under 3 bills when in need of a re-finish. The only other ones I can think of are the recent imports of CZ-82's ... but the condition on those seems to be improving according to AIM's website, but maybe someone would part with one of the earlier ones so that they could pick up a nicer one???

I've also seen some beat up TT-33's ... but the prices on them weren't all that good ... and I've seen some older ones that were fired with corrosive ammo and left in storage without cleaning ... serious sewer pipes for barrels.

Saands

carguy · Post by **carguy** » October 4th, 2007, 4:01 pm

Keep an eye on Gunboards for someone selling stuff. You never know what will pop up.

trent · Post by **trent** » October 4th, 2007, 10:09 pm

hey thanks saands while a bummer it's good to know, the owner of the website won't return calls so now I have an answer.

hadn't thought about gunboards, thanks carguy

carguy · Post by **carguy** » October 6th, 2007, 5:51 pm

I know you are looking for milsurp stuff but there is a Ruger 22 mag revolver on Gunboards WTS for $180 delivered. It sure looks like it could use a re-bluing...could be a start for you!?

volfandan · Post by **volfandan** » October 8th, 2007, 4:56 pm

Trent,

I don't know if you're personally going to work the refinish, but if so......check out this link. It's at least worth pondering.

http://www.jouster.com/articles30m1/parkerizing.html

volfandan · Post by **volfandan** » October 8th, 2007, 4:59 pm

plus....parking a sistema would definately be the way to go! Just please don't dura-coat an old WWI or WWII gun. Don't get me wrong, I think all of the teflons and acrylics are great, but IMHO I'd shy away from the modern finishes unless I was just getting an old gun to build a race gun from. Just my $.02

trent · Post by **trent** » October 8th, 2007, 11:07 pm

I am intending on doing it myself so that link is very helpfull, I've been casually looking at guns for sale at various places, and I'm staying away from anything that even remotely could be something I shouldn't refinish, world war stuff, gangster era ect. Parkerizing seems the easiest to do and its pretty universal and tough from what I hear. I'm trying to keep this project as cheap and simple as possible (since I'm new at this) and dura coat (any spray on) seems to easy to screw up (I'll leave it to the professionals for now).

as it goes on finding a gun that I'd like to do this to, Im taking it easy. looking at various types that people suggest but I'm not going to buy something because it's there, I guess you could call this gun fishing I'm waiting for one (a good deal on something cool) to strike my line

carguy, I appreciate pointing me to that revolver, it is indeed in need of a refinish but as it is my first time doing this I want to stay away from something a curvy as a revolver, I might accidently end up making a revolver cylander completely smooth

Post by **normsutton** » October 9th, 2007, 4:45 am

Trent
I learned a lot about gun Smithing from black power kits and finishing them even making parts

if you want get a PA-63 and see what you can do with that they are still cheap

NORM

carguy · Post by **carguy** » October 9th, 2007, 10:54 am

I like Norm's idea...someone on this forum (I apologize I do not remember who) picked up a PA63 and actually cleaned, buffed and polished the slide to white metal...it looked great! I lookled like it was all alloy or stainless. Cheap money and a nice trick if you are a good buffer... ::)

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