Thread: ? "Restore or not to Restore" ?

Marlin 80

I believe it is a late 30's - early 40's. Pre serial number, pre hooded front sight, pre micro grove bore, knurled cocking and base metal knobs, grooved butt plate and also drilled and tapped receiver for R12 peep sight.
It has had the stock checkered at some point as I don't think they came out like this until later. This was done yonks ago as it's been well and truly loved!
It's in great condition for it's age but is missing an extractor claw and sling studs. I also want to add an R12 peep sight if I can find one.

It feeds well for the first 3-4 rounds but then starts to play up by not lifting the round high enough for it to chamber. Thinking this is a mag spring tension issue.
Extraction is similar, first 2-3 rounds no issue as I believe the round in the nearly full mag is keeping the round being extracted from dropping down and out of the single extractor claw!?
I have listed in the "Have you seen one of these" threads to try and locate the missing parts.


Now to the title!!!
I don"t want to touch the wood as it looks, feels and has a great smell (minds out of the gutter!!)
I want to use it and chances are it will be raining at some point when I do.

So do I blue it or leave it?

I would definitely leave bluing as is. I have lots of vintage 22s that look just like yours in condition. Don’t know the value of yours, maybe not great, so a re-blue would probably not reduce its value but if the rifle was mine I would leave it as it is. Re-bluing is not going to increase its value IMO. Certainly seen more valuable relics values reduced by “overhauling”. Just a good cleanup of any rust spots, if any, with 0000 steel wool and oil.

The mag sounds like a tired follower spring for sure. Sometime as well old mags can be improved by polishing the inside of them so the follower is not held up near the top by any roughness if present. Otherwise the old stretch the spring trick but generally this only works for a short period.

http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/marlin...0-1929332.html

Leave it.
Adds to the appeal, bet it would have a few stories if it could talk.

The Marlin owes me bugger all and wouldn't be worth much.
It was more about making it a little more user friendly especially if it gets wet.
I don't want it to look shiny and new, so what about some of the brownish type treatments that get done to metal?
I will pull the mag apart as you suggest and give it a polish up inside. If the spring is a separate item I might try and shim between it and the base of the mag instead of stretching it.

Good coating of oil and leave it, reapply if she gets wet

Thanks @zimmer @Shootm and @223nut will take it on board! Now just to find the missing bits!

Id have a yarn to gundoc about it.If anyone would know ,iput a bob each way on him!

@kotuku cheers

Leave it, looks great just how it is. I love the feel of old rifles, the proportions always seam better in the hand to me than newer stuff does.

Kj

Look at the rarity and value and work from that as to what you want