I rescued a Marlin 30AW from a gun-shop that had one of those "plastic" buttstocks, and forend, about 2 or so years ago for $125, I think, it sat in my gun cabinet for a long time, I took it out and ran some rounds through it, and it is probably more accurate than I can shoot, and I am trying to restore it.
I guess I just saw too many "Rifleman" series, as a youngster. If I see a lever-action anything, and have the wherewithal to grab it, I usually do. The last one I got was a reasonably good shape Ithaca Model 49 single shot saddlegun. The guy wanted to start reloading .45 ACP, I had a set of Lee dies, and a hand-press I had picked up in a yard-sale probably 15 years ago for $5.00 along with several other sundry reloading supplies, including another .45 ACP set of dies. I did have to run down to Charleston SC to pick it up, so I guess I actually have maybe $22.00 in the little rifle and a visit with some old friends from Colorado. I have a couple of other lever-action .22's from Henry, but they were purchased new.
I have virtually no experience in firearms restoration, and I am really not trying to restore it to the point of not wanting to shoot it, but I just hate to see it sitting there all "plasticky" and not in it's proper wood uniform. I have discovered E-Gunparts, and ordered the only stock parts they had to fit, the buttstock was a "ding and dent" special, when I opened the package, I thought that, maybe, I had bitten off more than I was capable of chewing. The stock was all faded, mottled, and just looked like I was going to have to spend hours, and hours, trying to get any kind of decent finish out of the stock, I wiped it off with a lightly moistened soft towel, and it didn't look quite so bad. A single coat of "Old English" scratch and dent, and about all I will have to do is smooth out around the area where the stock joins with the receiver group. When I ordered the buttstock they had no forend, but lo and behold, tonight they had one in some kind of "Twilight Zone" place, so that has been ordered, and should arrive early next week. That will take care of it's clothing, so to speak.
My question, after all the cosmetics is taken care of, is there any internal checks that need to be done, ie parts that may become a problem, it seems to cycle the rounds well, and didn't have any firing problems, with factory, or reloads.
I've always found Graybeard'ers to be very helpful, so my hopes are that some of you more "experienced" lever guys will be able to help me out, before I do anything I might regret.
Thanks
Doc
