From contractors I have known and my own experience I would consider the little cheap oilless compressors as throwaways.

 

I still have a stack here that needs to go away...but nobody has come and got it

 

HB, SPM.

 

Thanks Mike.
Bear already pointed me at the Marlin folks. I just need to find out where to get the receiver case hardened.

 

I agree, unless you use it once every six months, then it might be worth going that route [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Great weekend at the farm. Spent lots of time with the kids, grandkids and family friends. Ate way too much and laughed a lot. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Finally got a little rain so the area is a little less likely to go up in smoke. All in all we, SWMBO and I, had a great anniversary.

Good to be back on the internet, this thing is addictive.

 

Cobwebs are my friend [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!

 

sounds fun ...I might just have to join you ....what time are you heading out?

 

Prior to shipping that off to have the case hardening done there are a couple of things you might consider.

Depending on when the action was made, and all actions are not made at the same time the rifle is finished, the method used to case harden could be different than what is done now. Many of the old actions, the change was done over many years by various mfr, were hardened using dry bone, powdered arsenic, leather and an iron box. Heat was applied and held for an extended period and the cooling and reheating process was involved to say the least. Modern methods are wholly different as the use of arsenic was considered dangerous, (who would have thought?), and discontinued. The colors brought out by the bone and leather have a richer and deeper tone than the new methods. IF, and I emphasize the if, your rifle is from the old school modern case hardening will not restore it to original colors.

The next point would be to be very sure the action has been modified. Many companies have made limited runs that have a real collectors value and often these can be very difficult to document. If this rifle were mine I would invest a bit, make that a lot, of effort into determining if this piece is original as it stands. A case in point is an '03 Springfield I own. Nothing particularly exciting about an original 03-A3 as there are a lot of them around but this one is from a limited run "made" at the Springfield Armory in the 20's, don't remember the exact year, but the receiver is stamped RIA, Rock Island Armory. RI made the receivers in the period just after WWI and stored them. SA took these receivers and made the finished rifles several years later. It took a few years to document the fact that this was an original rifle and not a rifle made from parts. Serial numbers and proof marks were what led to the documentation. A lot of "experts" were fooled by this one.

Another thought, What color is the "blueing" on the piece? Most of the old, pre mid 50's or so, rifles had a deep, rich, blue or dark blue color. Later finishes tend to be more of a very dark blue or black color. If the rifle has been redone after the types of salts were changed, again for safety and economic reasons, the color may tell you a lot. Be very careful of the experts you consult and always get a fifth and sixth opinion prior to making a decision. A good place to start may be at the Washington Arms Collectors shows. Just take the rifle around to a number of booths and ask "what is this and what's it worth?" Be prepared to be treated well and badly. Lot's of unscrupulous dealers/collectors out there. Also lots of less than competent people willing to "restore" pieces for you. I have a 1854 Maynard primed Springfield 56 Cal that was absolutely destroyed as a collector piece by a well know gunsmith that restored it. The d##n fool polished of the Parkerizing and blued it.

Sorry this turned into a book.