Refurbishing A Stevens Model 258A

The old, fire-damaged shotgun was brought in with a plea from the owner. "Do what you can with it. I like the old gun and would like to hunt with it some more." Despite everything, the gun appeared quite sound with a huge chunk out of the plastic buttplate and the stock varnish mottled with smoke and water marks. The metal showed the ravages of years of hunting and was stained by water and smoke, but otherwise appeared quite sound. I assured the man I would do what I could with the gun.

The Stevens Model 258A was made from 1937 to 1965 in 20 gauge with a 26-inch barrel and detachable two-shot magazine. Suggested retail price was $95 but the gun retailed for much less. On closer examination, the gun chambered The screws were rusted solidly in place. This was a perfect place for the use of Brownells Steel-Bed as it was a perfect color match. and extracted shotshells well and left a nice, deep firing pin mark on a primed, uncharged shotshell.

I had adjusted the trigger for him more than thirty years ago because he felt it pulled too hard when he had a deer in his sights. He never used more than the front bead and the narrow-ribbed markings over the receiver for a sight and nearly always got his deer. In repairing the old 258A, the old hunter asked if I could also repair the broken buttplate. He had broken out apiece years ago and it seemed to bother him, so I did this first. Replacing it with anew one wasn’t even a thought.

I was unable to remove the muchrusted buttplate screws and decided to make a form using masking tape and filling it in with Brownells Steel-Bed. It hardens like steel and the black finish was a natural. Performing the work was quite easy. I applied three layers of masking tape flush with the top of the buttplate’s outside border. The void

was filled flush with the hole using Steel-Bed. I made sure the mixture was flush with the buttplate and set the stock upright as the material slowly set. When the Steel-Bed was firm, I formed it to the shape of the existing buttplate and carefully scribed lines in it as a continuation of each existing line by using the point of a jackknife blade. The stock was stripped and sanded in preparation for applying Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil finish. Three coats were applied to the old walnut stock.

I knew the refinished stock would more than satisfy the old hunter. In fact, it looked better than he had ever known it. Next was getting the metalwork back in shape. The barrel had no dents or dings and the light rust on

Nothing fancy but a reliable, old shotgun well worth repairing. the receiver and barrel buffed off nicely. The magazine received the same treatment. I then pressure cleaned and oiled the bolt. Using Brownells Formula 44/40 cold blue on the barrel and receiver brought out a suitable, dark finish. A light coat of oil was then applied to halt the oxidation process. The old shotgun was reassembled and looked pretty darned good.

The next day I called the owner, who was at my door in less than two American Gunsmith Mailing List Policy Like many other publishers, we make portions of our customer list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we believe you may enjoy. If you do not wish to receive these offers, and/or information, please let us know by contacting us at: American Gunsmith Opt-Out Program Norwalk, CT 06854 Please include your current mailing label. hours.

He asked, "How did it turn out?" As I handed him the old gun he gazed upon it end-to-end for a full two minutes. "Sure turned out nice, huh? It’ll hunt right well again." Bringing an old gun from the depth of ruin back to a functional arm doesn’t always require the expensive repairs often applied to them. As gunsmiths, we can often keep costs down by applying common sense repair. How much better would this damaged old shotgun have looked with a total rebluing, expensive stock finish, and replaced buttplate?

How would the old hunter have felt paying several times the price he originally paid for it, just to feel the old gun in his hands again? AG