How would you fix...

[Najataagihe]

How would you fix these problems?

Rust:

357m.jpg

Scratches (gouges?):

22m.jpg

[HenryFan]

If the extent of the rust is limited to the small area shown in the top photo, I would remove the forearm and use 0000 steel wool or preferably bronze or brass wool and some Hoppe's Gun Oil or Kroil to gently remove the rust. There will be no bluing under the spot after the rust is removed so I would protect the spot with gun oil or light grease until I could use cold blue to protect the spot.

Actually, the above would still be my plan if there is more rust present than that shown in the top photo.

I won't comment on the scratches/gouges because I can't tell if it is on metal or wood.

Good luck in the repairs.

[Najataagihe]

The scratches are on metal - aluminum, to be precise.


The repairs are finished.

I am just trying to gather information on how others would fix it.

[Mags]

How would you fix these problems?

Rust
Scratches (gouges?)

I wouldn't use steel wool. It sheds and you'll have dust pieces of steel wool getting into places you don't want it.
I'd use 400, 800 or 1200 grit polishing compounds with a damp cotton cloth to polish the rust off and smooth out the edges of the gouges.
Then use cold blue or black to coat the bare metal.

[Najataagihe]

The rifles are fixed, but I realized I had no idea what all has changed since the 0000 brass wool and cold blue days of 40 years ago.

One is a Big Boy Brass Rifle in .357 and the other a Small Game Rifle in .22 Magnum.


Getting them fixed was a bit of a shock.

I called Henry to get recommendations like y’all have graciously provided, and their only response was, and I quote, “Can you send me pictures?”

I did and the next comment was “Send them both to us. Here are the shipping labels”.


When I got them back, the notes on the .357 (the one with the rust spots) showed they had replaced the loading tube, replaced the barrel band (I didn’t know anything was wrong with it, other than some small screwdriver scratches around the screw heads where someone (not me!) wasn’t properly careful) and they replaced the front sight!

I had replaced the buckhorn rear sight with a Skinner aperture sight and it was barely able to zero, if I cranked it all the way down.

They installed a taller front sight and re-zeroed the rifle, according to my laser boresight.


On the .22 magnum (the one with the scratches) they enclosed a nice letter stating they had updated the serial number in their warranty database, as they had replaced the entire rifle!

The new one has prettier wood, too.


Did I mention there was no charge for all this?

Even though the customer service was far beyond anything I expected (I was expecting the kind of response you guys provided), I was still curious as to modern methods of repair.


Thanks for all the tips!

[Mags]

That is a wonderful customer service outcome! Thanks you for sharing it.

[Hatchdog]

Wow, Christmas came early for you. Well done Henry!