Browning 1886 upgrade project

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:28 pm

Lookin' good Twoguns!
Thanks for keeping us posted. I'm lovin' it except now I just have to restock my old 1916 vintage 45-90.
Keep it coming.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:51 am

foxtrapper wrote:Every time I think I could do without a 1886 you guys posts things like this I started with modern Marlins ,I have a couple of custom 1895's, that I figured was enough. Those dang safety's and rebounding hammers keep me away. Beautiful rifle!!!

The browning 1886s don't have the tang safety or rebounding hammer. They were made in the 1980s so if u want to do a project they may be the best choice-if you can find one!

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:54 pm

hfcable wrote: The browning 1886s don't have the tang safety or rebounding hammer. They were made in the 1980s so if u want to do a project they may be the best choice-if you can find one!

That is why it took me so long to find my 1886.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:58 pm

twoguns wrote:
hfcable wrote: The browning 1886s don't have the tang safety or rebounding hammer. They were made in the 1980s so if u want to do a project they may be the best choice-if you can find one!
That is why it took me so long to find my 1886.

Bought mine new and still looks new, i`d be scared to death to try what you did.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:26 pm

Pitchy wrote:
twoguns wrote:
hfcable wrote: The browning 1886s don't have the tang safety or rebounding hammer. They were made in the 1980s so if u want to do a project they may be the best choice-if you can find one!
That is why it took me so long to find my 1886.
Bought mine new and still looks new, i`d be scared to death to try what you did.

well, i didnt do it. i had a top flight custom gun smith [ in colorado ] do it for me. me do it? i sometimes loose the parts when changing a roll of toilet paper!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:06 am

If i had the talent to do what twoguns is doing i`d give it a go, or could afford to have someone else do it.
Took mine out of the safe yesterday and going to use it for a while.
Say you guys, my forearm is slightly loose on my Browning 86, what`s your recommendations to tighten it up. Can a person put some moisture in it somehow, it is in a very dry environment most the time. Can ya put some wood oil on it ?
Thanks

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:34 am

Pitchy wrote:. Can ya put some wood oil on it ?
Thanks

they come from the factory with an epoxy finish so I don't think you can get much moisture content in the wood. Maybe bedding it to the barrel with acraglass might tighten it up a bit.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:38 am

twoguns wrote:
Pitchy wrote:. Can ya put some wood oil on it ?
Thanks
they come from the factory with an epoxy finish so I don't think you can get much moisture content in the wood. Maybe bedding it to the barrel with acraglass might tighten it up a bit.

Ok, i don`t want to hijack your thread i was thinking if ya put a little oil in the area where the wood goes into the reciever would swell it.
It just barely moves so probably no issue, we burn wood so it`s aweful dry in the house all winter.

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:50 am

Do some reading up on Acraglass. If you are careful and follow the directions and use the release agent properly it will fix your loose forend. Google "Acraglass" and "bedding a barrel" or something like that.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:53 am

Ok thanks.

TMair · Post by **TMair** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:18 am

Twoguns what I would like to know, not that I want to do it, is how did you form the lever, and keep the right shape without getting folds or wrinkles in it?
Terry

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:35 am

TMair wrote:... without getting folds or wrinkles in it?
Terry

It was quite PITA. I heated up only the general area that I wanted to shape using an acetylene torch with a 0-0 tip. I had a 1/2" drive 6" extension that I used to bend the lever. After it was red enough (and that is a judgement call), I would quickly turn off the torch and using both hands on the 6" extension, I would roll it on the hot part of the lever to bend it inward. this took a few times to get the lever "hoop" bent on top and bottom. then I had to heat up the front end of hoop to bend it downward to make the hoop fit the profile of the pistol grip. That was trial and error with cooling in between so I could handle the lever and assemble it into the receiver.

Dave B · Post by **Dave B** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:43 am

That is very nice work!!!

Dave B

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:57 pm

I still need to put on a couple more thin coats of Tru-Oil. I took these pictures to show the color of the wood compared to the original epoxy finished Browning forestock.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:02 pm

Sweet

Do you know what the factory wood would look like if a person removed the finish and put tung oil or something similar on it.
The reason i ask is i don`t care for the factory finish on mine but the wood looks like it might show some grain so wondering what your thoughts are.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 4:50 pm

twoguns wrote:I still need to put on a couple more thin coats of Tru-Oil. I took these pictures to show the color of the wood compared to the original epoxy finished Browning forestock.

That finish is already approaching perfection to me, you are amazingly talented, tha rifle is a treasure,

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:12 pm

Pitchy wrote:Do you know what the factory wood would look like if a person removed the finish and put tung oil or something similar on it.

Yes. Take a look at the first picture of this thread. The upper rifle is my Winchester (Miroku) 1885 single shot in 45-90. It had an epoxy finish. I stripped it off with somekind of paint and epoxy remover and stained and refinished it with Tru-oil.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:58 pm

Most excellent workmanship twoguns!

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Thu May 26, 2011 7:05 pm

Got my parts back from Mike Hunter, Hunter Restorations, and I'm extremely happy with the CCH. Very nice colors. Now I will put the rifle back together and mount it in the checkering cradle. If you ever contemplate doing "stuff'" to an 1886 whether real Winny or Browning(Miroku) Talk with Mike. He aims to please and does excellent work. you can look back a few pages and see the before" picture.

I also received my new front sight from MVA. It looks good on the barrel.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu May 26, 2011 7:08 pm

Dang that`s going to look nice.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Thu May 26, 2011 9:02 pm

Oh, she's looking good, Twoguns. Come one man. Get that sucker twisted up.

I've got one of the Winoku's and that would get a great thing to do. I love CCH.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu May 26, 2011 9:31 pm

That color case hardening by Mike Hunter is very well done, indeed. You have also done a gorgeous job on the wood.

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Thu May 26, 2011 10:27 pm

WOW

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri May 27, 2011 7:04 am

Very nice job on the wood...outstanding work....
and the case color is beautiful as well...
just as good or better than Turnballs...
You mentioned that Turnball was way to expensive for CC....
How do they compare to Hunter restorations cost wise?

We have a talented bunch of guys here....dont ya think!

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Fri May 27, 2011 7:27 am

great job!!

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Fri May 27, 2011 10:18 am

Beautiful CCH..............Can you tell us what it cost to have all those pieces done.

I'm going the opposite direction. I have an old (1972) Marlin that I'm converting from cureve to straight. I have an octagon barrel but I need all the parts CCHed..........

Great work on the wood! Are you going to do the checkering or send it out.............I would have a heart attack if I tried to checker such a great stock and forend!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri May 27, 2011 12:59 pm

If Mike Hunter did that case color hardening himself, he did an outstanding job. I think those colors are more authentic to what Winchester used to put out, than some others I have seen.

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Fri May 27, 2011 7:40 pm

Gotta catch up:

First thank you all for your gracious comments on my project. That keeps me going in this somewhat unknown territory.

RIMFIRE@ rbertalotto: Mike's charges can be found on his website. http://www.hunterrestorations.com/pricing.html

KirkD: Mike did them himself and they are pretty. I have been watching Turnbull's, and all of the gun auctions sites. The colors here make me very happy. One note to future CCH candidates. The process seems to add a layer of "stuff" to the metal parts so clearances may be reduced. It took me a bit of fine finishing work to get everything to fit back together nicely.

rbertalotto: My heart attack begins. I have checkered a rifle and one pair of pistol grips years ago. They both came out good with the occasional overrun. I'm much more careful in my older years but my eyes are not as good. Anyway my confidence abounds. Checkering is somewhat tedious but it is just filing lines very carefully using Dembart tools and your eyes. There are good resources out there for the do it yourselfer. You got to take time and be very careful as I will on this project. You can see my pin points and scratch lines on the next few pictures to set out the outlines of the panels. Also a good support (checkering cradle) is important.

Checkering begins...

This is the big picture. I had to put it all together so the rifle could be securely supported in the checkering cradle.

Forestock checkering outline:

Grip checkering outline:

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri May 27, 2011 8:06 pm

Twoguns, that is so cool. If you left off the checkering I think you'd still have a star.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Fri May 27, 2011 8:14 pm

Wow,what a fine rifle You have built.

.

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Sat May 28, 2011 12:02 pm

And just to make it hard on yourself, you choose a beautiful, but intricate checkering motif.................Yikes!

Can't wait to see the finished product............

I was at my local gun shop yesterday. They have an 1886 Take Down (Japan) in 45-70, but the wood is horribly plain and the blueing looks more like paint. They only want $1000 and it is in 99.9%.

If I could have the patience to do what you did, I'd buy it. But to have a new stock and forend made and CCH applied, it just gets tooo expensive........

I'm going to play with my Marlin 336 first........

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat May 28, 2011 12:07 pm

She`s a beauty, i could easily live with it without checkering.

kenken0269 · Post by **kenken0269** » Sun May 29, 2011 7:47 am

That is awesome. Can't wait to see it after the checkering.

kenken

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Sun May 29, 2011 8:25 pm

rbertalotto wrote:And just to make it hard on yourself, you choose a beautiful, but intricate checkering motif.................Yikes!

Yep. You got that right. The typical angular patter would have been mucho easier. I strive to challenge me-self. Hence the motif you noticed. I will attempt it, make a few boo boos, but in the end I will make her look sweet!

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 5:33 pm

Now I'm starting the really hardest part of this project.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:47 pm

Scares me just looking at it

looking forward to seeing it finished.

twoguns · Post by **twoguns** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:41 pm

Well, folks - She is finally shootable! It has been a long road traveled. My checkering was less than stellar during the final "turn" but it will work. I love the look of this Browning Miroku 1986 run made into a pistol grip stock with none of the later Winny baggage. Next I need to work out slings that will not mar the rifle. then there is target time and reloading. Thanks for your interest in this project.

And last my favorite. That wonderful MVA front sight installed.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:36 pm

Absolutely gorgeous! I especially like the fact that you went for fine checkering.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:54 pm

All I can say is Wow.

. What a Fine Job.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:02 pm

Holy Smokes! That came out beautifully.

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:38 pm

Looks great! You did a good job on everything, and the work you sent out was very well done.

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:39 am

twoguns,
What a fine rifle! Outstanding job and thank you so much for sharing all this with us. I know many of us have followed this job the whole way. I''m inspired.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:18 am

That rifle is absolutely gorgeous. You should really feel proud of a job well done. I'am truly impressed. A family heirloom for sure. What I wouldn't give for my grandfather to have made something like that and it ended up in my hands. A real work of art.

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:55 am

Beautiful rifle & excellent craftsmanship!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:53 am

Awesome, when do ya want me to send ya my 86

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:13 pm

WOW..... a "instant" heirloom. That is a beautiful rifle.

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:20 pm

Pitchy wrote:Awesome, when do ya want me to send ya my 86

where's the line start? [ i would have to go buy the '86 first though

]

buckeyeshooter · Post by **buckeyeshooter** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:32 pm

very nice work!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:36 pm

I've got an '86. It's a Winoku, but I have the Browning conversion parts.

Post by **Old Savage** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:52 pm

How did I not come across this? Great job! You have a lot of nerve. It's all yours now.