Pain and suffering in the basement

The world is full of pain and suffering. War, revolution, fire, pestilence, Sometimes you lose track of the real heartbreaks in life...

My friend from High School lives in New York City. When his Mom passed away his sister wanted to convert the old farmhouse into a Air B&B. He moved what he wanted to save into the basement. No one thought to explain that putting guns in soft cases into a basement is a really bad idea.

I also think someone did not mention overflowing the kitchen sink so badly it leaked into the basement.

I also did not really remember that its been more than a year since he put his guns on the top shelf. We he mentioned it last week I thought I better go get them. Especially after the torrential rains we have been having.

The basement was not actually cold and damp. It was warm and damp. The guns were dry. Obviously they have not always been dry... 

The one that suffered was the 1911 Model 1890 Winchester .22 Long Rifle that belonged to his dad. It was in nearly perfect condition when I saw it a couple years ago. I kind of wish I would just have gone to BiMart and bought him a couple plastic gun cases.

I flooded it with Kroil and let it set. I used a brass brush to  work the oil into the rust and to clean it up a little bit. I broke it down and cleaned up the action and the barrel. The action works and will cycle empty, but it would chamber a round. I am not sure the problem. I am not sure the extractor is not sticking. The round doesn't seem to go back far enough and when I pump forward the nose of the bullet does not chamber. 

I ran out of time messing with it today. I have a gunsmith hobbyist friend I think I will get to look at it. 

I have always wanted a little .22 rifle like this. It even has an octagon barrel. I am not sure what he wants to do with it as he can't really keep it in the city. One side looks pretty good. I think you could display it. 

The action can be repaired. Nothing is broken or missing. Just needs further disassembly and cleaning. But, cosmetically it can't be repaired. There is pretty serious pitting.

According to the serial number this was made in 1911. I got the take down screw loose and the action free. There was not as much rust inside as on the outside.

 

 

I tried cycling it with Long Rifle ammunition and it would not chamber a round. Action is not sticky. Firing pin is free. Trigger works. Hammer moves freely.