Pics of my re-blued Model 8

[VTRem35]

Here are a couple of pics of my 1930 Model 8 .35 Rem.
It was a gift from my step-dad. It came rusty, pitted and had a horrible cold-bluing job done sometime in the 60's.
I stripped it down and sent it off to East Coast Bluing in NY for a slow rust blue. (Bluing job was great, had other issues with ECB, got my rifle back with a broken firing pin, when replacing it, I found that the firing pin that was in it, wasn't even a Model 8 pin, so they screwed something up and never told me, luckily I had 3 extra firing pins, plus they put the peep sight together wrong and I had to take it apart and re-assemble it) However, the rifle looks awesome.

[VTRem35]

Another pic

[mr mike]

VTRem35, enjoyed looking at the pics of your re-blued model 8. Looking at the photos on my i-pad the photos came out a bit dark but the rifle looked good overall. Gotta say I felt some kin ship to you for the problems you calle out with East Coast Bluing. I've got them listed on my "don't bother to call list".
You may have read of my problems with a model 8 restoration job I had done a while back.
If time allows swing over to the general section and click on my story "Angry as heck: gun shop issues" I have posted some photos of my moddel 8 there. I had a new fore end and butt stock installed. Even with the issues I had I'm glad I did. I'm guessing you chose not do do that?
I have this idea that bit by bit there should be a list of vendors that haven't done so well on model 8's, so others might avoid them. Its to bad Remington dosn't have a division to handle repairs/restorations of old / classic guns. Might be a money maker for them. I'd sure have sent them mine.

[VTRem35]

Thanks Mike. If I could do it over again, I would prob not choose ECB, but I also would consider them again. I think they did a great job on the bluing. One of the first problems that came up was that the metal wasn't rusting well and taking more time than anticipated. So I was upset about the time as it took 2 months longer than the initial estimate. There is a good chance that I may be responsible for breaking the firing pin. I was working the action as it was tight with all the lube in it and may have broken it by releasing the bolt (playing devils advocate here). There is also a chance that the firing pin that was in my gun looked different than the 3 replacement pins I found in the stock when I first took it apart, similar design, but much beefier than the replacement pins I have. Also didn't have a spring on it which lead me to believe that it had been switched. I'm not experienced enough to know. The replacement pins I had work fine. The peep sight was just put together wrong and not checked to see if it worked. (I've never taken one apart or knew anything about the peep sight and it took me 5 minutes to fix)
So ECB gets an excellent for quality of bluing, poor on completing the job as quoted, and prob poor on gunsmithing. So great place to get your parts blued if you take the gun apart and put it back together yourself.

[81police]

From your pictures the blue job looks pretty good, not glossy like we often see with re-blues. Love those flip down rear sights!

[jack1653]

Great looking blue job. To make the refinish really pop, remove the bolt handle and polish off the bluing on the round handle to make it look like the original.

Regards,

jack1653