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2 part Question about guns and house fires

clinteasterlingclinteasterling Member Posts: 549 ✭✭✭
edited October 2009 in Ask the Experts
A few months ago my nephews' house burned. The guns I bought them recieve some damage and from what my brother says "they got hot and it caused them to rust. Namely the Barrell" He believes the interal parts of the guns are rusted too. What are you all feelings about cleaning then shooting them?

Also, does anyone here recomend a Gunsmith in North East Arkansas?

The reason I am asking is because am going bk home soon and my nephew and I are going hunting and I do not want to have to buy him and his brothers new guns, but I will if need it means they go hunting with me and my brother. The guns are a 870 Express 20 ga 3 in yought, 12 3in (S/A above mag)and ruger 10-22. I will try to get pict ASAP.
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Comments

  • asphalt cowboyasphalt cowboy Member Posts: 8,904 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do not, I repeat Do Not fire those guns. There's a strong chance the strength of the steel has been compromised. Take them to a competent gunsmith, even the 10-22, and have them checked.
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  • US Military GuyUS Military Guy Member Posts: 3,641 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What is the condition of the wood (stocks and forearms)?

    I find it hard to believe that the metal strength has been compromised and the wood is undamaged. Wood will burn before metal has a chance to become damaged.

    Just my opinion.
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  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A fire causing rust is a mis-statement. A fire will remove moisture. Perhaps a period of time has passed and with the fire department trying to put the fire out, and after a period of time, the rust has occured. US has a good point. How is the wood? If the wood is just slightly charred then the temp is moderate. Only a few parts of your possible pieces have heat treated parts and this level of heating isn't going to anneal them. Stainless steel melts quite close to carbon steel. The big difference is that stainless retains most of there strength until it melts. Moderate charring is probably a good sign. As you have been told, show everything to a gunsmith for his evaluation.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
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  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Firemen tend to squirt water into a burning house. Fumes from burning non-wood parts of the house are corrosive, PVC will burn partly to hydrogen chloride. So the guns were exposed to a very corrosive atmosphere and are no doubt well rusted.
    I would completely disassemble them, wash with water, dry thoroughly, and then start cleanup. Steel wool and oil for a minimum cost, get them shooting, hang the looks approach.

    If they were heated enough to anneal the steel, the stocks would be badly burnt or destroyed, the aluminum parts would be melted, and the springs collapsed.

    There was a shop near here that did a regular business in refurbishing house fire guns, but the owner retired and nobody took over the business.
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  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,029 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have some experience with burned guns also and agree with Hawk above. If there is wood left and the springs are good do a good cleaning and possibly have a gunsmith check them (refinishing is possible also). the products of fire and water are very corrsive.
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  • clinteasterlingclinteasterling Member Posts: 549 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That is kind of my thoughts too. I thought that it would be strongly recomeneded to go see a Gunsmith with all three pieces. Which brings me to part two the questions, Does anyone know a good Gunsmith in NE Arkansas?

    I would have added pics however, I was deployed during the time of the fire and have not personally seen the guns. Nor will I see them until Dec sometime. At which time we plan on going hunting, thus I am asking the Q's now.
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  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,380 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sorry, I do not know a gunsmith in Arkansas. But you or they need to find one, those guns will not have much to salvage if left to rot until December.
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  • ern98ern98 Member Posts: 1,725 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Contact whoever has the guns and get them to send you some good pics of them so you can form you own opinion of the wood/stocks. I agree that if the wood didn't burn then they should be fine. So the question is how do you ascertain how much heat they did get, pics might be one way. Good luck with it.....
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  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most home owners policies cover guns up to $1000.00. I would have an ammendment filed to the claim. The 4 guns you listed should be able to be baught for that amount or close to it.

    I have seen a SS Model 7 Remington that was in a room adjacent to the fire, where a plastic 5 gallon pail was burnt, and created corrosive gas...the ss was completely discolored. I assume that is what most of the rust on your guns is. However, one can not say for sure if the temper and strength of the steel was lost. I would hate to have your, or your nephews faces next to one of those when it explodes.
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  • BGHillbillyBGHillbilly Member Posts: 1,927 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'll try to respond again, had my response typed in last night and when I clicked 'Post New Reply', the GD GB was down completly.

    Sounds like most everyones advice has been right on target, if the wood/plastic on the guns survived without melting or charing significantly they should be fine. Even the fairly old 10/22's had plastic butt plates if it didn't melt the metal will be fine. Pictures would help. They do need cleaned quickly and looked at by someone who can say for sure.

    Problem is there are no qualified professional gunsmiths open for business in NE Arkansas that I'm aware of. There are shops that work on guns, they can change parts, scratch stocks, leave tool marks, strip screws, glue front sights because they don't have the proper staking tool,squeeze your frame or slide in an unpadded vise to tighten up your pistol, and leave the shotgun bead sticking inside the barrel half as much as it sticks out. If you just need someone to look at the guns and give you an answer as to if they are safe I think it's safe to recommend Dave's Guns in Paragould and Al's lock and Key on Nettleton in Jonesboro.
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