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Unwanted drill & tap holes

bennydodahbennydodah Member Posts: 26 ✭✭
edited July 2007 in Ask the Experts
I have a Winchester 64 in .219 zipper and a Winchester 55 in .25-35 that were both (unfortunately) drilled and tapped for side mounts. Does anyone know if 1) it is possible to have those filled in a way that looks good, 2) the name of a gunsmith who does that work, and 3) what that process usually entails (reblueing for example)? I really appreciate your input.

Comments

  • 788-308788-308 Member Posts: 179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You can probably find some plug screws that will fill the holes. Will look similar to the effect of the plug screws on the receiver rings of a bolt action that is factory drilled and tapped for scope mounting.
  • dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,969
    edited November -1
    You can have them silver soldered, or tig welded closed. Then reblued.
  • JKJK Member Posts: 223 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Benny,
    Filling the unwanted holes with screws, no matter what kind of good job you do, will produce a half moon semi circle at the top of flush on the action/bbl/etc. There is no way around this.Silver solder will leave a ring but then remember you have to get up to about 1200 degrees for proper flowage. Cold solder will also leave a ring that also cannot be reblued. The best way to do this is to get some material (a metal plug) consistent with the piece and drill the threads out. Bottom holes do not make any difference. If the hole is bottomed, take a prick punch and distort the bottom of the hole so the it's larger at the bottom. With the plug that is basically a little less in diameter than the hole, pean it down in and keep peaning until its bottom is seated. DO NOT chamfer the hole. When it 's seated carefully file it to the contour. In the case where the hole it through, the hole can be tapped on the back side for a few threads to give the plug a mechanical lock. Back up the plug while peaning so you do not knock it through. I have done this on numerous expensive items and to see it you have to look REAL close or use a glass to spot it. The main giveaway is the difference in metal after bluing. Lots of luck with it
  • TANK78ZTANK78Z Member Posts: 1,320 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    HI, if they were mine i would just use filler screws, cheap , not offensive looking, and will not lower the value any more then the tapping has already done. my 2 cts, BOB
  • oldgunmanoldgunman Member Posts: 1,779 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm with TANK78Z on this one. Damage already done so fill with plug screws. Don't chance having something to go wrong while covering this up. If I was buying it I would rather purchase it like it is than repaired. Just my 2cts also.
  • asphalt cowboyasphalt cowboy Member Posts: 8,904 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know of a fellow who welds in holes and then reheatreats receivers, will have to lookthrough my ref's to find his name. Otherwise, would these suffice?
    http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=18693&title=POSITIVE+STOP? PLUG SCREWS
  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you want it to look factory original, and have near factory value, then there is only one thing to do, and it will not be inexpensive. That thing is send them to Doug Turnbull, at Doug Turnbull Restorations. He is the absolute best on the planet for old Winchester's and Colt's.
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
    That thing is send them to Doug Turnbull, at Doug Turnbull Restorations. He is the absolute best on the planet for old Winchester's and Colt's.


    I disagree... Turnbull is not the absolute best Winchester restoration specialist on the planet. His work is very easy to spot, and it does not resemble original Winchester factory work. There are other Winchester restoration people who do much better work than Turnbull. To cite one example, Turnbull uses just one barrel address stamp for the Model 1886s he restores, whereas Winchester used at least eight different stamps during the 45+ years that the Model 1886 was in production. The same holds true for the various other markings used on the various Winchester models. To my way of thinking, a proper (and first class) restoration should result in a gun that is exactly the same as it left the factory.

    As for the original querent's question, unless you are willing to spend some serious $$$, just put filler screws in the extra holes. Nothing you can do will improve the value or collectability of your Winchesters.
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