Restoring a 1906 Heavily Rusted Pump Action Rifle

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A special thanks goes to Michelangelo Neri Orliani for helping in the making of this project
Today I'm taking care of a neglected Winchester mod. 1906 pump action rim fire rifle. It used to be a very common gallery gun back in the early 1900s, and had the peculiarity of feeding reliably both 22 short and 22 long/long rifle. However, this specimen was not only thoroughly rusted, but also had a shortened stock, which I had to repair in order to put it back in working order.
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[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Install Raid for Free ✅ Mobile and PC: [clik.cc/UF1m1] and get a special starter pack 💥 Available only for the next 30 days 💥 A special thanks goes to Michelangelo Neri Orliani for helping in the making of this project

[@MoldyStir-Fry]

I would really like to see you Collab with Forgotten Weapons some time!

[@robertlove5959]

i have the rossi version of that rifle

[@paladinhill]

BEAUTIFUL RESTORATION !! You ARE a MASTER !! Looks like that was a Winchester 62?

[@mdmomin-rn6vf]

ok

[@galacticmarine663]

I like it but you should add a brass or a copper band where the two pieces meet

[@matthewellisor5835]

Don't worry about the differences in the wood colors. There is nothing wrong with a well-done repair being visible after the finish of the restoration. It's witness to another chapter in the story of a loved, used, forgotten and found tool that likely fed the family many meals, rid them of pests, provide an enjoyable pastime and after all that, because of your work, stands ready to continue it's service. Instead, ask what you think the worker who first built it would think if they could see it now.

[@noahbeason274]

Especially since the rifle was in this much distress.

[@Jellylazer]

@@noahbeason274 they would think him as a wizard

[@holymoly6829]

Exactly 👍👍

[@mdmomin-rn6vf]

top

[@Ferrari255GTO]

To be honest i was looking forward to the stock being two tone because i thought it would look kinda cool and unique, then he said he would apply the tint and i got dissapointed, and then it turned around once again and ended being two tone anyways.

[@Anton-iu2rd]

Honestly, I think little signs of repair or fix ups like that stock gives a bit of "character" to a firearm. Nice work!

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

I like your positive attitude 🤣👍🏻

[@paint4pain]

Exactly, it tells a story much more interesting than if the repair was invisible.

[@sentient_F-14]

@@Backyard.Ballistics I agree with this guy that stock looks nice. The contrast gives it a unique feel and you get to tell a story if someone asks about it.

[@TheDumplingbandit]

literally the words I said in my head.

[@wakeupmerica6882]

@@Backyard.Ballistics Looks good like it is or you could have done a small inlay band at the joint.

[@AINGELPROJECT667]

I actually like the stock extension being different. It allows the gun to function as intended, but doesn't hide the story it had. Excellent work on the gun overall.

[@embodiedmayhem]

as a woodworker i admire your dedication to completing a job no matter if you have the "right" tools and working with what you have

[@lakiza55]

The stock looks pretty cool in my opinion, gives it a very unique look. Great work, these are so satisfying to watch, and very informative.

[@mykeg2401]

I agree. it gives it character.

[@dfswhip]

Ditto...

[@AS-tr5cg]

Agreed. Gives it a lot of character and shows the life of the gun in my opinion.

[@mdmomin-rn6vf]

wow

[@Ducttapeupurass]

I'm a professional woodworker. First off, VERY SMART move using the cuttoff bansaw. That's probably the safest way you could have done that, short of sawing it by hand. Second, as others have said, the different color of the stock wood isn't an issue for me. When I see woodworking projects, I personally tend to admire the work and craftsmanship that went into the end product. Sure the stock is 2 different colors. But you can tell the repair was done by somebody who was willing to take the time to make it look and feel nice. Good work, my man.

[@SaintedPIacebo]

In the car world we call things like your stock mistake a character piece. no sweat about it, its a conversation topic and looks good in a rustic way.

[@spencerbridgeman7125]

This brings back memories of having a rifle like this over 60 years ago (I wish I still had it). It was the smoothest operating 22 I ever had. No telling how many thousands of rounds were fired through this little sweet shooter. It was a perfect starter rifle and I got quite good with it. Easy to break down and clean and maintain.

[@gotsloco1810]

@@garthland380 Octagonal barrel and crescent but plate? If so I suspect a model 1890. It is not uncommon to reline a shot out 22 barrel. It all depends on overall condition as to weather one would really want to make the effort.

[@sometoad]

"This gun isn't in the best shape" bro looks worse than the girl in SpongeBob wondering if he was selling chocolate 💀

[@Crowbars2]

Whaat? What did he say? I used to remember when they first invented chocolate... Sweet, sweet chocolate. I ALWAYS HATED IT!

[@nigelosborne7471]

😁

[@spartus1128]

Lmao makes me think about transferable autos in 40 more years

[@Avocado7765]

WHATRE DEY SELLING?!

[@Crowbars2]

@@Avocado7765 THEY'RE SELLING CHOCOLATE!

[@simonwatson5299]

To be honest, I think you did a fantastic job on that old rifle. And the two tone stock looked kinda unique.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Wow, thank you!

[@DEP717]

The point about use by children is a good guess. Many of these pump rifles, especially .22 rifles, were used in amusement parks and traveling carnivals as "Gallery Guns" in Shooting Galleries. The classic "Hit the target and win a Kewpie Doll" challenge. In those days, young children using rifles in that way under supervision (With .22 Shorts the usual round) was something that was pretty common.

[@kevinw3030]

I am 59 and I have one of these. It was my great Uncle Bob Cook's from when he was a kid. He used to hunt a lot of squirrel with it, usually besting his buddies who were using shot guns. Thank you for your work on this one...I think it looks great.

[@Juanguar]

The 2 tone stock actually looks pretty cool It’s very unique

[@robertlewis4666]

Beautifully done! You've given a whole new life to a rifle that most others would have simply thrown away!

[@3peckeredgoat735]

I agree, but never throw a firearm away, someone want's it regardless of condition. Just incase you come across an old firearm wouldn't want you to miss out, cheers.

[@austinwilburn1772]

I just want to say you’re doing great work. I love how you use the original parts as much as possible. Instead of just getting a new stock, you extend the one it had with it first.

[@64nhalf]

Nice Rescue on a 120 year old Rifle! 1st time I've seen a Pump Action .22

[@mariosebastiani3214]

Amazing achievement! I'd say there wasn't a fat chance the two wooden parts would get the same colour, since they come from different essences; but I find the result to be beatiful and unique. Also, nice to see Maurice have fun with this (it must be a very quiet one if it doesn't require ear protection).

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

it definitely is quiet, just like most 22 LR rifles, especially non-automatic ones

[@Kruegernator123]

Considering the length of the barrels on these rifles (20 inches, or 50 cm), it is quite long for a .22 caliber rifle. It absorbs a lot of the sound.

[@randomschmo5778]

Fyi, those were .22 short (subsonic) rounds he fired, and not .22 LR (Long Rifle)

[@billywaltman3206]

@@randomschmo5778 they where not actually

[@Ferrari255GTO]

@@randomschmo5778 you can literally see the six month old comment from the channel owner sayng that it is 22LR

[@frankieblue1945]

The stock is going to be what makes your weapon unique; it still came very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Thank you for watching!

[@FreedomYak]

Beautiful work. I think the stock repair gives it character and adds to the firearms story.

[@jacobworth4584]

My grandpa taught me how to shoot on a rifle exactly like it that he got from his father, so seeing you restore one exactly like it brings back many great memories of my childhood. Thank you for the wonderful video and explanation of the different processes

[@Anonymous-ks8el]

It would be very hard to match the stocks. You have to identify the wood, find or make a stock using the same wood, and match or hide the wood patterns, it's easy to go to further than necessary The mis-match colours look like a practical & resourceful repair made to save as much of the original as possible, that's the flair of your restoration here and I like it

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Thanks for the tips! And for commenting of course

[@wizardofahhhs759]

Winchester used walnut on their pumps and lever action rifles.

[@3peckeredgoat735]

Years of use and the oils from previous owners hands would prove difficult to match, but agreed job well done.

[@leftyo9589]

@@wizardofahhhs759 gumwood on the 1906

[@johnfreeman2956]

@15:50 I kind of like it. It's nice to see where the repairs were made, even professional restorers do things in such a way that their work can be identified from the original piece. It also adds to the history of the piece. I wouldn't order a new rifle with that stock lol, but on a old piece it adds an interesting story!

[@wm0879]

I have a feeling this is going to be regular occurrence for me when watching your videos as once again, I find myself learning about something I never knew existed - a pump actin rifle. With regards to the stock not being perfect, for me it’s a bit like a vintage guitar where it’s really nice to see marks from wear, use and/or repairs over the years. Also, I can now confirm that you have invented the world’s first time machine (of sorts), as I would swear that far less time has passed than what it actually took to watch this video!

[@Ferrari255GTO]

They're fairly similar to lever action rifles

[@THEcrazymew]

As a person who works with both wood and steel, you did pretty decently, especially on the wood. Good job.

[@hot_coldman]

Man it came out beautiful. I love seeing these old guns running again. Truly speaks to how well made they were.

[@vincentbaelde-millar670]

Maurice shoots pretty well when he's just having fun!

[@stevedoggart2805]

I like the 2 tone stock, it lends an authenticity to the restoration. You are not trying to make it look unchanged. It's all part of the guns story.

[@richardmoran5438]

I like how you use a screw to pull the butt stock repair together! Next time, consider 2mm (1/16") layer of very black wood or phenolic sandwiched between the to pieces of lighter wood. Since you can't match the grain, this neat black line makes the repair look intentional. The same thickness of material is added between the end of the stock and a recoil pad. You could also have gone back and added darker stain to your lighter piece once you found your mistake, it's very forgiving stuff. Thank you for saving that old rifle, my father had one as a boy and he never tired of telling me all about it, and how he would save up his money to buy ammuntion at the hardware store.

[@3peckeredgoat735]

Wow!! I'm impressed....that's incredible work you've done there. Who ever passed on this craft to you or if you learned this on your own, you should be quite proud of yourself, well done.

[@RG-gd5tc]

I used to own a model 1906. It was a family heirloom used to slaughter pigs in the 1920s. Sadly, they had only used shorts and apparently never cleaned the barrel. The casing on a 22 long would then expand and be difficult to extract. Still a beautiful little gun and I enjoyed watching the video - a bit of a walk down memory lane.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

the common problem with these was the corrosive priming mixture used back then. It really trashed the barrels...

[@barryc9115]

Those were such nice little rifles. The pump action 22’s have fallen into history. Totally a worthwhile project to bring one back from the dead. Well done…..

[@kjamison5951]

When an art restorer repairs a damaged painting, they will never try to blend their work seamlessly with the original. They always show the piece has been restored as part of its history. Your work is incredible and I’m so glad I found your channel!

[@conradsobczak6389]

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to watch a craftsman at work. Appreciate your efforts, ongoing explanations, and good camera work. Personal note--I remember watching my dad hot blue his 1903 Springfield, stock modified, for deer hunting in Wisconsin.

[@frankbrady8015]

That's a great little gun, and a hell of a woodchuck rifle. The stock looks fine to me, and Thank You for saving this little gem .

[@tomdelvetto9906]

Personally I like the color difference in the stock, it shows someone cared enough to fix it

[@tiredlawdog]

Many years ago, like back in the 50's my old German godfather had a .22 just like this in his pump house. It looked great. I was pretty young at this point. I asked him if I could have it. He danced around an answer of no. I really would have loved to have had it. Anyway years later while visiting the godparents, I went out to the pump house to discover the rifle was exactly where he had left it years earlier. It looked worse than the rifle you just worked on. I was heart broken to see this Winchester shooting gallery pump go to ruin.

[@jonathonhandford4844]

I don't think anyone expected perfection from you restoring a very old rifle. But you came very close to it 👍🏽. Great work. Very impressed and love you videos. Keep up the good work.

[@rolls_8798]

I love your ethos with the restoration, and the effort you took to maintain its originality. I think you understand that each piece is one of a kind and that the defining details should be preserved. You did everything how I imagine I would have and I love it.

[@reaperhusk313]

I quite like that the stock repair was visible. It is proof that the firearm has lived and attained its scars through the passage of time and and has been held in many hands. Now it is whole again, in working order. A beautiful thought, when you think about it.

[@suspense_comix3237]

This is the first ever rifle I ever saw that looks like a pistol with attachments on either end, it’s SO small. It’s also the first ever gun I’ve ever seen with so little recoil.

[@foxyloon]

Another successful restoration! That's exceptional accuracy for a 107 year old rifle, too. I'd say you did a good job with the stock repair, considering. I've heard of people taking shortened stocks like that and making them into adjustable ones, but frankly that would be difficult to make it look right with modern hardware on such a old rifle. Your solution looks to be a very solid option that'll hold up for years, though. The "donor" stock appears to be a completely different type of wood, so it wasn't going to perfectly match no matter what you tried.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

yes, I think you're right. Thanks for taking the time to comment 😉

[@CadillacDriver]

107 years old? 🙄

[@foxyloon]

@@CadillacDriver Look, math isn’t my strong suit. 116 years old?

[@CadillacDriver]

@@foxyloon 🙄

[@deeznuts-sn1di]

@@CadillacDriver gonna cry?

[@deniswauchope3788]

What a wonderful restoration job! When I first saw that rifle, I thought "that'll never shoot again," but you sure proved me wrong! I just love how it looks now, and I'd buy one just like that in a heartbeat!

[@ernestinebass4371]

I inherited one of these .22 Winchester pumps, a family heirloom handed down from my great-grandfather to my grandfather, to my father, then to me. In the mid-seventies my father refinished the walnut butt and forestock himself and had a gunsmith re-blue the metal. It looks and fires today just as it did when new.

[@twiningsirishbreakfasttea3826]

When Arthur doesn’t clean his Varmint Rifle for 110 years

[@froop2393]

I'm always astonished about your material-handling/chemical knowledge! The new stock looks absolutly great!

[@willemsteenkamp4236]

Wow! What a trip I've taken down memory lane right now. My great-grandfather was gifted one of these Winchesters by an American about a century ago, and over the years all the kids learned to shoot with it. A sweet little rifle, lovely to handle, totally reliable and very accurate. Unfortunately it was stolen in a robbery several years ago; such a shame. Watching this video, I knew every angle, every contour of the rifle; how the pump action feels; the twisting of the magazine rod. The only difference is that ours had a rear ring sight that folded down, which I think was added later. It was lovely to see this one come back to life.

[@yetidodger6650]

gallery gun, used to use these in Littlehampton at the arcade in the 70's, the stock is good, we call it sympathetic restoration, its nice to see the repair.

[@jrvn94]

Very nice video! I love the finished look of the rifle! For future reference, if you ever work with wood in this manner again, a diagonal cut/joining surface hold better since it creates more surface area for the glue to hold :)

[@timwing4379]

I like the fact that the stock extension is an obvious different color. Makes the fire arm more honest! Anyway, really interesting video! It has inspired me to possibly do a similar restoration on a "Khyber Pass" rifle I bought in Afghanistan for $200... it's an old Schneider Enfield in rough condition... some of it is original, but I believe all the brass parts were re-manufactured... probably the stock as well.

[@jaytonhawkins2872]

One of the coolest things about my M44 Mosin is the visible and very professional repair work that has been done on the stock. Whoever did the repair didn't try to hide the large crack, they instead highlighted it as if to say "look here. This was broken and I fixed it, it works as it should now."

[@majordickhardin7746]

That stock turned-out better than a perfect match. Looks like it was a custom job - not an accident! Well done, lad!

[@PhilosophiaTheos]

As a woodworker, I'd say you did a great job! It's the sign of a true craftsman to be able to improvise when you don't have the exact tools. Well done!

[@robertcong-leton3275]

Excellent restoration; thank you for the video and the work. It is great to see a vintage treasure restored to its original state, function and beauty. Please, keep up the superb work!

[@deathslingermain7467]

The only type of restoration videos I have the patience to watch are gun restorations due to my passion for firearms. Finding your channel was like striking a gold vein.

[@jaso890]

my grandpa had one of these and used it for years, he used to take away with him on he's motorbike when he would go camping then when he met my grandmother and they had kids he would use it to hunt small game and feed the family when they were camping. He taught my father how to shoot with it and my father taught me. My father still has it and I'm sure he will have it till the day he dies. It was nice seeing one being brought back from the brink to fire and look so good

[@dukefanshawe6815]

Awe. This reminds me of so many rusted guns that need help. Thank you for your hard work!

[@Prehistorylol]

Reminds me of the Varmint Rifle from RDR2

[@stunseedordeesnuts]

Yo IT IS THE VARMINT RIFLE

[@nypigeon5820]

I kinda like that you can clearly see the extension, that keeps the gun into the middle ground of the "made for kids" stock and "usable by adults" stock

[@aradecomate8261]

I don't care if the rust was intentionally grown, love to see a gun get cleaned.

[@greyclouds6052]

You did an excellent job. The stock looks great.

[@MoldyStir-Fry]

I actually really love the stock! It makes it look like it's been through a lot but also well loved.

[@heckerson604]

I have a hatchet head that I restored from my grandfather's barn that was completely covered in rust. When you mentioned the corrosion damage, it was nothing compared to the hatchet head. For me, that damage just means that it is one of a kind and unique. That hatchet head is a memory of my grandfather that I will cherish for all my life.

[@Pergolf33]

FINALLY!! A Restoration Site that INCLUDES Audio, and WHAT CHEMICALS are used for different portions of the Restoration!!!💥💥💥💥

[@DeimosPC]

Best channel on YT. Love watching your videos man, this was one of my favs. I’ve been after one of these gallery guns for a while and it was so cool seeing one get restored

[@alexvassiliou8097]

One tip as a “wood worker” a good joint ie dovetail or other can turn a repair into art very quickly, next time doing a stock job like that try and use a non doweled joint it will look more deliberate and beautiful. Although not a bad job at all only needed more time on the clamps. All in all great restoration

[@Rangemaster26]

My (late) step-father gave me one, this same model, Winchester Model 62A for Christmas in 1956, I was 12. I'm now 80 and I still have it. Due to very careful care it looks like new except for a little wear along the slide. I loved it then, I love it now. Oh, and it's very, very accurate!

[@PatinaEater]

The two tone stock gives it so much character and tells a story of care in getting it back to working order. It looks fantastic!

[@domi4531]

Amazing result, personally I love firearms with unique character! The rear section of the stock adds a lot of uniqueness to this piece!

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Well, that's a good way of looking at it... thank you!

[@janestamour7517]

The gun looks like the varmint rifle rdr2

[@tristenx]

that's cus it is

[@Matthew19789]

I actually love the stock repair job you've done. It's an extremely strong and well done fit, and the colour change acts as an accent to the original stock. Great job!

[@scott1564]

My dad bought one of those pump action .22s in the late '80s, I think. I never knew why, but at some point, he got rid of it without my knowledge. I would have bought it from him. I guess he didn't realize I wanted it until well after he had gotten rid of it. Until then, I always looked forward to getting it when he was through with it. Unfortunately, I never shot it when he did have it.

[@madnessman179]

Your channel deserves more views you do great work and i can see you really care about fixing these guns.

[@miketranfaglia3986]

Beautiful job! The metal looks better than most new production guns, and I like the 2-tone look of the wood. I thought it was funny that you considered the tube magazine unusual---those are incredibly common in the US, especially in .22s. No box magazine to lose!

[@alflyover4413]

I don't know if they are available in the after market, but I remember one vendor sold their rimfire rifles with a brass inner tube to mitigate if not prevent having tubular magazines rust together like that. I can't remember who did it, though.

[@Ozarkwild]

Great job. As someone said below, the visible repair gives it history and shows someone cared enough to restore it

[@tridentrex0576]

Ah, the lovely Whinchester model 62A. My grandfather has one. Has his initials Stenciled into the stock. Truly is a joy to shoot.

[@rogiervis2306]

Your videos are so interesting! I'm currently experimenting with parkerizing and learning by making faults. Your videos and explanations are a inspirational for me. You have also a relaxed voice to listen to. BTW, I like how the stock turned out. It has some inverted Arisaka vibe to it. Greets from Holland

[@UKGuns]

This guys is an absolute wizard. This has to be magic, great job! 👍

[@kevinpurcell7452]

Really good job of saving a classic .22 cal. Thanks for the video. Whenever I don't have woods that match I'll put a thin transition strip bewteen the two. It can be a darker wood or even a strip of brass or silver.

[@jeremiahmowen6601]

I know what you were going for but the two colored stock looks kind of cool. Gun reminds me of the old Martini-Henrys.

[@alle38]

Awesome video, keep the restoration videos coming, I love them!

[@Rakadis]

That looks like a lot of fun. Very interesting video and well done.

[@rustedjunkgarage3316]

I am lucky enough to own one of these 1906 .22 rifles, it’s a true pleasure to shoot and very accurate.

[@robw7205]

"...if you're a woodworker or stock maker, you may want to look away ". That was actually very thoughtful lol.

[@robbylock1741]

For someone that doesn't do wood working you did an AMAZING job!

[@calcarmichael755]

bro got the rdr2 varmint rifle

[@ray_collins]

Regarding the serial number, the factory serial was on the metal frame behind the trigger guard, between the pin and the 2 screws. Looks like yours has that part ground out. It's common practice to assign and stamp/engrave a serial when imported to a country that requires one. (Even the US didn't require serials until 1968).

[@showcasecharlie11]

Don't care about the video game stuff...but dude...that stock came out beautiful even with the mismatched color. You did a wonderful job and I would not hesitate to buy that rifle at all. Your repair is way better than many hack job home brewed jobs I've seen.

[@suhayl5157]

I love this rifle and I love what you did to it.. a master piece.

[@Crowbars2]

Is this the RDR2 Varmint Rifle? It looks very similar...

[@notforsaletoday1895]

Pretty much, I think so yes.

[@killertruth186]

Seen it and shot a similar one irl.

[@neilforehand1121]

This was the first gun I shot when I was a kid around 1965. Great gun and very accurate.

[@jimeckenrode1271]

When I was a young boy I would stay at my uncles house and he had two of those rifles hanging on his wall. I often wondered what happen to them. Seeing this video brought back some memories and to see this rifle get restored was amazing.

[@greaselord8553]

we're all thinking it... RDR2 Varmint rifle

[@Slurpified]

Yepp beat me to it lol

[@FlattardiansSuck]

Had one of these exactly the same, and also a 1992 25/20. Uncle was a gunsmith, and we loved hunting.

[@patriotaespana8842]

Magnífico trabajo 👏👏

[@uu555mm]

She's a now brand new beauty mad respect for you in taking the time to clear her up just right!

[@ineedspicyfood6427]

That stock turned out cool as hell, I'm glad the colors turned out differently lol

[@paritoshd]

Ooh varmint rifle from rdr2?

[@Aurora-pi6jr]

Was thinking the same thing

[@mista_mask3163]

Read Dead Redemption 2 players rn: 👀

[@BWBParmwrestling]

I have two of these! Both going on 90 years old, and both still running super smooth and reliably. Super tight tolerances and really satisfying to operate