Another project gun

A friend returned a Ruger .357 I had lent him, and as "interest" for loaning him the revolver, he gave me a...well, pretty unlovely Iver Johnson Trailsmen .22 LR auto-pistol that was given to him. The IJ is a sort of copy of Colt's Woodsman. This one is missing the magazine, grips, and rear sight, but the price was right. The exterior is pitted to beat hell, but the bore is almost pristene. Going to strip it, clean out the crap, bead blast it, and either phosphate finish it or use on of the bake on epoxies on it. Can't understand those who treat tools like this!

looks to me like it might clean up ok. it'll keep ya outta trouble for a day or two while you get it patched up.

i don't understand why people treat their guns like that, either. was helping my mom get her stuff all cleaned up, and cleaned out after my dad died last year. stumbled upon one of my youngest brother's 22's... stock was broken at the wrist, and was missing from that point back. the steel was rusted so bad that i didn't think it could any longer safely handle the pressure from the 22, even if ya could get the action to cycle... blew everybody's mind when i threw that gun in the garbage... never thought i'd be the one to retire a gun in that manner...

Stripped it last night, and the inside is in MUCH better shape than the outside. Only the magazine catch shows rust, everything else is clean.

Phosphate is the same as Parkerizing. Parkeriziing is just a trademarked version. The heat cured epoxies are neat stuff, Brownell's and other sell them. It can be sprayed on from an aerosol can, or applied with an airbrush or small spraygun. Basics are prep the metal (remove rust, polish to your taste, and degrease), apply the finish, and cure it in an oven. The last step is best done when females are out of the house, if you don't have an old oven dedicated to this.