Want to help me clean some old guns?

[Irving]

My grandfather was showing me some older guns he has, and I offered to clean them for him. I've got newer pistols that I just spray down with oil, scrub them, then wipe them off. I'd like some advice on the best products and methods to clean the guns I'm going to describe for you.

So now I have an M1911 A1, an Auto Ejecting 32 S & W CTGE (Harrington and Richardson), and a Winchester Model 1890 pump action 22 short rifle. I'm working on pictures. The 1911 and the Winchester look like they've been rode hard and put away wet for a long time.

The Winchester looks like it'd clean up nice, but I have no idea what to do with the wood and am which product I shoud use for the rest. I'm not going to refinish anything, just want to clean it. I looked up some stuff on the rifle and it definitely says it is a 22 short. It is the third model receiver, and is either a 1908 or a 1910. I don't know if the serial number is the number on the bottom of the receiver, or the bottom of the trigger guard. This gun has different numbers, perhaps they are supposed to match and this had a part replaced. I used this link: http://twoponies.home.mindspring.com/model_differences.htm
Here are the pictures.
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1012.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1017.jpg

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1016.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1013.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1012.jpg


The 1911 is all banged up and the finish is really wearing off, but there isn't really any rust on it. I looked on youtube to figure out how to take it down. I've never even so much as shot a 1911 before, just handled them in stores. Take down took me a minute to figure out, but wasn't too bad. I plan to at least take off the grips (carefully as I'm pretty sure they're original), but since it's not my gun, I'm not sure how much more I feel comfortable breaking it down. Some advice on that would be nice. EDIT: According to what I can find on this one, it was made in 1944 as the serial number is in this range: Colt: S/N 1,609,529 to 1,743,846 = 1944
Here is a picture of it. This thing looks like it was pulled out of the bottom of a lake! Everything seems to run pretty smooth on it though.
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN0992.jpg

The 32 auto ejecting S&W is super shiney with some surface rust on the corners. This one seems like I can clean it normally without too much worry, the barrel is pretty gunked up though. Oh yeah, this one has an old leather holster that needs to be re-sewn. He suggested taking it to a shoe repair shop (on his dime) and having them do it. I told him that I'd look into it, but I thought that there was someone on here who made his own leather holsters.
Here are some pictures of this guy, including the holster I'd like to get repaired.
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN0996.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN0997.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN0998.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN0999.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1003.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1004.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq226/1stuart1/Guns/DSCN1008.jpg

Also, if anyone can point me to some resources where I can look up the numbers on the guns to get a better idea exactly when they were made. I'm working on some pictures. Sorry for the crap pictures. I bought my lady a nice camera, but she took it back and exchanged it for a much crappier one that was easier to use!

Thanks!

[Batteriesnare]

I wouldn't clean them, they loose value quickly, especially if not done properly.

[Irving]

I'm not sure they are worth anything, especially the 1911. I should at least be able to clean the inside of the barrel though right?

EDIT: Now I feel dumb. Here I told him that I wanted to clean them up for him and he told me to knock myself out. He's not a gun collector or anything, but now I feel silly.

[earplug]

They look fine. There old guns and your wouldn't do Botox on Grandma.
Ask what Grandpa used and do as he did.
I wouldn't go much farther then CLP and a toothbrush and a bore brush.

[Marlin]

As far as the 1911, yep,, just the CLP.. Piece of history there..

Depending on how far you wanted to go on the other two.. Murphy's oil soap for the wood.. Used it on my Dad's .22, Removed, at the time 60 years worth of grime.. Didn't bother me,, it has no value to anybody but me.. So I cleaned it up and refinished it.. I might end up giving it to my great-nephew one of these days..

On the revolver,, CLP and then maybe some Flitz to polish it up..

[Irving]

Thanks guys.

[BigBear]

On the .22, just a regular cleaning should take care of most of it. If you're worried about the wood (shouldn't be) get it as clean as possible and buff it a little with some furniture polish.

On the 1911, you should be fine field stripping it and giving it a good clean through. Make sure all the parts function correctly. There are tons of schematics online if you need reference help. I'm thinking since this is a Colt, it could be of some value, might want to contact Colt and run the serials.

On the .32, revolvers are a cinch to clean. break it open, wipe out teh cylinders and do a job job on the barrel.

[Irving]

Thanks for the cleaning advice guys, I appreciate it. Do any of you have any suggestions of where I might be able to take the holster for the revolver to be resewn? Some where in the Denver Metro area please.

[BigBear]

Grandpa was right on that account. Try to find a shoe repair place. Or a leather worker, or ... use some google-fu!

[gnihcraes]

Thanks for the cleaning advice guys, I appreciate it. Do any of you have any suggestions of where I might be able to take the holster for the revolver to be resewn? Some where in the Denver Metro area please.

I've got a freind/neighbor (old lakewood) that does upholstery and leather work, I'm sure he'd fix that holster up without much cost... pm me and we can chat...

[Irving]

Sweet deal, PM sent.

[Irving]

I'm thinking since this is a Colt, it could be of some value, might want to contact Colt and run the serials.



I think the potential value (to a collector anyway) of the Colt was ruined a long time ago, but is there any way to tell if it ever was carried in either WWII or Vietnam?

[Marlin]

In th OP, You had a 1944 date put to it. With that date, if it wasn't stuck at a training center,, Where did Granpa get it?

[Irving]

I'm not sure. He just missed WWII, but went on I think two tours to Vietnam. I'll have to ask him again if this was his gun at that time or not. Probably was acquired some time after Vietnam. I wish I knew the history of these pieces better, but I tend to try and avoid bothering him with all my questions when I go to see him. Also, I don't know how comfortable he is with talking about his duty time because everything I know about what he ever did I had to find out by asking him directly just a few months ago. Not like all the grand kids got to sit around and here war stories all the time or anything you know?

[Marlin]

Well the Army does have a tendency to use things till they have no use..

The only reason I didn't think that my M-16 in basic wasn't at valley forge was, I was fairly sure they didn't have them at that point in history..

Other than that, it had been rode hard and put up wet.. more than once..

So it does have the potential of WWII, Korea, Viet Nam...

[bczandm]

The 1911 is a typical gun for it's age. I have a few 1911's and there is nothing wrong with this one. It's likely worth the better part of $900. The Winchester has seen use and has limited collector value in that condition, but still a "cool" gun. The Smith looks pretty good in the photos.

I'd used a basic gun cleaner....nothing abrasive. Clean them as you would a brand new blued gun, being careful not to change or damage the finish. A good coat of light oil when you are done and that's it. I use some Pledge lightly on the wood just to brighten and clean it up a bit and call it good. None of this will impact the value, but will help to prevent any future damage from moisture.

I'm Southwest, near Kipling and Bowles. If it would help and you are in the neighborhood I'd drop them in my dip tank for a few minutes for ya one evening....just drop me a PM here. Nothing fancy in the tank, I use Ed's Red, but it works well. BTW, I usually keep the plasticj/wood parts away from the cleaning chemicals. It might just be me, but I don't trust them near my plastic or wood parts.

Bob