That darn shiny finish

[Steve McCarty]

Have any of you gents tried to removed that hard shiny finish that some of the Japanese shotguns sport? I've got a few Miroku's that I've had for years and they've picked up some dings that I cannot remove.

Any recommendations out there?

Thanks, Steve

[Rodney Short]

steve ive found you need to scrape the gloss with either a shard of glass or a utility knife blade, once you dull it, sock the stripper to it, dont spare it, i like using cira 1850 products
once it starts bubbling, scrape it off, and apply more, by scraping the finish first your exposing the open pores in the finish which allows it to soak in, ive seen trying a spanish over under for a fellow, put stripper right on finish, took forever to start working, so i did the scraping first, helped out alot

[paul stafford jr]

hi steve i feel your pain the finish they use on there guns is tough as nails. i use the best gel type stripers i can find. often two or three different types. i apply it let it work for 15 to 20 miniuts then start scrubing it off with green scotch brite pads,go with the grain. this will take several applications when it looks like you have it striped well, wash it let it dry over night. you may have to strip some more or if your lucky you may only need a very light sanding on the spots that didnt strip, i use a 1 in by 2 in aluminum block with a handle on it to steam out the dents. i heat the block with a prophan torch and put a wet rag over the dents apply the hot block and the steam will raise the dent.now with the dents gone and stock cleaned up you can start the refinish . start too finish it can take two or three weeks or you can pay someone to do it for you....good luck

[Steve McCarty]

Thank you gentlemen for your replies to my question. My shop is in my garage and today it's 25 degrees in there. Think I'll wait till spring to start the project. I have three Jap shotguns and all sport the hard plastic looking finish. A scratch stays forever. I try to baby my guns, but 30 years ago I was hunting with a group of my Marine Corps pals and we drove all over the hills in a Dodge Power Wagon and our gear took hits.

[charlie cleveland]

steve that what they made stevens for..give m a beating and they come up clicking every time..all fun aside most guns that are hunted hard with really get their share of nicks and scratches...the well built ones are the ones that make it through thick and thin and still shoot today after a hundred plus years..such as parkers stevens lc smiths winchesters fox ithacas etc..what im trying to say i guess is that a gun that still looks like new and is a hundred years old just aint been hunted with much...ive only got a few good lookin guns and you can bet your bottom dollar they aint seen much action...now my old shooters there still tight and soumd but in the looks department its gone....i take care of my gunslike putting them in a case when i put them in the truck if im traveling far but most of the time there layed or placed in the seat beside me and i too drive a off road truck and them guns do get scared from time to time...thats why i guess i like them old stevens so much there like that old dodge ram...there ram tough.... charlie

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