C grade

[Herb Hewlett]

I recently acquired a C grade lifter,sent the 12 ga. barrels to Breck Gorman ,he did his magic and they look wonderful. next step was to pull the locks and try to clean them up so they did not cock so hard, with some blaster and a screw driver sharpened to fit the lock screw it came out easily.Now to my question
what is a good liquid to soak them in and remove 140 years of dried grease.
Or is there a method to remove the gunk that is quick and easy with no special tools? My plan is to use it for Grouse this week ,if possible. Herb

[CraigThompson]

I’d use a sonic cleaner , most likely take a bit of time . I used a sonic cleaner on an A grade Fox that was later embellished and filled with old grime . It brought the engraving back out very nicely .

[paul golston]

Ditto the sonic cleaner . I like to put a mix of mineral spirits / ATF oil W/a Dash of Kroil and most everthing comes apart. I have a 1815 lock ( Brown Bess)that had not been touched in 200 yrs. before I let it bath for 36 hrs. All screws come out with a "washer" under it of oxidized grease .

[Herb Hewlett]

Thanks for the info on a sonic cleaner but I don't happen to own one.
I think I'm looking for something I can wash the locks in by hand and get them reasonably clean. Thanks again ,Herb

[CraigThompson]

Thanks for the info on a sonic cleaner but I don't happen to own one.
I think I'm looking for something I can wash the locks in by hand and get them reasonably clean. Thanks again ,Herb

You can go on Harbor Freight I think and pick up a decent sized cleaner for your needs in the $85 range . https://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-63256.html

[Chuck Bishop]

A tooth brush + mineral spirits + Gun Scrubber + a light oiling to protect the metal.

[Russell E. Cleary]

It looks like you flunked downsizing, Herb.

If I have this right, when we last spoke you had said something to me along the lines of your having reckoned with your stage in life and had sold off nearly all of your guns.

Nice to hear that a C-grade hammer gun, rife with possibilities for you to oversee the reclamation of, can call us back into the game.

[Herb Hewlett]

Thanks guys I found an old battery run toothbrush that I think will work perfectly,I even have some mineral spirits.
Now about my ,ahem, down sizing. In the past year I bought 3 Lifters,and an
English ,D.Williamson 12 with 30" brls. bored cyl. and full. My thoughts are that next year I am definitely, maybe downsizing .That still gives me the rest of this year to grab some more great buys.
Grouse hunting has been great this year plenty of birds and lots of Woodcock
My Brittany ,Hooch has finally turned into a bird dog instead of a knucklehead
and I did not have to swear at him but once or twice.

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks guys I found an old battery run toothbrush that I think will work perfectly,I even have some mineral spirits.
Now about my ,ahem, down sizing. In the past year I bought 3 Lifters,and an
English ,D.Williamson 12 with 30" brls. bored cyl. and full. My thoughts are that next year I am definitely, maybe downsizing .That still gives me the rest of this year to grab some more great buys.
Grouse hunting has been great this year plenty of birds and lots of Woodcock
My Brittany ,Hooch has finally turned into a bird dog instead of a knucklehead
and I did not have to swear at him but once or twice.

Herb, I like your conviction to "definitely, maybe" downsize.:) We should all have such conviction. Glad to learn your grouse hunting has been going well, and that your pup is making you proud. Are you shooting birds with one of your lifters? A lifter is on my "to do" list.:corn:

[Richard Flanders]

I use lacquer thinner in my sonic cleaner and toss the pieces in a day early without running it. Turn it on the next day and all the nasty goo just disappears.

[Herb Hewlett]

Thanks all for helping me clean up this lifter,it turns out that 140 years of gunk is indeed the culprit in the hard to cock hammers ,with the amount of Grouse and Woodcock hunting I'm doing, I don't have much time to finish up this C grade.Maybe late season [December] .Right now I'm using a repro and an English sidelock and occasionally a lifter in 12 ga.. All have taken Grouse this year that Hooch has pointed,so for me a banner year so far.Headed back up to camp tomorrow for another week then if the snow flies maybe track that big buck that I know must be out there. Sometimes I feel I'm the luckiest person in the world. Best to all and thank you for your help. Herb

[Arthur Shaffer]

I use lacquer thinner in my sonic cleaner and toss the pieces in a day early without running it. Turn it on the next day and all the nasty goo just disappears.

That sounds like it would really clean. Better be sure of the electrical classification of the machine. That could be an instant time bomb depending on quality and electrical environment rating.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

How about a photo?

[Herb Hewlett]

Just returned from Grouse hunting,will try to post some photo's tomorrow.

[Herb Hewlett]

I'm not so good with computers and can't figure out how to post pictures taken
with my cell phone,not even sure where to send them. Herb

[Kirk Potter]

Here you go Herb.

[Garry L Gordon]

One day I hope to shoot one like that. What a nice gun!

[Herb Hewlett]

Thank you Kirk for posting the pictures,I had forgotten I sent them to you.

[John Davis]

Herb, what’s the serial number of that gun? Thanks, John

[Herb Hewlett]

serial # is 15779

[John Davis]

Here's C grade 15678:

[charlie cleveland]

wow very nice gun.....charlie

[Herb Hewlett]

That is a very nice C grade. I notice some differences in the engraving between John Davis'es C grade and mine,his has a small duck in front of the trigger guard and mine has a woodcock. Some of the dogs are in different positions
also I think. When I get mine back together I would like to see better pictures of both to compare the differences in engraving of two C grades only one hundred serial #s apart.

[John Davis]

A closer side by side comparison would be interesting. I would say your C has more engraving overall. But both are really neat guns.

[Larry Stauch]

WOW guys, those are really nice guns.
Congratulations to both of you on finding some beautiful old guns.