Hello. I'm a new member to this forum. I usually work on mostly old milsurps. I got this shotgun at my favorite price (free). So here launches my side-by-side experience, although I've overhauled and restored several winchester 97's and 12's.
It was in a box, but only partially disassembled.
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Sears were in the baggy. Some scews and other small bits in folded tape with labels. Stock was off the receiver with a chip on the top left. most of the screw in the receiver were lightly buggered or loosened. Looks like bubba tried to disassemble, ran in to problems not knowing anything, and gave up.
So it sat in the shop for several months while I cleared out more of my usual work, and over the long presidents day weekend it called to me to at least stop it from further deteriorating.
The barrels have pretty clean and shiny bores, couple minor dings in the right tube. He we are closeup before, and after boiling and carding. Fine twist steal living under all that funk. No real pitting, just a nice frosting in a few places.
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Receiver came apart pretty easily, just had to soak a couple screws. I don't think bubba buggered them beyond repair. Here it as it was found in the box.
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After soaking heads in kroil and disassembly, it looked like bubba didn't mess with the internals. everything that was supposed to be on left or right was on the correct side at least. I put the receiver and all other "in the white" parts in a jar of evaporust, and soaked all else in kerosene. Lots of funk and grime in there!
This weekend's effort is to try to reassemble to make sure we have everything and determine if its has hopes of being serviceable, or is destined as a wall hanger. Right away, the tubes are indeed very serviceable - after I raise the dings in the right barrel. I'll wait to do that until everything else checks out since it's $60 to rent the hydraulic dent raiser, and I am without a lathe to make my own tool.
Thanks to member alcavigila for a picture inventory of parts. Out of the gate, I think I'm missing the safety bar, the locking lever tension spring, and the trip spring and pin, but let me triple check the creases of the box to be sure I didn't miss anything.
Ithaca Lewis Restoration
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