Opinions Needed On Restoration Work - Should I "Age" New Stock?

[Cross Draw Dave]

Here's some pictures of my  recently acquired Burnside Spencer, serial number 5471.
It was apparently in a fire and the forearm and buttstock were severly damaged. I'm working on cleaning it up and replacing stocks as the action and other metal are in fairly good shape. It has fixed buckhorn style rear sights that look original. It has dovetails for both the buckorn style sight and ladder sights as well. The Front sight, rear swivel and saddle bar staple/ring are missing.(talked to Phil at S&S and he figures the heat from the fire melted the front sight brazing which allowed it to fall off)

It's amazing that the action still functions and the metal is in pretty good shape. I'm gonna start cleaning her up and trying to do a basic restoration over the Christmas holidays. My father in-law gave me this gun thinking it was pretty hopeless, but I think he's gonna be surprised when I get her done. One thing that's really unfortunate is that he had been burglarized in the early eighties, and the local sheriff convinced him to engrave his SSN on every gun he owned. Not real good advice, but I think it was pretty common at the time. Sooooo...his SSN is engraved on the left side of the receiver. If anyone has any ideas about correcting that let me know.

The charred stock will be coming off this weekend and she's going in a kerosene dip for a few days to soften the crud (pre-cleaning). I've got a Dunlap buttstock coming, and the Pa -Inlaw had replaced the forearm years ago when he was at Dixie Gunworks.

My biggest question right now is do ya'll think I should age the new stocks and metal replacement parts to make them appear more original? I don't really think that has any affect on value, but you guys are more educated than me on the subject.
What say ye members of the Spencer Shooters Society??

[Two Flints]

Cross Draw Dave,

If it were me, the metal is old so make the stock look old, too.

Please post larger photos if you can.  My eyes are very weak and I have a time    seeing your photos with any detail.  If you don't send me too many, I will post your photos for you.  Send them to me at fsgrand2@fairpoint.net

You can post photos as large as 1024 x 768 pixels on SSS, if you have an online photo posting web site like photobucket.

Two Flints

[PvtGreg]

The antiques experts always tell you to leave furniture alone as long as the piece is functional.  Is the charred piece that bad?  Maybe leave it as is?

[St. George]

If the heat from the fire allowed the brazing/silversoldering to fail - then the strength of the overall weapon's pretty much ruined.

These guns were basically built of iron - not steel - so the high temperatures didn't do the existing metallurgy any favors.

Because the action works is no indication of inherent strength.

I'd leave as-is, oil it and make a wall-hanger out of it.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Shenandoah]

I agree with St George. If the fire was so hot it charred the wood and affected the silver solder, the metal is compromised. I've seen many weapons affected this way by fire. They are only good as wall hangers.

Sheandoah

[Cross Draw Dave]

Thanks guys. I have no intention of making a shooter out of her, but I'd at least like to dress her up enough
to make her look pretty. The charred stock is literally falling apart, so it's a moot point. It's got to go.

Two Flints, I think you should be able to click on the images for a larger view, but I'll try to post bigger images for those tired old eyes.

I'm thinking I'm not gonna do any harm by distressing the stocks a bit to make them look appropriate to the age and condition of the gun. The metal, while surely damaged by the heat, certainly looks good as the char and crud comes off so I think she will make a pretty wall hanger.

It's a shame I won't be able to take her to the dance though. 

[Jan Buchwald]

Comment to weakening of steel. If the springs are working all right, it can't be that bad.
I have a Burnside spencer carbine, and can provide photoes of details if wanted

[Cross Draw Dave]

Thanks for the offer of detail pics Jan!

If you wouldn't mind, any would be appreciated, especially detail of the front sight and saddle bar staple/ring, as I will be
replacing those parts first and would love to see detail of those areas.

[Jan Buchwald]

Mail sent with pictures, if it fails, they can be found here:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/jan_buchwald/Forumbilleder/

[Herbert]

Thanks guys. I have no intention of making a shooter out of her, but I'd at least like to dress her up enough
to make her look pretty. The charred stock is literally falling apart, so it's a moot point. It's got to go.

Two Flints, I think you should be able to click on the images for a larger view, but I'll try to post bigger images for those tired old eyes.

I'm thinking I'm not gonna do any harm by distressing the stocks a bit to make them look appropriate to the age and condition of the gun. The metal, while surely damaged by the heat, certainly looks good as the char and crud comes off so I think she will make a pretty wall hanger.

It's a shame I won't be able to take her to the dance though. 

As mentioned if the spring are OK there is most likely little damage to the meatal,I would still get it re case hardened to be shore and the barrel ckecked,as for the wood just rub in a little linseed oil then hand rub the stock every day for a fotnight,this rifle has been modifyed to be a better hunting rifle by getting rid of the sling bar and replacing the back sight,may be even the front sight,so I would not replace the sling bar or back sight,and the front sight could be re placed with a dovtail fitted sight,this woud be in the spirit of the rifle and would not be out of place,these carbines deserve a better fat than jus hanging on the wall,no matter how good that looks