Parkerized HW97

[bigtoe01]

A while back I posted to the forum asking for alternative metal finishes, I have a 77K with Colin at MAG for bluing but wanted something different for the 97. The gun came to me in a sorry state, someone in its previous years had installed a mad spring to this rifle which had bent the cocking lever, elongated holes and shook the silencer to pieces. This means without spending serious cash (cocking levers new are 65quid) anything i did was somewhat of a compromise although would be fully usable.

To show what a mad spring will do to a 97 check these first pics:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3510.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3511.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3512.JPG

As the gun was being cocked the cocking lever was bending to one side, this looks to have stretched the steel on the pivot point and elongated the pivot hole. I straightened the lever, heated and re shaped the pivot point and re hardened it a little, at one point i considered making Phosphor bronze bushings for it but these were not needed.I had a friend tig weld the cocking lever catch body to the silencer.

The parkerizing was carried out by forum member Knight Guitars (Alan) the price was competitive and his communication was very good. Remember you will always get slightly different shades with parkerizing, this did not worry me as i actually feel it adds some character.

Few pics for you:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3564.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3565.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3566.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3567.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3568.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3569.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3570.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3571.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3572.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3573.JPG
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/920660/HW97/IMG_3574.JPG

I still have the ButPad to finish or change and baffles to be added to the small silencer...overall though the parkerizing has added to the camo theme of the gun. It soaks oil up like a sponge also and does look to be very durable.
This gun is no prize winner, but i do feel its very presentable now and an awesome hunting tool.