Refurbished T/C cherokee

Here's my first attempt at refinishing a rifle before tackling a kit.It is a 45cal.T/C Cherokee that had a cracked stock.The stock has been glass bedded w/boat building epoxy and milled fibers.All steel parts were cold browned with Danglers and brass w/BC brass black.Oh,I also added a hunters star inlay in the cheek piece just to give it a little something extra.I can't stand that "production gun"look.Did I screw up a good gun?All remarks welcome.Thanks,Chris

Chris,
I think you did a fine job, I've always liked brown muzzleloaders better than blued.
I like the star also, I put a sterling silver hunters star in my CVA big bore .58 almost 20 years ago.
Regards, Longball58

Very nice, Longbow. I like the hunter's star and I really favor the browned barrel and mounts.
Did you send the cracked stock back to T/C for warranty replacement?

I have a babied P/A Hunter that has been a consistent disappointment to me and this week when I took it out of my safe to get ready for the PA flint season, I noticed a hairline crack that runs from the 2nd tang bolt hole to the lock bolt hole. This baby's going back to T/C for sure.

IMO, anybody who ever understakes a project like this whether its on a ML, a car, boat, etc, should never ask other people what they think...because the bottom line is it's the individual person's project and they're the only one who's opinion really matters.

I'll also add I think that hunter's star inlay on he cheekpiece is fantastic...it looks so clean and fits so precisely you'd think it was a decal...I wanted to put a smaller one on a stock I have to eliminate a blemish but have been chicken to try it :grin:

I think it looks really good. You did a nice job, :thumbsup: hope it shoots as good as it looks.

Thanks for the kind words fellas.I sure hope the repair job(glass bedding) holds well.I gouged out an area in the breech end of the barrel channel roughly 5"long and 3/16"deep(before bedding) to aid in strengthening the crack.I think I'll keep my loads light until I know for sure.Thanks again,Chris

I think you did a fine job!! :bow: :bow:

That inlay sparks that gun right up. Speaking for the peanut gallery, if I could do inlays as well as you do I might put a few more on.

That brown went on real good too, nice and even throughout. I have a spaghetti plains rifle that might benefit from the same treatment!

I love photos of refinished factory guns. I've done it myself with all my factory guns. Really makes it feel like it's "yours".
I don't see anything on this rifle that I don't like. I love the finish and stock shape and you can't beat a nice, dark browned barrel. The star is well done and tight looking. Great job!

roundball said:

...because the bottom line is it's the individual person's project and they're the only one who's opinion really matters.
...

Click to expand...

That's true enough. But I'll still say nice job and it looks great anyway. Only fly in the soup (IMO) is the sling studs ( :shake: ).

Fine job, Longbow, and thanks for posting that. I'm about to attempt something similar.

I've got a .32 Cherokee with the same problem. Stock cracked back through the wrist. I sent the stock to a stock duplicator a few years ago and he duplicated it in a good piece of maple. Before doing that he glued the original stock back together. I think he had some problems drilling the ramrod hole in the new stock as the barrel channel was glass bedded when received.

I've been shooting the Cherokee with the original glued together stock ever since. It's a very pretty piece of walnut. This winter I hope to finish the maple stock and then re-finish the original stock to keep as a spare. Like you, a little project prior to attempting a complete home build.

Wasn't planning to do any metal work on the Cherokee as the blueing is perfect. But your browning job looks so good, it's got me thinking. Love the inlay too.
:hatsoff: :hatsoff:
Bob

I think it looks really nice :thumbsup: Production guns are a good thing, problem is they all look alike. Afew custom touches like you done, are just what they need.
That hunters star is very nice :hatsoff: I wanted to do the same thing when I "rebuilt" one of my old kit guns awhile ago. Talked myself out of it because I did`nt think I could do a good job of it.

Very nice work!

Chris, methinks you did a great job refinishing your rifle. You would seem to be ready to tackle a kit gun IMO. The only other thing I might add in addition to the sling swivel posts is the rear sight....I would prefer to see a more traditional fixed sight, but then that is only my opinion. Emery

Great job on the cherokee love how the stock turned out,matches well with the browning.Theres a place in Lodi Ohio that has around 100 different muzzleloaders built by just as many different gunsmiths from the 1800's.Every gunsmith had his own way of building his rifle from the same era so its neat how you've added your own touch to this rifle just like they've done in the past.Cool job!

I firmly agree with you guys on the sling studs and sights.I had looked at TOTW and found some nice replacement sights that would look real good on it.I think I'll go ahead and get'em.Thanks,Chris

You win best looking TC I have ever seen :thumbsup:

You got it to really look traditional!!

As others have said, them sling swivels should hit the road, but to each his own!

Great job on the finish!!! What did you use? Stain, and finish info??

I'd wager that 150 years ago "Form follows Function" was a Period Correct notion. If those swing swivel studs and rear sights are doing the job for you, why change? It is what it is...and it is a great looking Cherokee
:thumbsup:

I will most likely get laughed off the forum for releasing this :redface: .The "stain" on the walnut stock is actually a light/med. coat of flat black spray paint taken down with 0000 steel wool and the finish is wipe on poly(minwax).If this had been a fine kit or the sort I would not even consider poly but like Short start said"It is what it is.My bottle of Tru-oil had gone to manure and my bottle of Formbys tung oil just wasn't giving the results I wanted.Thank you all for the comments.Chris

Let us know how the Minwax finish holds up to normal wear and tear. I've got a couple of guns that are getting close to needing a refinishing, and this might be a good way to go. :thumbsup: