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Winchester Model 63 Project

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8.4K views 43 replies 26 participants last post by  Trushot45  
#1 ·
I have always liked Winchester Model 63 rifles. To me, they fit in the "classy" or "elegant" .22 rifle category. That's the same category that I would put the Winchester Model 61 and the Browning SA 22 rifles. So, a few years ago I bought one from a Gunbroker seller. I bought it as a fixer upper and because of the condition it was in, I had no regrets about "restoring" it.

I have refinished a few gun stocks in my years so I wasn't too afraid of tackling that part of the project. The metal, on the other hand, I wasn't about to attempt. Then I learned that a friend of mine had a son who was attending a gunsmiths school in Pennsylvania. BINGO! The rest is captured in living color photos. :bthumb:

Here's the little gem just as I received it from the dealer...

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Wear and tear...we have our share.

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#3 ·
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More ugliness...

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As for the metal, the bluing was either mostly gone or badly worn. Fortunately there was no pitting or rust. The holes in the receiver had obviously been drilled and tapped by 2 different gunsmithing specialists...one of them blind and the other one drunk! The stocks had cracks, scratches, dents and chips and were also badly soaked with decades of gun oil, grease and sweat. :sad:

But, I was determined to bring that little blaster back to some degree of it's former glory, so, not deterred, I forged on, fearless into the unknown.

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#6 ·
lazershooter said:
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The holes in the receiver had obviously been drilled and tapped by 2 different gunsmithing specialists...one of them blind and the other one drunk! .
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Click to expand...
The Lyman sight specifically made for 63s was the #45, & the #41 will also work. As far as I can tell, however, these holes don't look like they match up with those sights; but at least the proper sight would hide the butchery.
 
#10 ·
I handled the easy work on this project…the stocks. Kyle, my young gunsmithing friend, took care of the metal work and bluing. And, once you see his work, you will agree that he did a fantastic job.

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The first thing that I did was use Citristrip stripping gel on the stocks to strip all of the original finish off. After that came hours of sanding, wetting, sanding, wetting….

I used the water and iron method to steam out the worst of the dents and scratches. The decades of sweat and gun oil were the biggest challenge. I used heat, acetone and calcium carbonate paste and all of my patience working that grime out of the wood pores. I finally just gave up and thought, "This is about as good as I can get it. Hope it looks ok once I get it finished."

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C
#12 · (Edited)
Not sure what type of sights you have in mind. I think the factory iron sights on 61 and 63's are among the best ever offered. I remember head shooting shooting many a Fox Squirrel feeling safe by hiding high up in the crotch of tall Beech trees as a kid with my Model 62.
That said, my 70 year old eyes can no longer do that, so all my rifles now carry scopes.
If I bought and restored a Model 63 without scope grooves I would have some cut.
On an old Rimfire Central thread a poster offered that Gander Mountain Gunsmithing will cut scope grooves in 22 receivers.
https://www.ganderoutdoors.com/services/gunsmith.html

Again, looking forward to seeing the final results of what is looking like a very satisfying project.
 
#13 ·
I can’t give much detail on the work Kyle did on the metal. I do know that he welded the holes in the receiver and filed them smooth. He filed, sanded and polished everything then put a beautiful, deep blue on the rifle. He is a very talented kid and he was taught well.


Once I had the wood to my satisfaction I put a coat of Birchwood Casey’s walnut stain on it, let it dry and then wiped it down with a lightly dampened cloth to even it out. After that I applied several coats of tru-oil. The final result turned out very well and this little rifle gets a lot of looks and nods of approval at the range.
 
#16 ·
lazershooter said:
I can't give much detail on the work Kyle did on the metal. I do know that he welded the holes in the receiver and filed them smooth. He filed, sanded and polished everything then put a beautiful, deep blue on the rifle. He is a very talented kid and he was taught well.
Click to expand...
:bthumb: I love to hear this and look forward to seeing his work. I'm sure your friend's son did a great job! These days everyone's specializing in one thing or another. Full-service gunsmiths who actually know what they're doing are becoming hard to come by.

One of my brothers is a full-service gunsmith who went to gunsmithing school out in Trinidad, CO about 30 years ago and then went on to teach at the same school for many years. It just so happens the post I did a few months ago showing some of his work featured a some holes that were filled in a 63

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https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1183695

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1183775
 
#25 ·
Thanks folks!

This little rifle is a far cry from where it had deteriorated to. Not that it was unusable...it was still a functioning rifle when I adopted it. But it was exactly what I was looking for. A Model 63 that was in need of some TLC and one that would increase in value once the refinishing project was completed.

I am really pleased with the final results. Not too shabby for a couple of amateur gunplumbers, if I may say so myself. :bthumb:

It's not perfect but it's mine to enjoy and to be proud of and this little blaster will be passed to my son one day so he can enjoy it and be proud to own it.

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