You may notice the header font matches the font used on the 50th Anniversary model....we'll get to that later
I had also heard that only the first 200-300 of the 50th Anniversary models were made in the old North Haven plant and were said to be of much better quality. Of course if I were to buy one of the 50th Anniversary models it would have to be one of these....
Then I purchased this 1980's vintage Marlin model 60 rifle for $50. It just happened to be one of the coveted mid-eighties models that still have the 18 round magazine (shortened to 15 round in 1987/88) and the last shot hold open feature (added in 1984).
It has the ugly hardwood stock with the "Marshield finish". Here is what it looked like when I brought it home.
The magazine cap needs replacing
These is some minor rust, nothing serious
The receiver will need to be repainted, I am thinking Cerakote
I decided to build the ultimate model 60 by utilizing some of the best parts ever put on a model 60 along with some custom touches.
It will be known as the "Model 60 Super Deluxe Edition".
Then I will refinish the barrel, giving it a high polish blued finish. I will have the receiver refinished with Graphite Black Cerakote.
I will polish and jewel the bolt and install a scope or an aftermarket set of sights.
The first step was collecting the parts, the gun needed a new magazine plug/cap, so I started looking for that part. Gun Parts Corp was out of stock, so I went on ebay. No parts, just complete magazine tubes.
Then I found a deal on three of them, the 18 rounders. They were complete sets (inside and outside tubes) and one of them was a brass one from the "Golden 50" model.
I prefer the newer style charging handles and happen to have had one in stainless, however they do not fit the pre-2005 bolts. So I found this "low mileage" one that also came with a newer style blued charging handle. Now I could choose stainless or blued.
For the sights I decided on a set of Williams Firesights
When it came to replacing the stock, I wanted one of the 50th Anniversary models, but they are sold out and Marlin no longer stocks them.
I did find this stock at Gun Parts Corp. They claimed it was walnut and checkered.....so I ordered it up hoping it was the real deal
As it turned out, this was not walnut, it was some hardwood (Beech or Birch)
Then I found this Boyd's unfinished walnut thumbhole stock on ebay for a reasonable price.
While the inletting is 90+% there, the exterior could use some slimming down
Here is the project rifle next to its new stock
We'll start this project with the stock. I had thought about installing a thin rubber recoil pad, but when rummaging through my supply of recoil/butt pads I found a factory Marlin one that I had picked up a while back for a dollar.
It was nearly the exact same size as the Boyd's butt plate that was already installed, except the holes were not lining up correctly.
I also decided to add a while line spacer, this is a traditional trim element used in days past and I like the way they look. Here is a Marlin model 99 (the model the preceded the model 60) for reference.
I bought a piece of thin white ABS plastic a few years back for this purpose, I just trace the butt plate and cut it out
Next is the screws, I decided go with some more traditional slotted screws (rather than the Phillips head ones that come standard on the model 60). These are reproduction Winchester screws, I buy them in bulk and in the white (bare steel). I then polish them and blue them.
I ended up buying a new butt plate, even though the one I had was in good shape, it had some flaws, so I ordered a new one
stay tuned for part 2
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