So I bought myself what is probably the cheapest O/U in Scotland and set about a full refurbishment. And I'm moderately pleased with the results.
The photos actually flatter it - the woodwork was a bit chewed up, and the colour was a pretty nasty artificial red stain with a PU top.
So I fully stripped it down and started with the woodwork:
Sanded right back through the layers, down to a 600 grit. Bare, it's got kind of a walnut look.
About 20 coats of teak oil and lots of wet sanding later, the finished article looks like this.
I also sanded back the external metalwork and reblued it:
Here's the final finished piece, including with all its mechanical parts cleaned and relubed:
Overall, very pleased with how it turned out (with the slight exception of the shaping of the recoil pad). The bluing is nigh-on factory finish. That said, I wouldn't bother with the cold bluing again. I don't like working with stupidly poisonous stuff if I don't have to, and I now know how to do the superior hot bluing method.
At the end of the day it's still a cheap shotgun with fixed chokes, but I've grown a bit of a soft spot for it now. And the fit is amazing. Like, my own skin good. And it shoots pretty well. And it's hard to get away from the fact that, all in, it only owes me less than I'd spend on a very modest night out (£65).
I might try something with some proper damage - split wood or a cracked rib - for the next one.
