This is the deer rifle that my dad bought from Kmart, when he came back from being drafted (Vietnam War). He was stationed in Germany.

The wood is dinged up and there is some rust on the metal. The rear sight broke, and was replaced with fiber optics (front rear)

What would you do with it:
- Have it refinished.
- Oil it up and put it in a case and leave it.

I won't ever use it. Just want to give it to my son, in ~10-20 years once he is settled down.

I got a few guns after my dad passed last year. I have left them all just as they were. All those bad spots had stories that went along with them. A lot of them I knew and some I didn’t. Meant more to me to leave them as is. But to each there own. Just my 2 cents.

I wouldn't refinish it. If just some rust on the metal, put some elbow into it and get as much off as possible. Leave the dings (character) in the wood. Clean the internals well. Try and find period correct sights (ebay, 24hrCF, google) and get the period incorrect fiber ops off. Oil it well, go shoot it and let your son do the same, clean the barrel afterwards and then put it up somewhere in a nice dry spot.

Take the rust off with a piece of denim and a little oil. If that doesn't work use 0000 steel wool SOAKED in oil (it has to be soaked in oil completely or it will take the finish off) to gently remove the rust. Then clean/oil and put away.

Take care of the rust, oil her all up, maybe polish up the stock with some liquid gold furniture polish, but otherwise leave it as is.

I like Automatic Transmission Fluid and light steel wool for getting just a light rust off and I would maybe rub a dab of tru oil on the stock and leave it. If it really needs to be refinished I have had a few old guns Cerakoted who's finish was not salvageable. Turned out nice.

If it were me I'd have it refinished and restored as far as the sights go, and I'd hunt with it.

Outback wants it

Choot ‘em! Nothing like shouldering your kin’s long gun and putting meat on the table. As long as it’s in good working order.

what XVII said ...

For sure hunt with it.

I'm sure your dad would want you to use it, and your son to use it too. It's not like you are going to wear it out unless your taking it to the range every day.

I got the same gun made in1967 from my dad after he passed away. I want to kill one deer with it before I put it up. I actually had to put a higher fiber optic front sight on the gun as it was shooting 8-10 inches high at 25 yards no matter how I adjusted rear sight. Also, my vision isn’t as good so the fiber optic really helps. I sighted it in 2 weeks ago and I’m on and confident out to 50-75 yards. So once I accomplish that goal I’ll prob just admire it from time to time.

Dr. B

I was thinking of getting a little brass plaque with the info on it and mount it on the side.

Sell it to outback!

I'd restore it only as far as it was when your dad last hunted with it and I'd take it hunting occasionally. It wouldn't be my main rifle but it would definitely get a few more notches in the stock. Those hunts would be in honor of dad. I've got my daddy's old 870 wingmaster and it's gotten a few more character marks on it since he passed.

This got me to digging in the safe. I got my granddads 94 years ago. I did a little research and believe it is a 1953 model ( serial #2006920). It in really nice shape, buttstock has some wear but the blueing is in great shape.

I always used a nickle to rub rust off gently then oil over it good.