Recently, I was given an old model 94 with a broken buttstock. It has been sitting in a basement for at least 20 years, and has some pitting, and light surface rust, as well as the aforementioned broken stock. The action seems to work fine, but I would want the rifle completely gone through to make it whole again. Date of manufacture comes out to be 1896. I find no trace of bluing on this rifle, either. So what's my options? I would have considered sending it back to Winchester for a refitting, but they are no longer around. Is there another shop that specializes in the older guns, or would any competent 'smith do? I realize that any monetary value the gun had is gone because of it's condition, so I just want to make it nice again and shoot it, hopefully for not too much $$. It was originally purchased new by the grandfather of the man I just bought some land in NY from, who bought it to hunt deer in the back acres of the farm. It was passed down two generations, but ended up getting damaged in a car accident years ago. I thought it would be neat to use the gun again to take some deer there if I could get it fixed up again. Thanks! Any advice is appreciated!

Doug Turnbull Restorations is your best bet. You just need to understand that you get what you pay for and from all accounts, Turnbull is the best. You will find his ads in the Shooting magazines and on the net.

Thanks, Sinbad. I'll check him out.