I have decided to re-seal and restore a recently purchased Benjamin 312. Based on information/description found on the vintage airguns gallery site my 312 was made in or around 1956, as it matches the key details listed for that production year.
Current condition:
Ability to hold air: No, needs resealed and new piston cup and felts, I have the seal kit and internal springs ordered and special tool, have seen ideas for new felts and may try one of these methods out.
Metal parts: Most of the metal parts and screws are rusted due to past water damage or neglect, all will need cleaned up or replaced. Bolt and sight are salvageable. However bolt only has the little spring and no bearing for inside, don’t know how big that is or if it is critical to have the bearing.
Barrel and Piston Tube: I wanted to leave the brass patina as is, it has no black. However, there was some sort of tar or black bumpy corrosion that would not clean up, so it is getting polished and buffed. This is the most brass I have polished since the days of being a young firefighter. Not sure if I will leave as is or try to reblack it in some way, I just hate the thought of using black paint on brass.
Wood: No cracks detected, the butt of the stock had significant black streaks and the stock finish was flaking away, all wood has been striped and treated with a product known as Savogran (oxalic acid) which removed the black staining.
Muzzle Plug: The one question I have at this point is the front muzzle plug, most of the 312’s I have seen have a brass muzzle plug. The one I have is steel, is this the correct plug or should it be made of brass as well?
This plug was rust encrusted but has cleaned up very nicely and was able to remove the retaining screw with the help of some low heat and penetrating oil. The only thing left to do to it is paint it black or cold blue it for re-use if it is the correct one, if not the search for a brass muzzle plug begins.
Since it is currently disassembled and waiting new parts, I am also open to tips, ideas and suggestions on restoration of what will become a new old 65 year old air rifle.
will add progress pictures at some point soon.
Here is the stock after one 25 minute soak treatment in Savogran and the clean up of barrel and pump tube. I plan on soaking the stock one more time for about an hour this time.
Current condition:
Ability to hold air: No, needs resealed and new piston cup and felts, I have the seal kit and internal springs ordered and special tool, have seen ideas for new felts and may try one of these methods out.
Metal parts: Most of the metal parts and screws are rusted due to past water damage or neglect, all will need cleaned up or replaced. Bolt and sight are salvageable. However bolt only has the little spring and no bearing for inside, don’t know how big that is or if it is critical to have the bearing.
Barrel and Piston Tube: I wanted to leave the brass patina as is, it has no black. However, there was some sort of tar or black bumpy corrosion that would not clean up, so it is getting polished and buffed. This is the most brass I have polished since the days of being a young firefighter. Not sure if I will leave as is or try to reblack it in some way, I just hate the thought of using black paint on brass.
Wood: No cracks detected, the butt of the stock had significant black streaks and the stock finish was flaking away, all wood has been striped and treated with a product known as Savogran (oxalic acid) which removed the black staining.
Muzzle Plug: The one question I have at this point is the front muzzle plug, most of the 312’s I have seen have a brass muzzle plug. The one I have is steel, is this the correct plug or should it be made of brass as well?
This plug was rust encrusted but has cleaned up very nicely and was able to remove the retaining screw with the help of some low heat and penetrating oil. The only thing left to do to it is paint it black or cold blue it for re-use if it is the correct one, if not the search for a brass muzzle plug begins.
Since it is currently disassembled and waiting new parts, I am also open to tips, ideas and suggestions on restoration of what will become a new old 65 year old air rifle.
will add progress pictures at some point soon.
Here is the stock after one 25 minute soak treatment in Savogran and the clean up of barrel and pump tube. I plan on soaking the stock one more time for about an hour this time.
