Winchester Model 71 wood and checkering: Anvil 0135 

I use to work on high end pool cues. I used steam to remove dents but also used a glass rod to finish it off. By rubbing the rod with the DRY grain over the dent at least 1 inch ahead and behind the dent, more is better, you can remove almost any dent completely. No sanding required 90% of the time and then only with 220 or finer very lightly mostly to just clean up the surface. Used this many times on gun stocks too. The best glass rod I found was a glass pestle, like you use with a mortar. Just another trick to add to the tool box. Beautiful rifle, thanks for sharing.

Mark, my father bought one of these in the 40’s right after he came home from the Pacific. He hunted with it till it was stolen in the 60’s. I have always regretted the loss of that gun. It’s like you took me back in time with this one. Thank you.

Mine has a Aperture Site on the bolt. and a side mount scope. My Grandpa bought it in a panic, when the Japanese submarine shelled Elwood Beach CA near us. in 1942

Oh Magoo! You've done it again! Out flippin standing! Thanks Mark & Bruno!

Watching a master craftsman at work is an absolute joy. Thanks for sharing your phenomenal work into restoring this beauty. That checkering work was awesome, especially showing how one can overcome mistakes. That border around the checkering makes it visually pop. And after the oil, Just.. beautiful wow.

I like watching your videos because, unlike others, you respect the weapon and take great care no to destroy any patina. The idea is to only do what must be done and blend it in to look original. Your jobs enhance the look of a 50 yo gun that was loved and cared for, not a new old gun or one that was completely refinished. "The gun's only new once!" Best advice ever! 👍

Outstanding job on that checkering, I have neither the skill nor the steady hand to do checkering. I have determined that the people who criticize a skilled craftsmen on the internet are neither skilled nor craftsmen.

Thank you for your art again Mark! Greetings from Finland!

I put a Springfield J Stevens, 16 gauge shotgun made in 1921 back into the gene pool. It should be good to go for another 102 years. Thanks for the videos, Mark

I inherited a Model 71 when my father passed away. He inherited it from my grandfather who inherited from my great great uncle. Manufactured in 1936 the first year of production. Three digit serial number. It’s my favorite rifle. I also have a Browning reproduction 71 manufactured in 1987. Both are beautiful rifles.

Awesome Woodwork greetings from Germany.

The attention to detail done in this work is exemplary.

Love your work! When steaming deep dents, here's a trick: stick a Band-Aid over the dent, and then wet the pad. Allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. This allows water to soak into the wood under the dent. Remove the Band-Aid. When you apply heat with a wet cloth and a small iron or a soldering stick, the water under the dent turns to steam and puffs up the crushed fibers.

Mark, as a very modest collector from what I've seen the rifle stock and forearm haven't been "completely" refinished and none of the edges have been rolled and the inletting looks sharp. I applaud your efforts and wisdom in resetting this and giving future generations a chance to use a functional classic. This rifle is just as lucky to find the newest owner as the rifle was to find him. Regards.

Mark, my submarine brother...some pretty impressive work!

As soon as the stain went on you could see the beauty of the work you've done

Currently conserving a 1915 Steyr M95 with your tips and tricks in your conservation and rust bluing videos. Your wit and wisdom never ceases to amaze me

Mark these restoration videos are exactly why your my favorite guntuber... it's relaxing to watch you work your magic. 😊

Amazing the amount of thought you put into an old chunk of wood and still keep it interesting... magical.

One of the best RU-vid channels I subscribe to. Thanks much Mark.

Ive restored my 1886 (38/56) and my 71, the 71 is a a very early long tang. I did the take down and parts refit but sent the bluing out to Fords 20+ years ago. Fire blue like the commercial older 1911's. I Love large frame winchesters. 71's with checkering were deluxe rifles, 12.98$ extra in 1937.

Watching you explain how yiu can fix the lines in the checkering is exactly how I get the body lines right when doing body work as am autobody technician. Sometimes you gotta make that body line straight or crisp where it isn't anymore & you really just have to guide your removal process until you get the desired shape and lines

Hand checkering is just one of those skills that terrifies me- so much precision work and so much possibility for a small error to ruin it. Just watching it being done makes me nervous, LOL. Great work Mark, that is real skill earned through lots of practice!

Thanks for another great video. You do amazing work!!

Wow this is why I watch all your videos, beautiful!!!

Oh, dang it Mark. I have been sick the past couple days and then you say "Pop you open like a grape". Thanks goodness I have not been eating as it would be back up here already!

As always, excellent content Mark. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes to You and Your Family.

Totally in awe at watching a master wizard at work! I have always wanted to checker but I know I lack the Zen to pull it off. Thank You Mark as always for sharing your skills and knowledge!

Always a pleasure to watch your vids and to partake of some of your extensive experience.

This man is a professional. Love your videos Mark, always a learning session. 👍🏼

"Polised hammer faces" Best advice ever! I wish I'd learned it earlier. Thanks Mark.

Marks videos are the only ones I watch at normal speed. Everything else gets the 1.5-2x treatment. Cheers from WA state.

What a beautiful checking job, and the danish oil really makes it pop with the red infused with the oil. It's just gorgeous to see it sucking in all that stunning color hope to see the complete finish on that old Winchester I imagine it will be spectacular.

Oh man, I have its twin in parts next to my desk. You're a good (bad) influence!

love watching the process of restoration

really enjoyed this one you covered things i'm lacking on in the woodwork department ...practicing on an old piece of walnut trying to improve my checkering skills but not brave enough yet to try on a stock....looking forward to seeing the metalwork being done on this one too...i hope.....thanks for teaching an old dog some new tricks.

thanks for doing these! enjoy watching this stuff immensely. thank you for sharing your knowledge of firearms work. i redid the checkering on my 1945 savage 720 (browning a5 clone for those that dont know.) its awesome to see it go from rounded flat to these popping diamonds. used a cheap tool from Brownells and just took my time with it on my lap. i took my first turkey with this gun. 12g, 28 or 30 inch full choke barrel. it also has a nice game scene on each side of the receiver. found it for 195 at Kittery trading post years ago. i sanded it down to 600 grit and i think i did 7 coats maybe more of tru oil to get that glossy finish.

Awesome as expected Mark. God Bless

I love the red too. As you were talking about how old the gun is, it made me think of how old the wood must really be. Maybe another 200 years?!

Thank you sir this has been a very enjoyable and informative video we appreciate your knowledge and that you are willing to share it with us six stars brother

That electric checkering tool is really cool...

I have a 1938 Model 71. It's such a beauty.

Thank for the video,Now I can clean my 71 proper,didn’t know the magazine tube was threaded.Had a feeling but wasn’t sure now I know.

I have an early 1957 Winchester Model 71 in my safe. I love a lever action rifle.

The new mic sounds great Mark!

@ 13:41 BTW ... Happy Birthday Mrs. Novak.

Great to see a well cared for rifle made much better.

Master at work

Some nice wood & finish work.

Once more, an excellent video! I sat and polished my hammers while I watched. I am getting ready to start an 1892 restock project (a total ugly duckling). Winchester Red is as hot as a fine looking individual… trying to keep this within the scope of being a family show… 😊

I was lucky enough to have briefly owned a 71 clambered in .348. No checkering but a thing of beauty just the same. 👍👍

Some days I can watch for hours

What the human eye sees and what the human mind thinks is right are surprising different. Even more interesting the difference in how the time frame that the human lived in, the machine perfection that we think is great vs the human hand imperfections that work creates.

As always your work is amazing! Wow! 🇦🇺🍺🍺

Skills to pay the bills !

I really like the pun about the checkering, not creating diamonds only removing everything that isn’t a diamond I think it was Michelangelo that said something similar about his sculptures.

Thanks for the awesome video!!!

Mark, is there going to be a part 2? I hope so, I really enjoy your videos.

I had one, a delux model in the 1960s. Stolen in 1970. One problem it had was that the lever would open (pop down) about 1/4 of an inch when fired with factory ammo. There’s a reason for this which of course I knew nothing about at the time and I ruined the the collector value by having Ackley’s shop chamber the gun for the improved (reduced body taper) 348 cartridge which of course made no difference. Mark, I hope you look into this.

Fascinating thanks Mark

14:35 Same with plastic, taking it to 600-1000grit looks nice but it'll craze when you hit it with clear coat. Learned the hard way, easier and better to stop earlier and add more coats

Absolutely beautiful rifle!

Would love to see a whole video about cigars. What kind you like, how you picked it up, etc.

"this is sculpture, not art!" Gotta tell that to my carver friends :)

good stuff Mark !

You're doing it all wrong. The only way to rectify is to have me there in person.

I hope we get a video on the medal but this was awesome 😊

Very nice work. I’ve heard not to sand wood with anything finer than 220. The dust will actually clog the pores of the wood. That’s why I’d doesn’t take a finish well.

great work

Very enjoyable

You are an American treasure.

Wow I am currently conserving one a friend of a coworker inherited

This guy is inspirational. Thanks for this

Excellent 👍👍

Wow thank's Mark 👍👍

Love to see you do a video on the Stevens 520/620

Great content! I’ve never really understood the aversion to conservation or restoration work on older guns, assuming they weren’t the personal property of Nelson or King Edward . Always seemed the alternative was to let them disintegrate into rust and dust.

gorgeous

Beautiful

I also prefer the deep red of many pre war gun stocks. The grain really pops with an oil finish.

Mark, nice flintlock photo in Ducks Unlimited this month!

Thanks again

Ideal tool for for taking out the dip would be a scraper plane.

Yet another great video and I appreciative you taking the time to do and show. Thanks Mark! P.S. For those of us not in the know, it’d be nice to see and get a close up while seeing the tools you use for this kind of work. While you were talking about and mentioning the fence on the cutting tool it was out of camera view. Also, can I assume I that the diamond shaped card was also a tool used when checkering.’? Or no?

Checkering looks like more attention than I want to pay

Please show the reassembly of the gun. Please. Please. Please. I hate begging but I've got a Model 71 that was my dad's. It's the only gun I have that I have never disassembled and would love to see a tutorial. I doesn't get shot much, primarily because of ammo availability, so it's not a mess. I just want to be more comfortable with it.

Opinion of one…If I was the owner I would just ask for mechanical inspection/repair and stock redo…I’m a sucker for worn metal finishes on old guns.

When do we get to see "The Rest of The Story"? I gotta see it go back together.

Nice!

Mark, love your content. How do i get in touch with you about a Drilling that i have thats misbehaving?

my condolences to your old iron, seemed like a old workhorse

Hi Mark, I love seeing your work! It inspires me to want to get more into gunsmithing, and particularly gun finishing. While I am starting to practice on items of no significant value, I do have a French contract Savage 1907 that came to me in rather poor shape, and a nice all numbers matching Luger from 1916 that has a “purple” hue to it… Are you still taking on new projects? And if so, how should I contact you? Thanks!

I love the m71 I wanna find a browning m71

Disassembly is certainly a process on the 71! Can't wait to see it finished up. I am working on one right now that was neglected and forgotten in the back of a safe. Do you have any suggestions for removing the magazine tube? Mine is throughly stuck.

Are we going to see a part 2 on this gun?

I love old winchesters. I feel live the 94 lever action is superior to the marlin 336 action because I have never seen a 94 jam.

How do I get an iron like you are using? Brand, model etc.

Nice repurpose of a 1950's dental drill! I've done this by hand.. not fun!

My model 71...the one gun I really wish I still had. Sigh...

This rifle other cleaning looked good to me.