Colorado Gun Restorations

CJ started as a career pilot, spending years living in six countries and operating aircraft worldwide. As his flying career wound down, he committed fully to something he'd been passionate about for years: restoring guns to their original beauty.

His Denver shop isn't a typical gunsmithing operation. Over time, he's built out a serious restoration facility with equipment most shops don't have: a custom Dulite bluing 5-tank setup (considered the industry standard), a large media blaster, a personally rebuilt Series I Bridgeport mill, a K.O. Surface grinder for precision receiver work, a Terrco wood duplicator for custom stock making, a kiln, custom quench tank, and Titan power checkering hand tool—plus about 1,000 other specialized tools made or acquired over years.

Gun Refinishing

Every gun starts the same way: thorough evaluation for safety, complete disassembly, and sorting of parts. Wood is removed and the restoration begins immediately. All parts get cleaned and media blasted to stop rust progression. Parts that need replacement are ordered or fabricated in-house. Proper fitting is checked before finishing. External parts with pitting get sanded or machined, then hand-finished to your desired sheen—normally 400 grit with top polish for shine, or up to 1200 grit for a high finish. The goal: crisp edges that look factory, not the rounded-over appearance that screams improper restoration.

Dulite Salt Bluing

CJ uses a custom dual-temp Dulite setup—the best-in-class option for serious projects. Here's the process: parts get thoroughly cleaned in heated cleaner, then a hot water rinse. First bluing tank runs at 280°F, second at 305°F. This approach properly blues hardened steel and old nickel-steel barrels (pre-1930 Winchesters). After bluing, parts move through warm water rinse and into Dulite oil tank where metal pores get sealed with an expensive oil-wax mix. Dulite salts have been the industry standard for 80 years—gun manufacturers have trusted this process since the 1940s.

Carbonia (Machine) Bluing

This is a lost art. Found on most early 1900s guns, almost no gunsmiths offer it anymore because there's no written formula. CJ spent two years reverse-engineering the process—experimenting with bone charcoal, oil mixtures, temperature, and oxygen-free environments. He built a miniature rotating furnace based on 100-year-old designs and now produces finishes that match early Colt Woodsman and other period guns. The color variations and depth are impossible to replicate with standard bluing.

Stock Making & Refinishing

CJ hand-restores original wood or adds custom walnut and figured maple. Work starts at 220 grit, progresses through a special oil-poly sealer, then wet-sanding by hand with oil up to 1500 grit. After that comes a 2-4 week hand-rub process in multiple coats. The result looks nothing like factory work—the depth and sheen are visibly custom. He uses a Terrco wood duplicator to recreate stocks for Winchester 1894, 1873, and 1890; Marlin 92 and 94; Remington Model 12; and Stevens Favorites or Crackshots. He hand-selects blanks from a supplier with over 10,000 pieces, visiting the facility multiple times per year. Checkering is done after wet-sanding, before final rub-out.

Bore Replacement

Vintage guns (50+ years old) that weren't cleaned properly often have pitted barrels. If the gun will be shot, a barrel liner replacement makes sense. The barrel gets completely drilled out, the liner is permanently epoxied in, then the end gets turned on a lathe with a special tool to reduce the seam. The chamber end is reamed and fitted for proper cartridge hold. After bluing, the liner is often invisible.

Case Color Hardening

Case coloring creates one-of-a-kind guns. Parts are refinished, polished, then baked in special charcoal for hours and quenched in cold water. No two guns come out identical—the color and pattern variations are unique. CJ's method creates very little metal distortion and no charcoal pitting. This is especially valuable when deep pitting requires re-engraving; case coloring hides imperfections that bluing won't, saving money on finishing work.

Recent work includes Marlin 1894 25-20 (custom walnut, reblued barrel and magazine tube), Marlin 1892 22LR (case colored with custom furniture), Winchester 1894 (highly figured English walnut stock with media-blasted receiver), Kentucky long gun (functional restoration), LC Smith shotguns, Remington Model 12, and Stevens Crack Shot with barrel relining and case coloring.

That custom Dulite setup? It's not standard. Most shops use rust bluing or basic processes. The surface grinder, mill, and wood duplicator mean custom work stays in-house. The kiln and quench tank mean case coloring happens at the shop with proper control. This isn't just about having tools—it's about balancing restoration level with your budget and vision.

"The key is balancing the level of restoration that can be attained with the budget of the gun owner." – CJ, Colorado Gun Restorations

Based in Denver, Colorado. CJ responds promptly to inquiries. You can reach out with questions about any restoration service for your pistol or rifle.

Phone: (303) 800-4564 Email: [email protected]