Hunter Restorations

Hunter Restorations specializes in bringing back worn and damaged Winchester lever-actions and Colt Single Action Army revolvers. Mike Hunter approaches restoration properly—not as a shortcut that destroys value, but as work that can actually increase a gun's worth when done right.

The philosophy is straightforward: a properly restored rifle can be enjoyed at a fraction of what an original in the same condition would cost.

Hunter Restorations offers six different bluing and hardening methods:

• •Color Case Hardening – Original pack hardening using bone char
• •Charcoal Bluing – The method used by Colt, Winchester, and Marlin
• •Rust Bluing – Traditional barrel and magazine tube finishing
• •Nitre Bluing – For screws, pins, and small parts
• •Fire Bluing – Colt triggers, screws, and Winchester loading gates
• •Hot Caustic Salt Bluing – Modern salt bluing process

Barrels are threaded, chambered, and marked to factory specs. Five and six groove rifling available with single-point or broach-cut options. Twist rates match original Winchester factory offerings unless otherwise requested.

Barrel Pricing: - Standard round or octagon: $800–$850 - Takedown assemblies (add): $100 - Remarking and custom lengths available - Complete takedown front-end assemblies: $2,000

Mike partners with specialists for engraving (Pauliene Muerrle, formerly Winchester's in-house engraver), Winchester-correct parts (Winchester Bob), reboring and re-rifling (Clearwater Reboring), and custom grips (Paul Persinger). This network ensures restoration work stays authentic throughout.