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I picked up this BL-22 for a song last week. It's a 1979 vintage Grade I.



It is showing some rust specks on the outside (bore is good and shiny), and needs a bit of wood work, but should make a fine plinker. It looks like someone tried to install a sling stud (in the wrong spot) without first drilling a proper sized pilot hole...lucky thing the stock didn't split.

Very nice1

I had a BL-22 once but I recall it being kind of 'small' - almost like a youth model size rifle - and wound up trading it for something else.

Too bad on the stock but some careful work on it can make the hole & chip disappear.

Congrats. That's a nice vintage. I've had a couple of BL-22s and they are neat little rifles, almost petite, as mentioned. Fun shooters, though, great for plinking.

Cool gun....

Nice roddy! Great find, for a song!

I picked up this BL-22 for a song last week.

Care to tell how many 'notes' were in that song?

Good find on the Browning rifle.

Local Pawn shop has one of those in real nice shape. Been there for a while.

Mistered wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:10 pm

I picked up this BL-22 for a song last week.

Care to tell how many 'notes' were in that song?

Not very many

You're right, they are on the small side, but not quite as dainty as the SA-22. I really like the short lever throw on the BL...my thumb doesn't even have to leave the stock when 'flicking' the lever. The trigger that stays with the lever is a little odd, but I'm getting used to that. Speaking of triggers, this one feels considerably lighter than my other BL (2018 Grade II Maple).

Thanks for the comments.
This is the point where I might lose a few of you...the purists may want to continue with one eye closed. Since this rifle is a little rough around the edges and it is not in any way rare, I decided to "make it my own". I'm going to borrow a word from the automotive world to describe it...Restomod...part restoration, part modification.

I like the look of stainless steel and walnut together, so I stopped by the local Cerakote shop to see if they had anything that resembles bare stainless. They did. I dropped some parts off on Wednesday, and picked them up on Friday...

Doesn't bother me in the least. Kind of interesting, actually. Keep us posted with the progress.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 17, 2019 11:23 am

Doesn't bother me in the least. Kind of interesting, actually. Keep us posted with the progress.

Good to hear, and will do.

After getting it home, I did a trial fit of the wood and barrel band(s). The fit was fine, but the 'Browning finish' on the furniture stuck out like a sore thumb. That shiny all-one-color wood had to go, so I got to work. I've heard the 'Browning finish' is tough stuff, and they weren't kidding. My usual stripper (circa 1850 Soft Strip) got laughed at as it bounced off the 'shield'. I had to step it up a bit with some Dad's Easy-Spray (contains methylene chloride). This is nasty stuff...it starts to burn within seconds if it gets on your skin.

Even with the Dad's, I had to apply it and scrape three times. I think it is thin enough now, that I can finish stripping it with some acetone and a 3M hand pad (artificial steel wool).

I mentioned the barrel band in the above post and forgot to elaborate on that step. The barrel band, magazine band, and trigger are all made of aluminum, painted with a gloss black...that won't work either. I have a few ideas there, ranging from matte black, to a home brewed silver plating experiment. The idea with the silver plate would be to tarnish it when done, so it takes on that blue/gold/black coloring that dirty old silver gets.

Whichever way I go, they'll need to be cleaned up. I'm doing that by wet-sanding, starting with 400 grit (right) to remove the old paint, then 600 grit (center) to smooth and begin the polishing. At this stage, it is developing a 'brushed' look...a bit of work with some 800 would about finish it if I go for the brushed look. The trigger (left) has also been hit with some 1000, then 1500 wet paper. It's pretty shiny...

tip of my cap for a level of expertise that I can only admire .... thanks for posting your pictures and comments .... enjoy following your progress

roddy wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:31 pm

I picked up this BL-22 for a song last week. It's a 1979 vintage Grade I.

20191209_191341.jpg




It is showing some rust specks on the outside (bore is good and shiny), and needs a bit of wood work, but should make a fine plinker. It looks like someone tried to install a sling stud (in the wrong spot) without first drilling a proper sized pilot hole...lucky thing the stock didn't split.

20191209_191622.jpg

Nice find for sure. Liking the progress you're doing also. roddy, what is that barrel above the BL-22 for? Thanks.

MLC

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:13 pm

Nice find for sure. Liking the progress you're doing also. roddy, what is that barrel above the BL-22 for? Thanks.

MLC

That is part of a Brno ZKW 465 (.22 Hornet), another one on the table. At some point in its life, someone drilled and tapped the receiver for Weaver mounts, rather than source the proper 16 MM dovetail rings. It wasn't the most carefully done job. That one is awaiting the arrival of a 6-48 tap, so I can clean up the threads, and either install plug screws, or use the mounts for a small vintage scope. I have an old Weaver K 2.5 that I'm thinking about moving over to the Brno.

roddy, that older Weaver K 2.5 would be a perfect fit on the Brno. .22 Hornet, what a fun cartridge.

MLC

I love seeing projects like this. Can't wait to see it finished.

So cool!!!!!

I think I'm going to continue polishing, and see how it looks. If I don't like it, I can always paint/plate afterwards. The above parts are now wet-sanded to 3000 grit, and are ready for polishing compound.



This is the frame. The working bits of the action are pinned to this piece. The frame slides into the receiver and is located by a dowel at the front edge. This dowel extends through the frame and provides a locating pin for the fore-end furniture. The rear of the frame has a threaded lug for centering and holding the butt stock.



The 'frame' is also made of aluminum, and covered by a textured powder coat surrounding the hammer and lever. It feels like 40-grit sandpaper...