I have my grandfather's Marlin that I want restored. It is an 1881 in 40-60.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

Yes. Go see Scott Mays (gunsmith) at the Beretta Gallery in Dallas, off Mockingbird and the Tollway. I have sent several people to him, and he does good work.

Brandon Luter in Lewisville could probably do it right

Check those two out and his shop is far from local but every Turnbull Restoration I have seen looks new and shoots that way.

For sure

First off, why do you want it restored?

Agree 100% on turnbull. Very nice man and willilling to talk to anyone.

A removal of the original blurring and or case hardening wil desirous the value of the gun.
If you repair and make function well the gun will be worth more as a collectible.
I don't what you want?
It is survivor and few are around.

Right, well, there’s that, too.

My grandfather and his brother decided they wanted a .45 instead of a .40 and tried to bore it out. It did not work. Farmers from Central Texas trying to be gunsmiths.

My father remembers them trying, so I guess it was attempted in the late 1940s or early 1950s.

It will not hit paper at 25 yards.

I do want it to be functional. Marlins of that era are not worth the same as Winchesters. I probably will not do a full restoration, but a 'bring it back to where I can shoot it' job.

I have a donor gun, but the donor gun is in better shape, so I may get them both done.

I remember playing cowboys and indians with it. I was the second youngest of 9 grandsons. All of us boys played with it a lot.

I am the only one who can afford to pay for it to be done, so I got it.

TDK on the forum here is in Mineola Texas. He is a master. Bespoke.com I think?