I bought this gun on Gunbroker.  I’ve always liked SKB shotguns, and the price was right.  When I received the shotgun, I saw why the price was right too!  This gun had spent it’s life in the duck and goose blinds in Arkansas, and it showed every scar!  The finish on the wood was mostly gone.  What was left of any color on the metal was badly worn and scratched.  Upon disassembly, it was obvious this gun hadn’t been given much care.  I wasn’t real sure I had chosen wisely!

I found the US distributor for SKB in Omaha and found out that all the parts I would need to replace were available.  I ordered what I thought I would need and started the restoration/customization process.  Interestingly, the engraved receiver had a kind of green color while the barrel was blued.  I readied all the metal for Cerakote.  I had a similar green on had and used that on the sides of the receiver and the barrel as well.  What can I say? I have a penchant for green guns!  The remaining finish was stripped off the wood.  I raised dents, filled gouges, and glued and reinforced cracks.  Then I stained the wood and applied many coats of oil.

I was very well pleased with the way the gun looked.  I took it out and shot it and found it functioned perfectly.  It is a very soft shooting shotgun.  My first test in the field was on Bobwhites, and to my surprise and delight, I found that I shot this gun better than my trusty 870 that I’ve shot since I was 14 years old!  Oh, yes I’ve rebuilt that one a couple of times.