Caesar Guerini Summit Trap Stock Finish Problem

I'm writing to warn potential buyers of Caesar Guerini guns. I bought the Summit Trap OU new. I had shot the gun twice (200 rounds total). It was sunny and hot the second day so I wore sunscreen as I'm blonde haired with blue eyes and skin cancer is a serious risk for me. The sunscreen had taken the finish (gloss) off the stock in the areas where my cheek pressed against the comb, the stock and over the comb. It looked horrible.

I contacted Caesar Guerini and spoke with their gunsmith about this. He informed me that this is a known issue due to the "hand rubbed oil finish". He offered me a one time stock touch up that I refused saying that the same thing would only happen again. He agreed and offered to sell me a touch up kit for about $40 containing boiled linseed oil (BLO). I declined that as well.

So I went to the local store and bought boiled linseed oil (less than $10) and after watching Caesar Guerini's web video on applying the BLO I spent a week applying it and then after it was dry put a Minwax paste wax on last per their video. Unfortunately next time out using the gun the same thing happened all over again.

I've owned many trap guns and never had this happen. I contacted the CG gunsmith again and he said many people send them out to get refinished. Are you kidding me? Send a new $6000 gun out to get refinished?

Well, that's what I had to do. It's been 6 weeks since I sent the gun out and I have no clue as to when I might get it back as everyone is very busy. The finish that's being applied is a conversion varnish that is supposedly impervious to sunscreen and is a finish that's very similar to what Browning puts on their guns so I've been told.

To say I'm disappointed and angry is an understatement. I will never buy another Caesar Guerini gun and may very well consider selling it or trading it in after I finally get it back. I just can't believe with all the Caesar Guerini guns out there that no one else has had this issue.

 

Van,

It is an unfortunate thing to have a new gun lose its finish as much as CG does. However, I have always known about this issue. Therefore, I have treated all my stocks with a Tru Oil finish in lieu of the BLO finish that CG uses.

is it acceptable for such an expensive shotgun to look poorly - NO. In my case, my refinishing effort was a better option than dealing with CG and the constant BLO finish wear. For me, the TO finish looks much nicer and more protective. Will it stop me from purchasing another CG? Probably not, if the model and price is right. However, it is more likely I will try a different brand in the future.

 

Great idea on solving the C.G. finish problem with Tru Oil. I am going to try it out on mine. How many coats do you recommend ?

 

Start with 2 coats. Any more is your call depending on what you want.

 

To protect and enhance the original finish I suggest Bee's wax, apply several coats to start then on occasion to keep it looking good ... The more coats you put on the better it looks ... It goes on easy and comes off easy .... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Can't blame CG imo for putting a chemical on your face that ate the finish. I can understand you being upset but you need to be upset at yourself not CG. I cringe when I see people use vaseline to prevent their cheeks sticking to the stock when it's hot and they are sweaty. Surely the words PETROLEUM JELLY must sound an alarm bell to make one think what a petroleum based product will do to a stock finish? It's no different with sunscreen, bug repellents etc. They are all chemical and or oil based! Chemicals will react with other chemicals, plain and simple. We all learned that in science class in school as youngsters. I can remember back in the day when bug repellants would melt our reel handles and rubber worms would react with the plastic trays in our tackle boxes and eat right through them. I would suggest you find an alternative to protect yur skin from the sun. I wear a big wide brimmed straw type cowboy hat when I'm chilling between events and I shoot with a wide brimmed tilley hat. I make sure my side blinders are on my glasses on sunny days and if its not too warm I put on a neck gaiter. I always wear gloves to cover my hands and again if its not too warm I wear long pants and long sleeve shirts. I'm no sun worshipper by any means so there are methods to cover ones self.

 

Great response. I have had 2 CG guns and agree the finish is delicate but their type finishing has been around for years and has it's pros and cons. If you put a small ding in their stocks it is typically very easy to repair and touch up. Put a ding in a standard Browning gloss finish and it typically cannot be repaired and you end up with white spot where their coating was damaged. I am not aware of any perfect solution to stock finishing, i.e. durable, resilient to any chemical and easily touched up. If it was me and I felt like he does about CG I think I would have taken them up on the stock refinishing for free and then sold or traded the gun.

 

At least two solid coats. The more you layer, the deeper the gloss. My stock has 34 coats on it. My forearm has 24. I cleaned the wood, steamed out any dings, then sanded it lightly. I had time and heat on my side to help with the drying process.

 

The Epoxy using manufacturers like Browning and Krieghoff must be laughing at this. I do not care for the K80’s but their finishes would never do that.

 

My next gun will probably be a Kreighoff. Should've bought that to begin with!

 

Imagine putting a chemical that is so harsh on your face that it ruins the Gun. But it doesn’t hurt your face. That doesn’t say much for the finish.

I wouldn’t buy a K80 tho.

 

That's the next on my list also