Restoring a Ted Williams Model 100 .30-30
by Roy Seifert

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Disclaimer:This article is for entertainment only and is not to be used in lieu of a qualified gunsmith.Please defer all firearms work to a qualified gunsmith. Any loads mentioned in this article are my loads for my guns and have been carefully worked up using established guidelines and special tools.The author assumes no responsibility or liability for use of these loads, or use or misuse of this article.Please note that I am not a professional gunsmith, just a shooting enthusiast and hobbyist, as well as a tinkerer.This article explains work that I performed to my guns without the assistance of a qualified gunsmith.Some procedures described in this article require special tools and cannot/should not be performed without them.

Warning:Disassembling and tinkering with your firearm may void the warranty.I claim no responsibility for use or misuse of this article.Again, this article is for entertainment purposes only!

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I really enjoy working on a project gun.There’s a tremendous sense of pride in turning a junker into a fine looking and shooting firearm.I recently purchased a saddle and built a saddle stand for it primarily to show off my leatherwork.I wanted a lever-action rifle to display in the scabbard, but found the pewter replicas to be far too expensive at $180-$225.Searching through the used gun rack at my local gun store I found a well-abused Ted Williams model 100 .30-30, which I purchased for the very reasonable price of $225.This model is really a Winchester 94 sold by Sears under the Ted Williams name.With a magazine plug in place and the firing pin disabled, this would make a fine display piece in the leather scabbard mounted on my saddle.

Initial Assessment
This is an example of a no frills, classic, Winchester .30-30.It does not have an external safety other than the half-cock notch on the hammer, nor does it have fancy sights.It has a leaf main spring instead of the coil spring and rebounding hammer.

Model: Ted Williams 100 (like Winchester New Model 94) Serial Number: V96987. Year of Manufacture: Post 1982; Modern. Caliber: 30-30 Win. Action Type: Magazine Tube Fed Lever Action Rifle. Markings: The top of the shank and the receiver where it meets the barrel are marked with an “SP” proof marking. “HR” is marked to the left of the.
The Model 54 (Winchester 94) have three identified Model Numbers, 273.2120. 273.532140 = Sears Model 100 Ted Williams Lever Action. Oct 25, 2012 - Winchester Model 100 Rifle or Carbine may break due to use and metal. Part number for the new parts are, firing pin =1391ND, bolt sleeve.
Model: Ted Williams 100 (like Winchester New Model 94) Serial Number: V96987. Year of Manufacture: Post 1982; Modern. Caliber: 30-30 Win. Action Type: Magazine Tube Fed Lever Action Rifle. Markings: The top of the shank and the receiver where it meets the barrel are marked with an “SP” proof marking. “HR” is marked to the left of the.

Nov 29, 2015 Join Date: June 5, 2008. Location: Michigan. DOB for a Sears Model 100 Ted Williams (30-30) I picked up a old Sears Model 100 Ted Williams 30-30, with a Weaver marked side mount/rings, and a 1976 marked Kmart 4x scope for $175. It's a shooter, in nice used shape but not abused. I know these are a re-labeled Winchester 94 for retail.

As mentioned before, this rifle looked like someone had very much abused it.From the amount of surface rust it was probably left in a soft gun case/bag for an extended period.It may also have been left in a closet, as there was white paint on the barrel and magazine tube.The previous owner had engraved his driver’s license number on the bottom tang, which I will have to remove.

It looked like the wood had been replaced and had some nicks and scratches, but was in otherwise excellent condition.The original Sears butt plate did not fit properly as you can see in the above photo.Because the end of the butt stock was wider than the butt plate the stock was prone to chipping.

The fore end had about 1/16 inch play forward and backward as you can see in the above photo.

I think the worst case of abuse I found on this rifle was the front sight.It looked like someone had tried to replace the front sight with a higher one, which did not fit into the dovetail, or they may have removed the front sight to mount a scope, then tried to re-install it when they sold the rifle.Most of the scope mounting hole plug screw slots were buggered.In the photo above you can clearly see the gap below the bottom of the sight.

I scrubbed the bore with Remington Bore Cleaner and fortunately, the bore looked fairly clean and sharp.The lands were nice and sharp at the muzzle, indicating to me that the rifle was not used much, nor cleaned very often.There was, however, some surface rust in the bore.

Restoration Plan
This rifle is not really going to be a shooter, although it could be.It’s mostly for display purposes so I plan to reassemble it so it cannot be fired.However, since I have it apart I’ll do some basic work to it if I ever want it to be a shooter.

Remove the front and rear sights.
Completely disassemble the rifle and check for internal rust/damage.
Unscrew the barrel from the receiver.
Remove the surface rust from the barrel and lever.
Remove DL number, polish and refinish lower tang.
Refinish receiver.
Lap the bore.
Clean up the muzzle crown.
Lap the barrel shoulder to the receiver.
Modify bolt for smoother action.
Perform a trigger job.
Reassemble the rifle with dry-firing firing pin.
Glass bed the fore end to remove looseness and refinish.
Replace and install the sights.
Fill chips in butt stock.
Replace and fit new butt plate.
Refinish butt stock.
Add a saddle ring.
Inlet a Morgan sil

Ted Williams Model 100 Serial Numbers