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Refinishing a Santa Fe 5-round magazine!

Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Gunsmithing
Forum Description: Submit any how-to's or other gunsmithing suggestions here.
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14382
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 3:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Refinishing a Santa Fe 5-round magazine!
Posted By: Shamu
Subject: Refinishing a Santa Fe 5-round magazine!
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 6:38am

Pics as received, I bought it as “cosmetically challenged”. From Enfield Trader.

Here: https://enfield-rifles.com/santa-fe-5rd-mag_topic14352.html" rel="nofollow - https://enfield-rifles.com/santa-fe-5rd-mag_topic14352.html


After stripping down, & then bronze brushing with the Dremel to get the loose stuff off.


Followed by a steel brush for the really stubborn bits.


Next some valve grinding compound to bring the surface down, & smoothing the pitting, minimizing the fairly shallow pits.


Then rubbing down to polish the surface.


Next a soak in regular old white vinegar to remove the old bluing without losing the Santa Fe stamp which is kind of shallow! After 2 hours it was done & the vinegar actually dissolved out some final hidden rust I’d not ground or polished off.


Then, after re-polishing everything one more time, Re-bluing! Those "orange" areas aren't rust but a reflection from a fluorescent work-light over the bench.

I can’t tell it from my original Santa Fee magazine!

I tweaked the left side front feed lip in a bit as the first in/last out action proving dummy round was escaping.




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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)



Replies:
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 9:09am
Good job! Looks very nice.

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Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually


Posted By: Enfield trader
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 9:12am
Excellent job !


Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 9:29am
Thanks!

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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)


Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 10:05am
Shamu magazine restoring service, (MRS).


Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 10:07am
Star Oh don't tell SWMBO that!
https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/she1965.14124.jpg


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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)


Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 10:53am
Oh no!


Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 1:09pm
Looks great! 

The mag I mean…


Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: January 25 2026 at 6:50pm
fantastic job , looks like it originally did - great 



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