1937 BSW RC K98K - Refinish stock or not?

[Brookwood]

I have a RC '37 BSW K98K with a dark shellac finish on the red glue, laminate stock and black enamel paint on the takedown discs. It has a plumb coloured, electro penciled bolt, force matched parts and flat butt plate. On the flip it does not have an 'X', it retains all it's original markings and it has it's cleaning rod and capture screws plus the bore and finish are good. I don't shoot it, it stays in the safe. The shellac is real dark reddish/brown and Ivan was none too careful with the paintbrush when 'touching up' the discs. Compared to my other K98Ks, it looks rough. I apologize, but since PB went A$$-clown, I can't post pics.

Question - Do I refinish it or leave it as is? Will it adversely affect the collector value? Loaded question (and annoying without pics, I know) - does a RC '37 BSW have a premium over other more common RC K98s?

Thanks in advance,

Brookwood
Saskatoon,Saskatchewan

 

[Desert_Fox]

Others may disagree, but, with RC K98s, especially if the shellac is peeling and the paint they slapped onto the steel is flaking bad, I tend to like cleaning them up a bit. All I've ever needed is some isrypropyl alcohol and elbow grease to get most of it done.

My RC 1937 BSW is just like yours; no peening, no "X" etc. But unlike yours, mine has a nice even finish and the stock is a nice hardwood stock with no nasty shellac and clear original cartouches in the wood. The bore on mine is excellent too, must've been on guard duty! Lol

I would definitely say an RC BSW is worth more than another more common code/date K98k, but I don't plan on ever selling mine anyway, unless I find a non RC BSW that is....

A way to really "spruce" up your RC, is to buy a nice Norwegian stock set for your BSW... though finding a WaA4 stamped stock set might be tough...

 

[Coyote Ugly]

Being a RC, the damage has already been done by Ivan, so do what ever you please except tap and drill for a scope, and chrome plate. The only thing that is original is the barrel and receiver, everything else on the rifle is a dogs breakfast in reference to matching, as it was assembled from a pile of parts by Ivan. The code is cool, the stamps and marks on the barrel and receiver provide info on the manufacturing process as many early rifles were lost on the Russian Front.

 

[Brookwood]

except tap and drill for a scope, and chrome plate.

Coyote Ugly, how did you know my plans?!? Get out of my head!

Seriously though, thanks for the advice. I know it's a rare rifle,even if it is a RC, just not sure if Ivan's handiwork adds to the overall 'historical prestige' or detracts from it. It is after all part of the rifle's history, albeit not with attractive results. It's not my first rodeo when it comes to refinishing a milsurp, so I'm confident that the outcome will be acceptable, I just don't want to do irreversible damage that I will regret later.

Thanks again and thank you Desert_Fox for your input.

Brookwood

 

[jbmauser]

I differ a bit in opinion from Desert and Coyote. I feel the RC's are their own variation and have a unique history so modifying or altering them in any way detracts from the collectibility and value. I do think the RC's are collectible rifles and if I were collecting them I would only want untouched examples.

 

[bearhunter]

I differ a bit in opinion from Desert and Coyote. I feel the RC's are their own variation and have a unique history so modifying or altering them in any way detracts from the collectibility and value. I do think the RC's are collectible rifles and if I were collecting them I would only want untouched examples.

This is correct.

Any messing with the finish on these rifles is altering their history, just like any other milsurp.

Some folks want a pretty rifle. Fine but don't expect to get top dollar for it when you go to sell or trade it. An RC with an altered finish automatically commands $200 less than the current purchase price from Canadian Tire and other outlets IMHO.

 

[Philthy1]

I differ a bit in opinion from Desert and Coyote. I feel the RC's are their own variation and have a unique history so modifying or altering them in any way detracts from the collectibility and value. I do think the RC's are collectible rifles and if I were collecting them I would only want untouched examples.

This exactly. I want to see all the RC features on an RC.

 

[donor]

I would leave it "as is" as well with possible exception for badly abuses/stored rifles.Even then I would only do minimal work.Cleaning up mechanics is a must.

Those rifles are a part of history and refinishing them just won't help them.I see refinished Mosins on EE all the time-are they better than before?no,just better looking and even then "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

 

[Desert_Fox]

I usually subscribe to the "leave it as is" camp, but when it comes to RCs, it's usually dictated by the piece itself. With the dozen or more RC K98s I've owned, I only touched 2 of them. Both of them had active rust underneath the RC "bluing" (actually some type of horrible flaky black paint), and the shellac was not only peeling and flaking badly, but the laminated stock was actually de-laminating something fierce from old water damage. There was major recoil Lug set-back, and all the "War Eagles" (LoL) were peened and/or ground... receivers had the nasty "X" and of course the obligatory belt sanded dished out rear left buttstock with matching new stamped serial and discolouration. Soviet "armourers" also used hammers to pound the bands onto the stock with appropriate damage to wood and bands/barrel. And yes, these came directly out of the crate.

I realize that's a big nasty wall of text, but it just goes to show that some RC's are collectable in their own right, and some are just shooters/parts guns that are meant to be transformed into something better/useable. I know that many years down the road, collectors will scoff at those "alterations", but, at this moment, that's the way I see as best using and preserving some of these RCs.

I'd like to have nothing but mint originals, but being able to buy up to 4 RCs with harder to find dates/codes or just one matching byf44, I still choose muiltiple RCs... YMMV

 

[Brookwood]

Thank you everyone for your responses. Based on your comments and PMs, it will stay the way it is. I was on the fence but leaning that way anyways...

Thanks again.

Brookwood

 

[CanadianAR]

Coyote Ugly, how did you know my plans?!? Get out of my head!

Seriously though, thanks for the advice. I know it's a rare rifle,even if it is a RC, just not sure if Ivan's handiwork adds to the overall 'historical prestige' or detracts from it. It is after all part of the rifle's history, albeit not with attractive results. It's not my first rodeo when it comes to refinishing a milsurp, so I'm confident that the outcome will be acceptable, I just don't want to do irreversible damage that I will regret later.

Thanks again and thank you Desert_Fox for your input.

Brookwood

BSW is only a rare rifle when matching and original. They are not rare as RC. It's where most of them ended up.

I have to admit, I don't hold RC in high regard, so cleaning one up isn't a big deal, but if I owned one, I'd leave it as refurbed.

 

[Brookwood]

Yes, it's a mix master, yes the strap is a repro.

 

[donor]

Looks like perfectly fine RC K98 to me.I think it looks far better than some RCs I have seen around me.It would be a keeper.Enjoy it

 

[CanadianAR]

I'd also keepmit just as is.

Neat asterisk on the front band, and also something interestimg on the floorplate....looks milled but then looks like it has "spot welds" like the stamped ones, not sure how those marks got there, any chance of a photo of the back of the floor plate?

 

[Brookwood]

I'd also keepmit just as is.

Neat asterisk on the front band, and also something interestimg on the floorplate....looks milled but then looks like it has "spot welds" like the stamped ones, not sure how those marks got there, any chance of a photo of the back of the floor plate?

I'll post pics later on after work. Any theories about the asterisk? Or the P on the wrist?

Thanks.

 

[BirdCity]

Yup, I'd leave it be, too. Respect the entire military history of the piece.

If you want a project, buy a sporter and bring it back to military configuration.

 

[CanadianAR]

I'll post pics later on after work. Any theories about the asterisk? Or the P on the wrist?

Thanks.

Asterisk typically denotes a out of spec part. Most were corrected and then used.

P is a marking that shows up on stocks in the last 30s. I'm not sure the meaning was ever figured out.

 

[Brookwood]

Asterisk typically denotes a out of spec part. Most were corrected and then used.

P is a marking that shows up on stocks in the last 30s. I'm not sure the meaning was ever figured out.

Thank you.

 

[Brookwood]

More images as per request -

If you can make out anything intelligible beyond the Heer 'H' and a few outlines of eagles, you're a better man than me...

Thanks again for all your comments.

Brookwood