Cleaning cosmoline out of a RC Kar98k stock - updated with pictures! pg 3

Believe it or not, smearing gasoline all over the stock and letting it stand for a week works reasonably well. The vasolene leeches out other oils and traps it (don't ask me how???)

When you wipe it off, the wood is less cosmolene soaked.

Wipe it down with a rag wetted with a little lighter fluid and then apply the oil of choice (I recommend raw linseed oil for K98 laminates).

Interesting, I have heard of using gasoline but never given it a try. The steam method did a good job I think. Just make sure you clean out the tub afterward and re oil the stock.
 
Here it is. All I need now is a sighthood/cleaning rod/locking screws/sling repro combo.

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Very nice mauser, what method did you go with for the stock ?

The stock in a garbage bag method removed quite a bit during a hot day, aswell as being followed up by placing the stock over the bathtub while running hot water. The steam drew out LOTS of goop and cosmoline. After that I have it a wipe with a rag to remove the final cosmoline. The stock was then extreamly dry so I applied 2 coats of linseed oil to moisted the stock. Once dry I reassembled. Feels much, much better now.
 
She would have been rifle # 13,8xx for 1943 from Mauser.

Super crisp and clear markings on that receiver, she is one nice mid war Kar98k.
 
my reg cert does not show suffix letter. making the serial number incomplete.
Also could be dozens of "Mauser" as the cert shows with the same number from even the same factory as you go throught the suffixes, not to mention how many factories?
 
Stay away from the oven cleaner !!! It will also dissolve the glue that hold the laminated stock together and also dry the stock out. If you want to clean off the cosmoline you might want to take the stock and put it over a tub of hot water. The steam from the hot water will definitively soften the cosmoline, you can also use some kind of water base cleaner to help. You be surprised how much crud can fall off when you use a bit of elbow grease :p. Watch the iraqvetern8888 video of cleaning surplus stocks. Watch out after cleaning the stock can dry out a bit so a light oil might be inorder.

Remember to have fun Cheers

this is the best way 20 years ago i was into enfields and had some that the stocks were smeard with the stuff i would take the stocks cover any markings with tape then get a pot of water boiling on the stove and lightly steam the stock till water just started to bead on the wood ,then i would wipe the stock down and repeat the process a few more times being carefull that the wood did not swell,then let the stock dry ,some had so much old oil and crud in the wood i would have to repat the process a few times but in between let the wood rest a few days before steaming it again ,i always ended up with beautifull looking stocks you can get the oil out of the cartouches with a good hot dish towel and dab them dont use any kind of brush as this will round off the delicate markings in the cartouch makeing them faint,if you have any of the tiny little dings and rack markes in the stock you can concentrate on them while steamming as the wood absorbs moisture it will raise the grain and swell after stock has dried use some 0000 steal wool and lightly rub the stock not to polish just enough to smooth the wood and prepare it for the original finish and colour
 
Very, very nice. In fact so nice that you have inspired me not to bubba (install scope) my israeli mauser when it gets here next week.
 
Thanks guys! The RC Kar98s are nothing to scoff at thats for sure. Under that goopy mess is a really nice shooting piece of history!
 
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