Stock refurb
- Thread starter johnnyreb65
- Start date
The stock might well be coated with shellac. If this is the case, alcohol will cut it.
Here is something to consider: as is, you have an example of a rifle captured by the Soviets, and refurbished by them for some future use. The stock is likely shellaced, the steel reblued and parts are renumbered.
If you strip it down, you have just another m/m Mauser. Its capture and refurbishment by the Soviets are part of the history of the rifle.
Here is something to consider: as is, you have an example of a rifle captured by the Soviets, and refurbished by them for some future use. The stock is likely shellaced, the steel reblued and parts are renumbered.
If you strip it down, you have just another m/m Mauser. Its capture and refurbishment by the Soviets are part of the history of the rifle.
Tiriaq, I hear people say that all the time, but I've never seen anyone value an "untouched" RC K98k more than a mismatched K98k in the same condition.
In almost every case, actually I'd argue in EVERY case, stripping the RC shellack off of the stock and refinishing it with almost ANYTHING else will give you a much prettier rifle. However, as Tiriaq mentioned, at the sacrefice of the Russian's hard work.
Alternatley, if you're looking for something pretty, but are worried about the future implications of deleting the Russian shellac, you can always find a stock which hasn't been force-matched to your rifle and hasn't had the cheek belt-sanded to hell and put your rifle in that.
Your results may vary but here's my shooter RC wearing clothes that weren't sullied by the communistas:
Now find me an un-altered Russian capture K98k that is anywhere near as Aesthetically pleasing...
In almost every case, actually I'd argue in EVERY case, stripping the RC shellack off of the stock and refinishing it with almost ANYTHING else will give you a much prettier rifle. However, as Tiriaq mentioned, at the sacrefice of the Russian's hard work.
Alternatley, if you're looking for something pretty, but are worried about the future implications of deleting the Russian shellac, you can always find a stock which hasn't been force-matched to your rifle and hasn't had the cheek belt-sanded to hell and put your rifle in that.
Your results may vary but here's my shooter RC wearing clothes that weren't sullied by the communistas:
Now find me an un-altered Russian capture K98k that is anywhere near as Aesthetically pleasing...
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The RC rifles are available as fresh imports now. In a number of years, will they be recognized as a variant '98? They are m/m and refinished, but there is a reason for it. Look at what has happened to the values of just about all '98s. Almost all have appreciated.
Tiriaq, you're entirely right. Actually I've said that to several people, cheap guns don't stay cheap. At the same time however, collectability doesn't necessarily increase with inflation the way prices do. As a German collector (a collector of German things, not a German national who collects 
) I would pay more for an entirely mismatched rifle than I would for a perfectly force-matched RC. The collecting market will eventually dictate which course was more economical.
My preceeding post was simply to show how the rifle can be improved aesthetically, without assessing the collector status...
Fake edit:
Johnnyre
Here's a forum in which the same question is asked, and answered:
http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45099
) I would pay more for an entirely mismatched rifle than I would for a perfectly force-matched RC. The collecting market will eventually dictate which course was more economical.My preceeding post was simply to show how the rifle can be improved aesthetically, without assessing the collector status...
Fake edit:
Johnnyre
Here's a forum in which the same question is asked, and answered:http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45099
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Thanks for the info guys. The stock appears to be a laminate as apparently most were. Took the butt plate off and looks layered like plywood. How do you tell if it's red or white glue?
Tiriaq,
I appreciate the mentioning about changing it's history and collector value.
They've already been butchered so I don't see any real collector value from the purist mauser collector perspective. They may as you say eventually be classified by themselves, but I hardly see how cleaning up the stock would effect the value.
I don't ever intend to sell the rifle, passing it on to my son. So appearance is more important than resale value. In fact one can argue that by redoing the stock ( and maybe even buffing out the Russian engravings then rebluing) you're in effect restoring it to it's original state. Yes the Russian history would be partially erased but the history of the rifle doesn't change. It was still captured and re-assembled.
Then again from a collectors perspective let's compare firearms to cars. Take any classic car that has been repaired, re-painted ( color changed) with after market parts added. Then take the same model that has been meticulously restored back to all original parts and repainted to the original color.
Which has more value?
Tiriaq,
I appreciate the mentioning about changing it's history and collector value.
They've already been butchered so I don't see any real collector value from the purist mauser collector perspective. They may as you say eventually be classified by themselves, but I hardly see how cleaning up the stock would effect the value.
I don't ever intend to sell the rifle, passing it on to my son. So appearance is more important than resale value. In fact one can argue that by redoing the stock ( and maybe even buffing out the Russian engravings then rebluing) you're in effect restoring it to it's original state. Yes the Russian history would be partially erased but the history of the rifle doesn't change. It was still captured and re-assembled.
Then again from a collectors perspective let's compare firearms to cars. Take any classic car that has been repaired, re-painted ( color changed) with after market parts added. Then take the same model that has been meticulously restored back to all original parts and repainted to the original color.
Which has more value?
A pox on all bubba demon's I value my RC mauser's for what they are: Pieces of WWII history. Yes they have been refurbished by Ivan, but I would never do more than wipe them down with a rag. Skippy did a fine job of cleaning the age & patina off his RC Mauser, but IMHO now it's just a plain k98 that now looks almost new. All the history has been removed. Oh well to each his own, I just wouldn't do it. I do believe that RC Mauser's will be considered collectable on their own as time goes by, but I could be wrong. Have fun with your Mauser, but think about it's historic value also.
George
I value my RC mauser's for what they are: Pieces of WWII history. Yes they have been refurbished by Ivan, but I would never do more than wipe them down with a rag. Skippy did a fine job of cleaning the age & patina off his RC Mauser, but IMHO now it's just a plain k98 that now looks almost new. All the history has been removed. Oh well to each his own, I just wouldn't do it. I do believe that RC Mauser's will be considered collectable on their own as time goes by, but I could be wrong. Have fun with your Mauser, but think about it's historic value also.George
Yes I've given much consideration to the history of the rifle, which is why I'm going to leave the dents in the stock. While the shellacking and years of dirt and gunk is one part of the history, each dent represents another part of the history. I feel it's a fair compromise.
When I redone my 1944 ex-sniper Mosin M91/30 I used Circa 1850 soft strip.
I didn't sand the gun at all, I just wanted to remove the chipping shellac. I left all the dents, dings and markings on the gun. It's really good stuff to work with and no super strong fumes. It's fairly cheap and can be found at most hardware stores. I then finished it off with Bullseye amber shellac and looks excellent.
Blake
I didn't sand the gun at all, I just wanted to remove the chipping shellac. I left all the dents, dings and markings on the gun. It's really good stuff to work with and no super strong fumes. It's fairly cheap and can be found at most hardware stores. I then finished it off with Bullseye amber shellac and looks excellent.
Blake
