Unwrap and cleaning a new No4 MKII

macadoodle

macadoodle

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So.... I have my "irish Contract" on the EE right now, but I don't think i'm going to get what I want for it, so I think I'll keep it and sell something else.(don't have enough cash to keep all the things I want) The thing is, I want to open it up clean it and use it, or at least be able to look at it. Am I crazy to do so? I know I'm going to lop off a good $200 in collector value, but I don't care about that.

So.... assuming I go ahead with the de-flowering, what recommendations do you guys have for cleaning it up? I have cleaned up a few SKS's. I usually use varsol and brake cleaner, followed by a light oiling of everything. I have cleaned up a few enfields, but nothing as messy as this, or as important for me to not damage.

I'm thinking that those chemicals may be too harsh for the stock, so wiping and cleaning with maybe windex and then a fresh coat of BLO.

what about the metal? will solvents like varsol or brake cleaner harm the finish?

I'm planing on trying to cut the wrap off(gently) to keep in in one piece. I'll likely hang it by the rifle.

What does the Enfield Hive mind think?
 
Bad idea, out of the mummy wrap your rifle is worth $500.00 to $600.00 tops. I have even seen them go as low as $400.00 in the bigger US Shows out of the wrap.
 
Hundreds of thousands of unwraped one out there, only a few hundred of the wraped one are left.
 
I opened one a few years ago, if you want to see the autopsy go to the link below:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=343171

You will probably find the wood won't need too much cleaning. I did do a complete tear down and for the most part just wiped everything down and then gave the wood some gentle heat to coax the preservative out of the wood followed by a coat of BLO.

As for the metal I tried brake cleaner but the finish turned to a pale grey almost instantly, scary to say the least, but a coat of oil brought the finish back to its original condition. So maybe try something a little less aggresive.

The wrap is very tight around the rifle so if you choose to cut it off be careful as it is very hard not to contact the surfaces inside. If you start at the heel of the butt on the underside of the rifle you should find a piece of string which can be pulled like a zipper to open the package.

Good luck, and I would love to see pics when your done.
 
I seen your EE ad, I wish I had the money I'd have it in a second. But I sat there for a while thinking about if I'd unwrap it if I could swing it. It'd tease me to death every single time, but I'd likely leave it. It's a time capsule.
 
You answered your own question. Sell some other stuff, get one thats already out of the wrap and use that one. I don't know what the rest of your collection looks like, but you can always buy another rifle or shotgun that is still being produced.

macadoodle said:
So.... I have my "irish Contract" on the EE right now, but I don't think i'm going to get what I want for it, so I think I'll keep it and sell something else.(don't have enough cash to keep all the things I want) The thing is, I want to open it up clean it and use it, or at least be able to look at it.
Click to expand...
 
If I was you, I would do it. It is going to be opened eventually, might as well be you that gets that unique experience.
 
I'm on the fence with this one.

If she was in my safe, she would torture me every single time I looked at her to remove the wrap, clean her up, and shoot her.
 
Guns are meant to be shot. If it were me I would open it and savour ever second of cleaning up a brand new in box enfield. I would then shoot it.
 
Brand new rifles in the grease are a curse. I have a mint Cno7 .22 cal rifle in it's wrap, with it's original tag, it's long term preservation tag, checklist and EIS, all in the original serialled chest. And it just sits there, calling at me. Way too nice to shoot, so therefore useless. But there it continues to sit.

Leave your rifle in the wrap. There are lots out there with the wrap removed...get one of those.
 
Future generations be dammed. Instant gratification is becoming a virtue. The mentality of "rifles are meant to be shot, it's mine I can do what I want and there are still more out there" is the reason so many historical artifacts are lost to time and ruined for future generations.
 
Recce21 said:
Future generations be dammed. Instant gratification is becoming a virtue. The mentality of "rifles are meant to be shot, it's mine I can do what I want and there are still more out there" is the reason so many historical artifacts are lost to time and ruined for future generations.
Click to expand...
^this
 
I'm afraid at the rate people are buggering with rifles and militaria, my grandkids will go to a museum and see maniquens wearing spray painted webbing used for airsoft and holding Tapco (or beer label'd, check the EE) stocked SKS'.

Or maybe a Soviet sniper holding a Bushnell scoped M44 with weaver rails, bayonet removed and a 2" rubber buttpad for his tender, hipster shoulder.
 
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