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Leave it on someone's Storm case foam at a shoot and it will bleed some more. It worked for Ray.
Nice!! Here's a look at mine. Do you think this wood is to far gone to get to look like yours?
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I'm about to start a refin project with my mosin. I have a jug of citristrip to remove the old finish and I think I'm am going to stain it with Minwax dark walnut, then finished it off with a few coats of tung oil.
- Does that sound like a good approach for the refin?
- Do I absolutely need to remove the stock recoil bolt?
- Do the band springs just pull straight out of the stock?
Thanks
G
IMHO I would not take the cross bolt out. In all of the manuals it highly suggest you leave it alone. As to the finish the closest thing to what was used by the Russians is Arizona Red min wax stain.
I use a good spray on paint stripper and then use mineral spirits to clean it. If any finish work is needed I use 0000 steel wool. I would not use sand paper. If you are restoring the rifle you don't want to sand off any material.
As Mustang said the hand guard bands come out by gently using a very small punch. If you use a punch larger than the original they will drift out on you.
While your at it I suggest you purchase a spring for the trigger. Its a small spring which was used by the Finns on their rifles and takes a great deal of the creep out of the trigger. it keeps the rifle in original configuration but really helps with that long trigger pull. I will look for the link. I guy in Texas hand makes them and they have been approved by the collectors on the gun-boards forum. All of my Mosins I shoot have them installed.
Another thing to note the wood is most likely arctic birch so its very light when stripped. If you use a walnut stain it may not provide you with the desired result. I would test a small area which is not visible when the action is in place.
I picked up an old cracked stock just for this very reason.
I stained a M39 stock which was in really bad shape from a bubba and I found the color I wanted, after trying five different colors. Walnut was one I tried but it just wasn't for me, and again we all have different tastes, so you may find its just the right color.
Either way its all about enjoying working on these old war horses. After you finish it I guarantee it will turn heads at the range.
I just refinished two Mosins that I purchased from Terry at Collectors Firearms and Militaria in Pelham. I paid $120 for one of them and $140 for the other because it had the hex receiver. Both had great-looking bores and all of the accessories. One of the rifles had a reddish brown stock and the other was sort of honey-colored. My goal in refinishing was to maintain the original character of guns I planned to shoot.
I removed the finish with 1 or 2 applications of citristrip gel, then applied mineral spirits liberally to dissolve residual oil-based stains in the wood. I then sanded lightly with 150 grit paper (just hard enough to roughen the surface for application of stain and finish but not hard enough to obliterate any of the stampings). I washed the sanding dust off with acetone which also removes some additional stains in the wood.
I'll post more finishing details and pics later but I've got to run for now.
I went with the Minwax "gunstock" stain and it's looking amazing. I'll post picks when I'm done. Will be at least a few more days. I want to put a few coats of Tung oil on it.
I'm now thinking about re-bluing all the steel; it's quite worn in some spots, especial on the top of the receiver. Any recommendations? Should I do it myself or pay someone to do it?
I went with the Minwax "gunstock" stain and it's looking amazing. I'll post picks when I'm done. Will be at least a few more days. I want to put a few coats of Tung oil on it.
I'm now thinking about re-bluing all the steel; it's quite worn in some spots, especial on the top of the receiver. Any recommendations? Should I do it myself or pay someone to do it?
I tried the walnut stain on a scrap of pine....way too dark, almost black. I think I will go with 50 BMG's suggestion for Arizona Red.
Very nice, cartouches still intact!
That is one beautiful looking rifle. EXCELLENT job. The bluing looks great too!!!
And to think some folks think the Mosin is the ugly duckling of rifles. Youu did a fantastic job.
Wicked sexy. When I get my Mosin I will PM you for instructions.