K98K Walnut finnish ?

[Redneck Rob]

What did they use on their walnut stocks and how should I clean it ?

[StoneyCreekMrMauser]

Russian capture?

[gunner30]

pop a pm to mebusta. He is the Mauser 98 guru here abouts. Plus I've got a nice K98 on lay away that's going to need a stock re finish, so I'm curious about this one myself

Gunner

[BUFF]

Mebsuta.

[Mebsuta]

Well I am not a guru, just someone who has refinished some filthy Mauser stocks.

The original finish on a walnut 98k stock was most likely a form of linseed oil varnish. Here's a translation of a German manual from 1935 for the care of weapons.

http://www.dererstezug.com/RifleCleaning.htm

What sort of rifle do you have? If it is a collectable non-import 98k with the original finish, I would leave it alone.

If it is a recent import covered with dirt and grease, or if it has Russian varnish hiding a pretty stock, I will strip them and finish with boiled linseed oil. I have also used Formby's low gloss, which will dry faster and will not darken, though it is not period-correct. It just depends on what you want to do.

Here's a link to an old thread with a method. I still like to use Citristrip, though I do not do not refinish them in the bathtub any more. There's a zillion ways to refinish and everybody likes something different.

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136363&highlight=citristip

For cleaning a finished stock where you want to preserve original finish, some guys use vaseline. I have used Gojo before.

[gunner30]

Thanks for the info Mebs. I've got one Russian red varnish job. I was going to re finish that one, then I came across a CE 42 at my local shop. It's a WW2 bring back (no import marks) all in fine shape....except, someone decided to refinish the stock:mad: . Kinda lame brown stain,looks the finish on my Remington 700. Once I get it off of lay away, it is going to be my winter project. That ugly azz stain job needs to go. The rest of the gun looks good. And all the hot chixx will dig me for owning a kewl karate rifel :biggrin:

[Redneck Rob]

Thank you Mebs ! It's an import, but a really nice BYF 41 Luftwaffe marked K98. I want to keep it as close to issue as possible. How about Murphys (sp?) oil soap?
No Russian varnish or dip blued anything. It looks like they checked it & then put it up. It's all matching but the bolt.

[pmf]

I've used oven cleaner on stocks. It works pretty well. Take all the metal parts off and cover the stock in oven cleaner. Let it sit overnight and then hose it off. Some spots may need a second treatment. Let it dry and then refinish. I like tung oil. It gives you a military finished look and is tougher than linseed oil. Rub a coat on, let it dry and buff it with steel wool. Repeat 3-4 times.