K98K Walnut finnish ?

Redneck Rob · November 15, 2008, 19:49

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

StoneyCreekMrMauser · November 16, 2008, 20:18

Russian capture?

gunner30 · November 16, 2008, 21:32

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** · November 17, 2008, 05:19

Mebsuta.

**Mebsuta** · November 17, 2008, 20:01

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/showt...ight=citristip

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

gunner30 · November 18, 2008, 17:13

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

. 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

Redneck Rob · November 18, 2008, 20:38

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 · December 01, 2008, 14:19

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.

November 15, 2008, 19:49	#1
Redneck Rob Registered FALaholic #: 21238 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Meridian, Mississippi Posts: 243	K98K Walnut finnish ? What did they use on their walnut stocks and how should I clean it ?

November 16, 2008, 21:32	#3
gunner30 Registered FALaholic #: 22242 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 2,278	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 __________________ Lighten up Francis

November 17, 2008, 05:19	#4
BUFF Old Fart Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 789 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 7,141	Mebsuta. __________________ BUFF

November 17, 2008, 20:01	#5
Mebsuta Khemi, Stygia Contributor FALaholic #: 4143 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Khemi, Stygia Posts: 6,298	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/showt...ight=citristip For cleaning a finished stock where you want to preserve original finish, some guys use vaseline. I have used Gojo before. Last edited by Mebsuta; November 17, 2008 at 20:28.

November 18, 2008, 17:13	#6
gunner30 Registered FALaholic #: 22242 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 2,278	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 . 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 __________________ Lighten up Francis

November 16, 2008, 20:18	#2
StoneyCreekMrMauser Registered FALaholic #: 32185 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tennessee, the patron state of shootin' stuff Posts: 1,633	Russian capture?

November 18, 2008, 20:38	#7
Redneck Rob Registered FALaholic #: 21238 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Meridian, Mississippi Posts: 243	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.

December 01, 2008, 14:19	#8
pmf Registered FALaholic #: 2923 Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 1,636	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.

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