Enfield paint removal

[Firehand]

Anyone know a good way to remove the paint used on the India-made Enfield rifles? Got hold of one recently, mechanically it's fine but looks like hell from the old paint.

 

[mrmeval]

I used a paint stripping gel sometimes labled 'thick' or 'thixotropic'. I can't remember the brand but it's a common household one. It was pretty noxious but would stick to the metal and melt the paint right off. I found that the paint on the magazine was interfering with function and a lot of the paint had flaked off, mixed with the trigger group grease and made a mess. There was a nice bluing of some sort under all that gunk. I did the whole gun and wow I could read the rear sight.
I used acetone to flush that mess out of the trigger group. Smoother trigger than a friends No1 MkIII.

Klean Strip looks like it should work ok, they have a thick formula for paint, epoxy, and polyurethane so it should eat that off fine but check if you have some around that's solvent based, may work fine. As long as it doesn't have acid or lye or some other caustic it should do fine. I'd keep it off of wood and laminates made with epoxy won't like it.

Edit: fix spelling and this:
I did get around to removing the trigger parts, cleaning them helped the trigger even more. I don't have a bolt tool but did flush that out with acetone after unscrewing the head. I don't suspect anything bad in there. That paint is georgeous when new, saw one at a gun show alleged to have been rearsenaled and stored.

 

[ball3006]

The last Indian Enfield....

I stripped, I used mineral spirits and a soft brass brush. Came right off and left the nice original light grey parkerizing. This rifle started out at BSA, went to Australia, then to India.......Lacquer thinner will helf with the tough spots......chris3

 

[rbernie]

I took it apart and gave the receiver and small parts to the local gunsmith. When he had a batch of refinishing to do, he beadblasted and dunked my Enfield stuff in along with the other stuff. He only charged me $30 (since he had virtually no labor in it other than the blasting) and I got a good surface finish that's suitable as is or which can be used as a base for repainting.

 

[Firehand]

Used mineral spirits to clean the grease off, but just used a paintbrush; will dig out the brass brush and give that a try.

Yeah, the paint is especially thick on the magazine, and a really gloppy job it was, too.

If the spirits and brush don't work, will have to see about either some paint stripper or possibly having it blasted.

Any recommendations as to paint for new finish? I've read of Aluma-Hyde, any other good ones you'd suggest? And thanks for the information, guys.

 

[GeorgeR]

Enfield Paint Job

Here's my 2c worth...I've done a few of those and found "Citri Strip" from Home Depot did the job. I've hot blued them and polymer coated with TR Gun Kote semi gloss black. Everybody seemed to like the work. At least they paid me

 

[Firehand]

Ok, tried a brass brush & mineral spirits on the magazine, took a bit but got most of the crap off. Get a chance will try this on the receiver; if it doesn't cut it there, I'll try the stripper.

Thanks, guys.