M44 stock refinishing

[Flash!]

a while back I picked up a Russian M44 at a local pawn shop really cheap..... the stock had been refinished and I did not like the refinish job...... so after some looking around I got a laminated stock from Royal Tiger... it arrived today and is in pretty good shape for a stock made in the early 40's..... big improvement for my cheapo M44.....

now I need to know what you guys recommend for stripping an old stock and what you recommend for finishing.....I've never done it before and am going to practice on the one I just removed..... I've read lots of threads on THR about the subject but want some more input..... my current thoughts are to sand it down then apply tung oil...... anyone have any better recommendations?

 

[Fishslayer]

There are some guys on 7.62x54.net forum dedicated to developing finishes that mimic as closely as possible the original Rooskey finishes from back in the day.

 

[morcey2]

Tung oil, not "tung oil finish". Another option is boiled linseed oil.

I ordered an m44 stock from them to replace the sanded-until-nothing-fits-anymore stock on one of my M44s. If you decide to sand it, do it very judiciously or you'll lose the crisp corners and lines, especially on the finger grooves.

Matt

 

[fishshocker]

Oven cleaner works to strip. Tru-oil over a reddish stain looks good.

 

[morcey2]

Oven cleaner works to strip. Tru-oil over a reddish stain looks good.

PLEASE don't use oven cleaner!! It _will_ burn the wood and eat away at the glue in the laminate. If it's shellacked, use denatured alcohol to strip it off.

 

[jason41987]

i refinished the stock on my M38.. and i have to say im very, very pleased with the end result.. i sanded it down, removing the old finish, then stained it with "sedona red" stain from minwax that matched the red hue of the old finish perfectly.. then i use "tru-oil", and applied about 6 or 7 layers of that, wiping it down with 0000 steel wool in between coatings to get a hard, durable, but very smooth and gorgeous finish on the stock

for the record, tru-oil is boiled linseed oil with additives to shorten the time it takes for it to dry and harden

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

the secret to having an authentic re-finish is:

1. Prep stock (Then take shot of vodka)
2. Prep More (followed by more vodka)
3. Get varnish & a large brush (A broom will work in a pinch)
4. Apply multiple coats and pretend you have about 100,000 other mosins tp do and a communist commissar to "Urge" your completion of all of them.
5. Try to distinguish if the buzz is from the lacquer or the vodka.
6. Apply one more heavy coat for good measure, the next person to disassemble will be a capitolist pig; who cares if he can get the barrel bands off!

= Authentic finish.
Here are serious instructions that may help.

I refinished my WASR AK and used minwax (Rosewood) water based stain. I used the laminate stocks, and they look good. I sanded it lightly, 220 & then 320. 2 coats of the min wax, then rubed a red paint (SW Barn Red) and wiped it off (This made it a little more red). Then I put 2 coats of clear. I used Painters Touch Clear (Spray Can). The ultra smooth finish of the pictures posted (Above) comes from multiple clear coats sanded in between, to build up a smooth finish. I only did 2 coats, and like the my AKs wood to look slightly less high gloss/smooth due to the metal finish on the romanian aks.