Mauser stock project

[deimos256]

Not long ago I picked up a 1943 German Mauser 98k, marked as a Russian battlefield pickup. The bore is gorgeous and all the metal is in great condition but the stock is pretty rough. It looks like it had some sort of glossy finish put on it at some point because some of it is on the buttplate etc. I'm going to start stripping the old finish off and sand some of the rougher areas and refinish it. I came here to get some opinions on what to use. I would like to refinish it to something close to what would come out of a factory back then. I read that allied rifles were dipped in linseed oil, was this also how german rifles were done? Also for sanding what grits should I use, also is a regular chemical stripper ok? The stock is laminated so I don't want to ruin the adhesives. Thanks for any input.

 

[johnthomas]

http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=10&prodid=64
I use this to strip the stocks I have done. Some stocks take up to 3 times. I spray it on, let it set for about 45 minutes, not in the sun. I bring it to the sink with 0000 steel wool and warm water and scrub the stock. I use a tooth brush to get in the hard to reach places. I dry it with a hair dryer, you can see if finish is still on the stock. After I get all the finish off, let dry overnight and used dry 0000 steel wool. I use Birchwood Casey stain and birchwood casey tru-oil. The tru-oil is more of a varnish. The finish on this is glass like.

 

[deimos256]

Thanks, I ended up using the same stripper that I used on a previous stock. Luckily I got all the finish off with one coat, the finish that was on it was mostly worn off and what was left looked like only a light coat, the rifle was a Russian capture so I'm sure they didn't put a lot of effort into fnishing it. I ended up sanding it with some 180 grit on the really nasty areas then did the whole thing lightly with some 330 and then 600. The 600 left the stock like glass. I have one coat of tung oil on it right now and I'm letting it sit until tomorrow then I'll put another on. I do have a question about using oil. Is it normal for the first coat to disappear into the wood? I put this first coat on pretty liberally and within minutes the stock was dry to the touch.

 

[towboat_er]

Yep, that is normal. Steel wool it and put on another coat.

 

[towboat_er]

And repeat.

 

[buttrap]

I think the laminated stocks are even worse than the standard ones on a 98 for sucking up oil. When and if they are not full of rifle oil and or grease.