Mossberg 42 MB?

[bk42261]

Short version- I brought home my brother's Mossberg 42 MB (with some other now unreadable marking after the MB) from my parents' house. It was in the rafters downstairs next to the back door and now has so much surface rust that I had to (lightly) use my wife's emery board to make out the markings that I'm posting!
serial # 452xx UNITED STATES PROPERTY marked on both barrel and receiver (matching serials) with barrel marked .22 s, l ,lr.
5 round magazine, and the rear sight he found for it years ago is an adjustable peep marked "Mossberg 5331" with a hooded front sight that has the option to change inserts.
Full length stock (sort of) with a steel insert between rear stock and forearm with a "slot" for a sling as well as the same "slotted" metal insert attached to rear stock.
As well as the surface rust, the stock(s) is / are so dry I'm surprised they're not cracked (My parents heat with a woodstove in the basement where the rifle was stored in the rafters)
So, my questions are
1) How rare is this rifle? (With replacement sights )?
2) How best to remove rust and restore stock without damaging markings? All markings are currently so sharply stamped that they are raised over the metal and I don't want to disturb them.
3) With the rear sight installed, the bolt cannot be removed, which makes me think it must be the wrong sight (the bolt root hits the horizontal portion of the "sight arm" The bolt is rusty as well, so the sight needs to be removed for cleaning purposes anyway but this can't be standard for a seeming "Target" rifle like this?

 

[WestKentucky]

Oil and fine steel wool for the iron. Gentle rubbing, no hurried scrubbing.

 

[Skylerbone]

1. Not super rare but well worth preserved.
2. Start with a rust remover, WD-40 makes a variety for this (not the regular WD-40) or Kroil with a rag. Nothing more than 0000 steel wool used with one of the above (used wet).
3. Some of the rear sights iirc swing out of the way. RFC would have the answer in the Mossberg section. Havlin Sales will be the best source for parts.

 

[ontarget]

Skylerbone referred to RFC. That is Rimfire Central. Tons of knowledge over there and I've seen this model mentioned. They have dedicated forums for all of the different manufacturers.

 

[Scooter22]

Your rifle was produced on contract and sold to England in WWII as a trainer. They are pretty collectable. Heres the link to RFC Mossberg forumhttp://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51. There is a sticky on this model and you can get excellent help there. Skylerbone mentioned "rust remover" and I think he means the WD-40. Thats a start but DO NOT use a rust remover like Naval Jelly or similar. It will strip any blueing. The rust may only be on the surface and the blueing ok underneath. Read up on what you have befor you do anything. Get a Big 45 rust remover pad to use with oil or WD-40. It won't remove blueing like steel wool can. Order direct. It's the cheapest and they last a long time..Post some pics and good luck.

http://www.frontiermetalcleaner.com/

 

[Skylerbone]

Not pawpaw’s WD-40, new stuff. My old Mossy needed reblued as it was too far along, but some come out all right. Worth a go anyway on an otherwise good finish. I watched the owner of an LGS use Kroil to soak pistol parts in for a week, removing them daily to wipe off rust with a cotton rag until there was no rust left.

I use both Kroil and WD on bicycles and firearms to good effect. 0000 used gently will leave blueing intact, but don’t buy the cheap stuff.

 

[Scooter22]

OH! I haven't seen that so I would NOT use that. Evaporust is a similar product. Blueing is a form of rust so that stuff will remove it. Just like vinegar.. He needs to see if the blueing is good under the surface rust. I've picked guns up I thought for sure would need reblueing. But after letting them set with some original WD-40 or similar product on them, then using a Big .45 pad found they were fine. Less is definitely more on this one.This has WWII connections.

 

[bk42261]

Thanks for the replies guys- Yeah, the bluing has always been fine- no scratches, etc. that I ever saw. The rust is just pretty heavy surface rust, so hopefully will come off without too much trouble.
Never occurred to me to see if the rear sight swivels- I'll have to check.

The stock seems to have a pretty basic finish - no varnish, etc. so I'm thinking some Tung Oil in light coats to soak in??

 

[Scooter22]

Best thing is if you can post some good pics. I'm not sure if the original finish was a Oil or lacquer finish. The stock may be fine just needing a coat of wax or BLO rubbed in to keep it looking original. Pics pleas. Just read and go slow.