My Mosin Nagant refinishing project

[AuthorityDenied]

My 1942 Russian Izhevsk Mosin Nagant 91/30 was beginning to look a bit rough so I decided to give the old war horse a new look. I wanted to get a mostly natural look out of the Russian Birch.

i sanded it with 220 grit fine paper and finished it with 320 grit fine. I used three coats of of Minwax natural 209 wood finish and two coats of semi-gloss poly.

1942 Russian Izhevsk Mosin Nagant 91/30 just home from the gun shop


The rifle that won the Eastern Front


Out in the woods where it belongs. Original Shellac.


Out shooting the old war horse


After a few months. The shellac is starting to look a bit rough, time to give the beast a new look.


Partially sanded with Ukrainian re-arsenal marks now visible.


Sanded 1


Sanded 2


It got three coats of this and two coats of semi-gloss poly


Sanded and stained with Ukrainian re-arsenal marks


The finished product




Out in the wild


I love the new look and feel of the rifle.

 

[gunnutery]

Looks great, good job.

 

[stubbicatt]

Very cool.

Did you remove the barreled action from the wood before commencing?

I very much like the end results from your labor. I wonder though, has cosmoline been bubbling out of your upper handguard at all? After several years with mine, each time I shoot it I still get more cosmoline. Other than the ickiness of it all I wonder whether the bubbling cosmoline would adversely affect the new finish?

 

[M91/30]

I did a similar thing except i stained mine and then used a finishing kit(cant remember the name) Mines a dark reddish brown much like the original. I like what you did with yours, its a good look. In regards to others i think its pretty much a necessity to decosmoline your nagant if your gonna refinish it. IMO A little bit of heat sure cleans it good.

 

[AuthorityDenied]

Very cool.

Did you remove the barreled action from the wood before commencing?

I very much like the end results from your labor. I wonder though, has cosmoline been bubbling out of your upper handguard at all? After several years with mine, each time I shoot it I still get more cosmoline. Other than the ickiness of it all I wonder whether the bubbling cosmoline would adversely affect the new finish?

I removed everything from the stock, I just had it assembled for the pictures. I have no issues with any cosmoline seeping out of the stock.

Thanks for the positive replies, I think the more natural color looks great on this rifle.

 

[AuthorityDenied]

out in the sun