My "new" 91/30 hex has finally arrived, and it brings questions.

[SomeKid]

So I finally received my rifle, now, as a C&R I must log it in. Which serial number do I use? The 5 digit one stamped below the 1931 year mark, or the long one from CAI when they imported it?

Secondly, while mostly in great condition (haven't even cleaned, but the bolt moves VERY smoothly, and the trigger is VERY nice), it has some surface (I think surface only) rust, and the entire wood stock, while nice looking is just downright dirty. What are the best ways to clean them without damaging the wood? I was leaning towards just getting a rag wet with #9 and rubbing it down, but wasn't very sure.

The stock looks well, pretty. Which surprised me. All in all, I got a great rifle from J&G, course I still need to shoot the sucker.

Other nice things, the bolt slides smoothly, the bayonet mounts easily and snugly, and the rifling appears very good.

 

[TexasRifleman]

or the long one from CAI when they imported it?

That is now the serial number in the US, so use that one.

 

[SomeKid]

Other things I can add about this rifle:

It has NOT been counterbored,
It is an Izhevsk,
and it has a lot of stamps I cannot figure out. Anyone got a master list?

Thanks Texas, now I can log it. I was leaning towards it anyway.

 

[Claymore1500]

Try (www.7.62x54r.net) they have more info on the MN rifles than you could possibly need.

 

[SomeKid]

Claymore,

That is where I got all the current information. I never saw anything that had just a list of stampings and their meaning.

Anyone got a good solution to my cleaning issue?

 

[NCsmitty]

Yes, J&G has a good price on them right now, and a sale price on the CZ-82 which is C&R. I just don't like the idea of the odd ball Makarov cartridge. Not many bullets available to load.
Have fun with your Mosin, SomeKid.
Not sure if you want to take off the stock or not, that would be the best way to clean everything. What works on metal would not be good for the wood finish as a rule.

NCsmitty

 

[dakuda]

Page of some marks:

http://62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinMarks01.htm

 

[rritter]

Re: My "new" 91/30 hex....

As was already said, the importer's serial number is the one to use. For Russian firearms it's especially important because some of the original serial numbers contain Cyrillic characters that don't exist in English.

As for the markings, you can learn a lot about them from the book "The Mosin-Nagant Rifle", by Terence Lapin, published by North Cape Publications. Their "For Collectors Only" series of books have lots of good information about the histories and variants of all sorts of firearms.

 

[SomeKid]

Thanks dakuda, but I saw that page already. It does not have the marks I was curious about. Example: One is a square box with an X in it.

That said, can I get some cleaning suggestions? I would really like to not damage the wood by accident.

 

[janobles14]

use one of those orange based wood cleaners. works like a charm on old oily wood.

 

[esmith]

Use a little murphys oil soap to clean the stock up or refinish it if you wish.

 

[SomeKid]

I should note, the would is not oily, just dirty. My other MNs had oily stocks, but this one simply has filth on it. My hands did not come off wet, but dirty, like I had rubbed them on a blacktop pavement.

 

[Chipperman]

I use Murphy's if I'm just trying to clean. The Citrus-based ones will strip a little more, if you want that.

I stripped the shellac off mine and applied Tung oil. Looks much better to me.

 

[SomeKid]

I certainly do not want stripping. The stock looks good. I will need to pick some Murpheys up. I take it #9 would be too harsh on it?

 

[SCPigpen]

not sure if this has been said but in the receipt from J & G there should be a serial number, use that one.

 

[SomeKid]

Another question arose, what is a good way to clean the cosmoline off the sling? Looks nice, but covered in goo.

 

[AmishFury]

warm soapy water... but keep in mind this could potentially cause a problem with ink stamps on the sling if any are present

As was already said, the importer's serial number is the one to use. For Russian firearms it's especially important because some of the original serial numbers contain Cyrillic characters that don't exist in English.

for most milsurp this will be the case.. also for the manufacturer you would put the importer...

the fun part is when you run into non import marked firearms serial number obviously will be the original number for manufacturer/importer though you can get by with the country of origin if you know the manufacturer might as well record it for example i have a couple of non-import marked 91/30s which are marked as "Izhevsk Russia" in my bound book under manufacturer/importer

 

[paintballdude902]

is it leather (not a mosin owner...yet)
if its leather then use leather soap (i believe murphys works check though)
if its cloth probably dish soap and hot mater

 

[benEzra]

For the wood, Murphy's Oil Soap is probably the gentlest. Don't scrub too hard unless you have to; you don't want to take the finish off.

My wife used Murphy's oil soap on her dirty, cosmolined SKS stock, followed by several applications of red Old English furniture oil (not polish). Made the wood look beautiful while retaining the original finish.

 

[SGW42]

If it's the common cotton web sling and you don't care much about any stamps, I'd take the dog collars off and toss her in the washing machine.

 

[SomeKid]

SGW I considered that, but didn't want cosmoline on other laundry/gumming up the machine.

The rifle is cleaned. J&G already had taken it apart, very little cosmoline in it. Oiled, checked, it is ready to go.