My Refinished Mauser Stock (Pics)

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I posted here earlier in the week, my previously bubba'd mauser that I am (Depending on view point) either continuing to ruin , or improving. I spent the last few nights after the wife & kids went to bed, out in the shop reshaping & reifinishing the stock, reshaping & grinding the bolt handle polishing the butt plate, polishing the bolt, grinding the follower to allow the bolt to close on an empty magazine, etc, etc. I had a lot of fun! I wouldnt mind picking up another something in need of further bubba'ing .

I refinished the stock by sanding it, and restaining it. It is a really straight grained birtch, so I did a faux finish....

What do you think? Before and after pics attached.

 

[PTK]

Very fine job.

 

[MutinousDoug]

Jeeze,
How'd you make the barrel longer?

 

[PTK]

How is the barrel longer? Looks the same to me, just the upper handguard is gone.

 

[Almond27]

I like it very nice job.

 

[jpwilly]

That came out really nice. Did you also refinish the top handguard the same way? Looks good with it off though.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I did finish the top hand guard the same, however when I re-re-finished the stock (After seeing my fathers 1903 national match last weekend) I decided to remove the hand guard and middle ring, so I chiseled the wood down to eleminate the step in the stock for the middle ring. The hand guard can not be reinstalled (Without coming up with another solution). I like it off anyway.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I have a barrel stretcher (Its a matched set to my board stretcher)

They dont make them anymore.

 

[jpwilly]

I'm sending you all my crappy mil surps to refinish - PM me your address!

 

[TheGrimReaper]

Very nice. Really brought out the grain in the wood...

 

[skeet king]

two thumbs up!

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Its actually not the grain you are seeing . It's blackspray paint masked into a "Tiger maple" pattern. Then the second coat of stain was dabbed to make the stain not uniform and help break up the striping, so it was not to strong.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

bump

 

[Hostile Amish]

Very fine job you have done on that rifle, it looks almost modern.

 

[NCsmitty]

Ohio Gun Guy, did you say that you bent the bolt yourself? What year is the stamp? 6.5x55's are great rifles.

NCsmitty

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

The reciever was tapped and the bolt bent when I got it. I reshaped the handle and polished the bolt. Year is 1902 or 1906 (From memory, its in the shop letting the final coats dry)

 

[jabberwo]

Very nice work!! Can you give the steps you followed to get the stripping effect? I've got a couple old .22s I could practice that on!

Happy New Year,
Jab

 

[Martyk]

Looks beautiful. What does refinishing a historical classic like that do the the value?

 

[jpwilly]

Looks beautiful. What does refinishing a historical classic like that do the the value?

The OP already said the rifle was drilled and tapped with the bent bolt prior to him picking it up. I know what he paid...what would you pay for it now $200 to $300, more, less?

 

[Martyk]

I already have a German K98 in the standard vintage condition but in great shooting shape. I think I paid 250 or so last year. I just wondered if refinishing the stock and making it pretty and shiny would reduce or increase the value.

 

[jpwilly]

I already have a German K98 in the standard vintage condition but in great shooting shape. I think I paid 250 or so last year. I just wondered if refinishing the stock and making it pretty and shiny would reduce or increase the value.

Me too. Keep in mind this rifle is a M96 Swedish Mauser. And depending on the rifle refinishing the stock will usually decrease the value if it...if it is truly a collectible to start with. I find the term "collectible" to be used way too often and loosely. To me a Russian Captured (Russian refinished) K98 isn't nearly as collectible as the war bring backs etc. I don't think there are any "collectors" out there that would miss them! IMO YMMV.

 

[rust collector]

A lot depends on whether a prospective buyer wants a great shooter that has been nicely refinished, or a safe queen that has the right numbers, all matching. You did a fine job, vastly improving a gun that had already been modified. You will enjoy it more, should be proud of your workmanship, and its value has been increased.

Rings seem to collect grease and compress the wood under them, so I am impressed with the seamlessnes of your stockwork. I suspect the after image is a cropped wide angle shot that seems to distort the barrel length.

Anyway, a great job on a great old mauser.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Actually, the barrel length looks longer because I removed the upper hand guard. The rifle is as long as a nagant 91/30. (29" barrel)