Removing electro-penciled #s from milsurp bolt?

[campergeek]

Is it legal to obscure the electro-penciled numbers from a rifle bolt and floor plate? I have a German Mauser on which the bolt and floor-plate have been re-numbered to match the receiver & stock. I'd like to mask the sloppy electro-penciled numbers to make the rifle look less defiled. If it's legal to do so, is there a good way to do this? Is there a recommended black paint that would cover the marks and match the original color, or would I be better off filing the numbers down and reblueing the entire bolt or painting it with black lacquer? Is this just generally inadvisable for any reason?

(To Agent Schmuckatelli: please note that my first concern is about the legality, and I am NOT considering obscuring the serial number on the receiver)

A side question: Why in the heck are the bolt and floor plate renumbered with electro-pencils anyway? Surely it's not thought that we (the buyers) will be fooled by the sloppy markings into thinking that these are the original matching parts. Is this some requirement for importation?

 

[Steve in PA]

When the rifles were captured by the Russians, they were stripped down, bolts thrown in this pile, stocks thrown in that pile, etc.

When they were re-assembled, they grabbed a stock from this pile, a receiver from that pile, a bolt from over here, etc.

When the rifle was put together (or while it was being put together) the "new" rifle had the parts numbered.

Yes, they can be removed if you want, just make sure you keep the serial number. I wouldn't want to paint over your removal area, best best would be to have it re-blued.

I have a 98k, and the only scribe mark is on the bolt. I have no plans to remove it because I see it as a part if the history of the rifle.

 

[jefnvk]

I would see no problem. Especialy since many surplus rifles use only the last few numbers to mark other parts of the gun, why would it hurt to take the others off?

I'd be more concerned about rebarreling the gun, since most importers stamp their marks on the barel, but I am told even this is legal.

 

[Flatfender]

Peening the numbers is far better than filing them down.

Or you could jewel the bolt and have an extra special mauser.

 

[Black Snowman]

Jewelling is definately an alternative to re-finishing but doesn't remove a signifigant amount of material so you still need to find a method of obscuring the numbers first. I don't have any experiance with that so I'll let other folks make suggestions. Peening sounds good but I don't know much about the process.

 

[kaferhaus]

They can be either buffed off or sanded off. These markings are only in the very surface of the metal, it's really no big deal. Some good touch up blue and you'll be good to go.

Personally, I wouldn't mess with it... it's never gonna be a collector grade gun, if it shoots good, then have some fun with it. If it doesn't, you can turn it into a sporter (re-barrel) or just hang it on the wall..

 

[Jim K]

Electric pencil numbers are hard to remove because of the way they are put on. An electric pencil does not remove metal like a grinder would, it drives the metal in, compressing it. Even if enough metal is removed to give the appearance of a smooth finish, application of bluing will bring the number right back again. My feeling is just to leave it alone; I have never seen a bolt marking affect accuracy or reliability.

Jim