A friend has a nice Arisaka bayonet and scabbard that has been sitting around about 50+ years at his dad's house (in the scabbard). His dad is a WWII vet who brought it back.
It looks like the bayonet and the scabbard have a coats of hardened cosmoline, my guess anyway. The coating looks like varnish, complete with drip marks.
Bore cleaner and other gun cleaner stuff took some off, but a lot is left.
I'd like to clean these up for him, but not remove all the patina by scrubbing with an abrasive or steel wool.
I have read that paint thinner works well for this.
Is that the right route to go for this project? Any other suggestions?
Thanks
It looks like the bayonet and the scabbard have a coats of hardened cosmoline, my guess anyway. The coating looks like varnish, complete with drip marks.
Bore cleaner and other gun cleaner stuff took some off, but a lot is left.
I'd like to clean these up for him, but not remove all the patina by scrubbing with an abrasive or steel wool.
I have read that paint thinner works well for this.
Is that the right route to go for this project? Any other suggestions?
Thanks