SUMMER PROJECT: M1 and M1903

[Commissar Gribb]

so this summer I'm going to do some work restoring some rifles. I got my paperwork (and money) together to get an M1 Garand (SA Field Grade USGI) and an M1903 (SA "c" stock). It's gonna be 750 from www.odcmp.com (I love vfw benefits!)

so far I've helped my friend refinish and reblue his mosin nagant and I've refinished my AKM but I've never tried to restore anything with... well... VALUE.

I've had good luck using hot water and degreaser to get the cosmoline, using laquer thinner to clean up the finish and then rubbing the rifle stock down with tung oil. If the pieces are incredibly mismatched, I might spray it with stripper and try to darken the lighter pieces of wood with minwax.

The wood IMO is the easy part. What I'm worried about is the metal. I've had good experience using stripper/blue and rust remover to get bluing off and using lauer custom durcoat to get a nice smooth satin black finish. I've seen a lot of M1 rifles with parkerised grey though! what looks better and what would be a better choice for a restoration? I just bought some parkerising solution for LCW.

 

[jefnvk]

My vote is to leave as is. Unless you get a really crappy one, I have never seen one at the North store in the couple of times I have been there that would need the metal refinished, either on a 1903 or M1.

Same for the stocks, unless you get a real junker. Probably hurt the value more than anything, by refinishing.

My buddy got a M1 Greek with a replacement stock (replaced in Greece). He decided that the money was needed more for college, and had a hard time finding anyone to buy it for the $450 he paid. they didn't want the replaced stock at all.

EDIT: I'd grab that M1 up ASAP. I am getting the feeling that supplies are starting to dwindle up.

 

[Commissar Gribb]

really? I heard the field grade rifles lose a lot of their parkerising. Would it even be worth it to try to "touch up" if there's some missing in spots?

Were M1s or M1903s laquer finished?

I'd grab that M1 up ASAP. I am getting the feeling that supplies are starting to dwindle up.

Hell yeah! that's one of the reason's I'm getting em right there. I think we may be completely out of USGI rifles soon.
I've already gone and bought a can of korean surp 30-06 in anticipation. That stuff is a helluva deal IMO- comes on clips in bandoliers and everything! saw a little bit of corrosion but nothing I can't get off with some rust remover. Most of it was on the enbloc clips and maybe 1 out of 10 of the catridges.

 

[jobu07]

THey are your rifles man. If you want to completely refinish them, then go for it! After all is said and done you may have hurt the "collectors" value of them. But you'll have some really nice looking shooters afterward. Besides, you aren't trying to turn around and pass them off to someone as genuine mint condition GI weapons anyway. Have fun and enjoy your toys!

 

[jefnvk]

There wer some pretty worn ones, but of the group I seen, most had nice finishes. My Greek rack grad had what looked like a brand new finish applied, a beautiful, deep satin black when I got it. My USGI was a light grey, which I liked a little better.

 

[El Rojo]

You know that is true. If you aren't a collector, do what you want. If a collector has a heart attack over it, they should have bought it first. Afterall, they are just guns and you can't take them with you when you die.

It sort of reminds me of kids who used to collect Pokemon cards. I would say, "How much is that one worth." "$30!" they would respond. I would say, "Can you take it into the store and buy some snacks and soda and give the guy a Pokemon card and he will give you some change?" Their confused reply, "Well no, you can't do that." "Well then until you find someone who is willing to buy it, it isn't worth anything. I would sell those things now because until you do, you have nothing and if the price goes down, you will still have nothing." They didn't listen.

 

[Commissar Gribb]

thanks for the info guys!

 

[iamkris]

Commissar Gribb -- one thing to note...the Korean surplus on enbloc clips (headstamp KA) is corrosive...make sure you wash those girls out good after shooting them. The PS-headstamped Korean (shipped in 20 rnd boxes in a 400 rnd can) is non-corrosive.

While its true that they are your rifles and you can do what you want with them, the M1s and 03's really deserve to be left as they are. Most of the finishes coming from the CMP are really fairly good (arsenal reparks). Plus, the way they look are badges of honor.

In my opinion, to strip them down and spray Duracoat on them is like taking a dignified and attractive older lady, dressing her up to look like Brittney Spears and making her walk down Sunset Strip. Some find it appealling, I think it's...well...not right.

Just my opinion.

 

[Commissar Gribb]

I know all about corrosive ammo from my mauser..

is there anything special on the garand that I need to do to protect against corrosion? like cleaning the gas port/inside the receiver more than usual? I've had good experience with Rem-oil but if you've got anything to add, that would be appreciated.

anyhow, Yeah If everything looks in good order, I wont mess with it. My main concern is that I'll get a rifle that looks like it came from the bottom of the crate with barely any of the parkerising intact and the wood looking wildly worn and beaten with mismatched/cracked handguards.