K98 Stock Issue

[StPatrick]

I've got a fairly beat up Russian-capture K98 I picked up not too long ago - literally the only nice thing about the rifle is the bore; everything else is pretty well roughed up, electro-pencilled, etc.  The finish on the stock is flaking off, and everytime I shoot or otherwise handle the rifle, I get little flakes of the finish stuck to my hands, cheek, clothes, etc.  Are there any options for dealing with this other than refinishing the stock?  I'd prefer to leave it original*, but this is really annoying.  The flaking (shown in the picture below) involves the shiny coating coming off the wood and sticking to everything it contacts.  Any suggestions?  What is the coating on the stock?  Thanks for your input.  For reference, this is a 1936 built by Paul Mauser & Sons in one of their factories.  The Reds did a number on it.  Parts of the action appear to have been painted black, not sure if that was originally done or just more fine Russian craftmanship.

 

*The other option, of course, would be to salvage the action and clean things up, put it in a new stock, drill and tap, etc., e.g. a full-on sporterization.  With the condition of the rifle as is, I don't see too much point in halfway measures.

 

[austin7.62]

I wouldn't sporterize it, personally.

 

If I were to sporterize one, I'd get a Yugo. You're going to spend alot of money on sporterizing a rifle that you will never be able to get back out of it.

[xjsnake]

I would normally say no to refinishing a stock but in the case of yours I'd say that's a wise way to go.

[dou44]

your best bet would be to buy some acetone from lowes and take it off and them you can refinish it with tung oil.

[peejman]

Agreed, strip it and oil it.

[gregintenn]

                                   [URL=http://s612.photobucket.com/user/gregintenn/media/IMG_0249-1.jpg.html][/URL]

 

I say make something you can use out of it. It isn't what you'd call a collector's piece anyway.                    

[frankmako]

strip it and redo. 

[DaveTN]

If the finish on the stock is flaking off it isn’t original anyway. I would refinish the stock and all the metal.

[Garufa]

The finish on the stock is shellac and did not come out of German hands that way.  The Russians put it on. 

 

There is no way to save what's left so you might as well strip it.  Denatured alcohol will quickly dissovle the shellac then you can wipe it off (denatured alcohol is also what you use to make shellac from flakes). After that you could try a traditional finish like linseed, tung, BLO or whatever makes you happy. 

Edited July 29, 2013 by Garufa

[Ramjo]

                                   

 

I say make something you can use out of it. It isn't what you'd call a collector's piece anyway.                    

Makes me cringe...

[roverboy]

I'm with some of the other guys. Strip it and refinish it with tongue oil or boiled linseed oil.

[Caster]

 
I say make something you can use out of it. It isn't what you'd call a collector's piece anyway.

Dang straight. If you can't use it, lose it.
Make something out of it you can put to work. Like putting meat on the table.

[gregintenn]

Makes me cringe...

Trust me.....there are plenty left. Plus, for everyone we sporterize, it'll make your originals worth more.

[bajabuc]

BOX O TRUTH...refinishing stock using EasyOff oven cleaner.  Works great and doesn't 'sand' the edges

[Guest tangojuliet]

BOX O TRUTH...refinishing stock using EasyOff oven cleaner.  Works great and doesn't 'sand' the edges

THE GREAT SAGE BAJABUC SPEAKS THE TRUTH !!! all bow to the great sage  bajabuc  :bowrofl:

[bajabuc]

THE GREAT SAGE BAJABUC SPEAKS THE TRUTH !!! all bow to the great sage  bajabuc  :bowrofl:

About time someone noticed