Refinishing Stocks on Mil-Surplus Rifles - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

IndyMatt · 08-31-2007, 08:17 AM

I have seen several threads where peopel said they cleaned up and refinished military stocks. The lastest was in the Mauser thread where an individual refinished the stock on a Russian Captured K98 (looks awesome by the way). My question is that I have no doubts that I can refinish these stocks without a problem as I have refinished furniture without a problem. My question is by doing so do you lessen the value or collectibility of the rifle? I was always told not to because it degraded the value. A mauser is high on my list of C&R rifles to purchase among others and would like them to look great but I don't want to kill their value.

**Ed Ely** · 08-31-2007, 11:28 AM

All I can say is, "to each his own".

Ed

Brickboy240 · 08-31-2007, 12:37 PM

Depends on several factors (which as Ed put it...is a personal decision in the end).

First, if the rifle is rare or very uncommon...leave it as-is.

Second, if its fairly common and you want to lightly sand with #0000 steel wool and apply a thinned out coat of linseed oil to the overly dry stock and you keep the steel wool away from any cartouches on the wood - chances are you will not detract from its value.

Third, if you use an historically incorrect finish or stain...you have devalued the rifle. Ditto if you sand the cartouches away. Polyurethane should NEVER be used on ANY military surplus rifle.

All this should be approached with caution. I have freshened up the stocks on several milsurp rifles, but I went VERY lightly, did not remove or blemish any cartouche or stampings and only did it to protect very dry wood. I also used as close to what the maker used to refinish the wood when it was built. This is a more careful and time intensive project and God knows I researched everything and have alot of experience refinishing wood. this is not a good place for amateur hour...ok?

Again, the ultimate decision is yours...you CAN refinish...just be careful and if you're uncertain at all about the outcome...don't do it at all.

- Brickboy240

IndyMatt · 09-04-2007, 05:47 AM

Thanks guys, more than likely I will leave it alone! I am really wanting a K98 now! I got to handle a couple Russian captured enes over the weekend, if they could only talk!

Krackels · 09-04-2007, 06:38 AM

If it's for collection purposes then you should probably leave it alone or at least just remove the cosmoline, if it's a shooter than do whatever you want.

vafish · 09-04-2007, 06:46 AM

I was having some troubles with a roommate and had to go out of town for about a month.

So I took all my guns over to a co-workers house.

One of the guns was a Belgian FN49 in .30-06.

My co-worker decided to do me a favor while I was gone and refinish "that beat up old military rifle".

He sanded the stock down real good and refinished the metal with black bake on engine spray paint.

I managed to clean the paint off the metal. But on the stock he sanded so much that he removed the inspectors marks.

Dropped the value of the gun in half.

blefferd · 09-04-2007, 09:04 AM

^^ Ouch!!!!

dave_in_delaware · 09-04-2007, 10:03 AM

I'll +1 what others have said.

If the gun has historic significance, or bears unique or rare marks, etc.. then leave it alone!!

If the gun was mass-produced in the 100,000's and everyone and their mother has one, then don't worry about it.

Do your research on the gun FIRST to make sure you don't have a collector's piece.

Krackels · 09-04-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vafish

I was having some troubles with a roommate and had to go out of town for about a month.

So I took all my guns over to a co-workers house.

One of the guns was a Belgian FN49 in .30-06.

My co-worker decided to do me a favor while I was gone and refinish "that beat up old military rifle".

He sanded the stock down real good and refinished the metal with black bake on engine spray paint.

I managed to clean the paint off the metal. But on the stock he sanded so much that he removed the inspectors marks.

Dropped the value of the gun in half.

smack him for me!

Everyone knows you never sand down a stock. The most abrasive thing you want to use on a stock is 00 or 000 steel wool, and even then you have to be careful around the markings.

You should wait until he's gone for a weekend and decide to repaint his car with Krylon.

blefferd · 09-04-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

You should wait until he's gone for a weekend and decide to repaint his car with Krylon

ROFL

and to top off sanding down his stock, he used bake on engine SPRAY PAINT!!! at least he could have done was duracoat it LOL

08-31-2007, 08:17 AM	#1
IndyMatt XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 619	Refinishing Stocks on Mil-Surplus Rifles I have seen several threads where peopel said they cleaned up and refinished military stocks. The lastest was in the Mauser thread where an individual refinished the stock on a Russian Captured K98 (looks awesome by the way). My question is that I have no doubts that I can refinish these stocks without a problem as I have refinished furniture without a problem. My question is by doing so do you lessen the value or collectibility of the rifle? I was always told not to because it degraded the value. A mauser is high on my list of C&R rifles to purchase among others and would like them to look great but I don't want to kill their value. Last edited by IndyMatt; 08-31-2007 at 09:47 AM.

08-31-2007, 12:37 PM	#3
Brickboy240 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 9,264	Depends on several factors (which as Ed put it...is a personal decision in the end). First, if the rifle is rare or very uncommon...leave it as-is. Second, if its fairly common and you want to lightly sand with #0000 steel wool and apply a thinned out coat of linseed oil to the overly dry stock and you keep the steel wool away from any cartouches on the wood - chances are you will not detract from its value. Third, if you use an historically incorrect finish or stain...you have devalued the rifle. Ditto if you sand the cartouches away. Polyurethane should NEVER be used on ANY military surplus rifle. All this should be approached with caution. I have freshened up the stocks on several milsurp rifles, but I went VERY lightly, did not remove or blemish any cartouche or stampings and only did it to protect very dry wood. I also used as close to what the maker used to refinish the wood when it was built. This is a more careful and time intensive project and God knows I researched everything and have alot of experience refinishing wood. this is not a good place for amateur hour...ok? Again, the ultimate decision is yours...you CAN refinish...just be careful and if you're uncertain at all about the outcome...don't do it at all. - Brickboy240 __________________ The top 25% of wage earners in America pay 86% of all federal income taxes collected. (according to 2007 IRS website data) Es mejor morir a pie que vivir arrodillado Volvo...the Swedish Brick!

09-04-2007, 06:38 AM	#5
Krackels XDTalk 15K Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 19,001 Blog Entries: 5	If it's for collection purposes then you should probably leave it alone or at least just remove the cosmoline, if it's a shooter than do whatever you want. __________________ "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." --Benjamin Franklin America's Third Parties --- Duping the Foolish and Idealistic since 1832. PA Roll Call .................... My Blog

09-04-2007, 06:46 AM	#6
vafish XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,239	I was having some troubles with a roommate and had to go out of town for about a month. So I took all my guns over to a co-workers house. One of the guns was a Belgian FN49 in .30-06. My co-worker decided to do me a favor while I was gone and refinish "that beat up old military rifle". He sanded the stock down real good and refinished the metal with black bake on engine spray paint. I managed to clean the paint off the metal. But on the stock he sanded so much that he removed the inspectors marks. Dropped the value of the gun in half. __________________ \"If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.\" -- Confucius

09-04-2007, 09:04 AM	#7
blefferd XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 1,450	^^ Ouch!!!! __________________ SA XD 45GAP S&W 642 38SPL Glock 19 9mm Winchester Model 70 .308 Benelli Nova 12g Ruger 10/22 German K98 8MM New England Firearms Pardner 20g Norinco SKS 7.62x39 Polish TanTal 5.45x39 East German Markarov 9x18

08-31-2007, 11:28 AM	#2
Ed Ely XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: 37.65N -84.76W (Elev. 932 ft) Posts: 7,658 Blog Entries: 1	All I can say is, "to each his own". Ed

09-04-2007, 05:47 AM	#4
IndyMatt XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 619	Thanks guys, more than likely I will leave it alone! I am really wanting a K98 now! I got to handle a couple Russian captured enes over the weekend, if they could only talk!

09-04-2007, 10:03 AM	#8
dave_in_delaware XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 6,108	I'll +1 what others have said. If the gun has historic significance, or bears unique or rare marks, etc.. then leave it alone!! If the gun was mass-produced in the 100,000's and everyone and their mother has one, then don't worry about it. Do your research on the gun FIRST to make sure you don't have a collector's piece. __________________ Dave Daily carry = XD-9 service in a Blackhawk CQC SERPA holster, a Spyderco Native, and a Streamlight Scorpion. "Everything matters... unless it's antimatter." “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use.” [Delaware Constitution, Article I, § 20 Right to keep and bear arms]

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