Refinish a rifle stock?

[Gawen]

I know there's a couple hunters/gun enthusiasts out here, so I'm gonna ask this:
I have a couple 98k's. One is pre war (1935) and the other is a Russian Capture. I'd like to refinish the stock on the RC. It's laminated. Anyone here done it? Yeah, there's a buttload of internet advice, some of it conflicting, as usual. But I'd entertain your thoughts as well. If you've done this, or know someone who's done it, include photos please.

[Inevitable Droid]

Digression, sorry, but I'd love to see pix of your guns if you have any and don't mind sharing.  I recently became a handgun owner.  My collector instinct is fully engaged.  In New Jersey buying handguns requires a special permit each time, which is tedious, so I'll probably start buying rifles.  They're expensive, so I won't be buying one a week or even one a month, but gradually my collection will grow.

[Prometheus]

I hunt and own quiet a few guns but i dont have any as collectable as the ones you're talking about. Those sound like they'd be worth a lot due to their history. Doing the refinish yourself might be a bad idea, we tried to blue our own guns once and it was a disaster. Well, based soley on what ive learned watching antiques roadshow, id say you need to consult an expert(Appraiser). Assuming you are mostly concerned with retaining the guns value, u'll want to ask someone who knows what effect a refinish will have on its value. I'd say that if done by a proffessional, the refinish shouldn't damage the value but id still check with someone who knows for sure. If you're primary concern is the appearance of the gun(You mostly just want a good showpiece) a refinish might be exactly what you want as it should make the gun look a lot better and you'll be proud to show it to your friends.

I own a double barrel from the early 1900's(Or earler we've never had it looked at) that was passed down to me by patrilineally. My palpals palpal owned it if i have my stories straight. its weird to think that this guy used this weapon to provide meat for his family up in the appallachia mountains so many years ago. Palpal used to tell me stories about how they'd go out and hunt squirrels and rabbits and ducks(Not enough deer in the region back then to hunt). They'd kill dozens on a good day and that would be the only meat the family had all week. Also, its highly propable that a revenuer or two got shot at and possibly killed with it. My family were moonshiners supposedly even before they came to america. They were just trying to supplement their meager income a little bit up in the mountains. The governemnt never did anything for them up there, all they did was come around looking for taxes and sticking their noses where they dont belong. Don't think its worth too much due to the fact that its not the kind of firearm typically used in wars but the value isnt important to me. It was actually made by a gunsmith. Not in a factory with interchangeable parts, the barrel is bonded to the action by melted brass. Never fired it due to the potential for injury. We've never had any work done to it and dont think i ever will. To me the old look of this gun just proves how old it is. To make it look glossy and new would take away its character. I think papi(The guns origional owner) would be proud to know his descendants are still huntin, fishin, gardenin, and keeping our rifles loaded in case the government pisses us off.

[OldGit]

My father "refinished" a nice little 20-bore shotgun and ruined it.  It looks like plastic now; it shoots the same but a lot of the pleasure of owning it has gone.  An old weapon should IMO still look old after a refinish.

[Gawen]

Pictures...

First, let me say that due to all the hub bub going on this time of year, I had forgotten all about this thread. Sorry.
So here's the pics:
This first one is a Beretta Mod. 21A in .22LR


Mossberg Mod 500 12ga shotgun


This one is a Stevens Mod 66B in .22LR. It was my dad's. This rifle stock I refinished about 20+ years ago.


This is a 1911A1 clone. It was built in 1928 on Colt machinery in Argentina. It has been rebuilt many times. It has a WWII Remington slide on top now. I just plain 'ol wore it out. I can't tell you how many rounds has been through this pistol. Caliber .45 (11.25mm)


This is a new Rock Island/Armscor 1911A1 clone with a few enhancements. I'm a 1911 fan.


This is one of the two Mausers I own, both in 8mm. This particular one was built in 1935 (S42G). It has Nazi markings and all the numbers match except for the stock. It has roughly 75% of its metal finish left. I also have a matching bayonet and scabbard for this rifle.


The other Mauser I have was made during the war - 1943. It's in pieces right now awaiting me to finish the stock.

This is a Ruger 22/45 in 22LR. Very accurate pistol I bought when I was a member of a bullseye shooting club.


My latest acquisition is an HK 91...the semiautomatic version of the German HK G3...in .308 (7.62mm)

[Gawen]

Digression, sorry, but I'd love to see pix of your guns if you have any and don't mind sharing.  I recently became a handgun owner.  My collector instinct is fully engaged.  In New Jersey buying handguns requires a special permit each time, which is tedious, so I'll probably start buying rifles.  They're expensive, so I won't be buying one a week or even one a month, but gradually my collection will grow.

Expensive ain't the word for it. Ammo cost has doubled too. My advice is to buy a good amount of ammo when you find out what type of ammo your guns digest the best.

[Gawen]

Prometheous,

Thanks for the advice. But having been a firearms dealer through the entire decade of the eighties and owned and sold firearms all my life, I'm fairly well used to values. The Mauser stock I want to refinish will be in a finish as similar to what the German Army used during the war. This rifle is a Russian capture rifle with some of the Nazi proof marks and Waffenampts X'd out. Its value is as a 'shooter' so any amount of refinish will enhance the rifle.
The rifle pictured above...I won't touch at all.

[Gawen]

My father "refinished" a nice little 20-bore shotgun and ruined it.  It looks like plastic now; it shoots the same but a lot of the pleasure of owning it has gone.  An old weapon should IMO still look old after a refinish.

It's rather simple (but time consuming) to refinish a 'shooter' once you figure out what technique you want to use. That "nice little 20-bore" could be made to look like new if you had the inclination.

[Guardian85]

My father got his hands on a 98k that was sold as surplus from the Norwegian National Guard to use as a hunting rifle. He didn't refinish the stock as the wood had begun warping. He had no interest in preserving the rifle, as they are not exactly rare in this part of the world.

What he did was add a scope mount, and change the angle of the bolt lever to make room for this. Then he swapped the decaying wood stock with a synthetic remington stock, maintaining all the original working parts.
The resulting weapon is one of the sweetest rifles I have had the pleasure of firing. And I was a designated marksman in the service and know a thing or two about guns.