Carteach has a small project going, which will be discussed in greater depth at a later date........ If it works.
Meanwhile, we have a chance to look at some of the small hurdles the project tosses in the way. Since it involves working with an ancient Mauser military stock that will be 'refinished' when all is said and done, there are some pieces of old military hardware that must be dislodged first.
As the photos show, the recoil lug screwed together through the stock.... was stuck right good. Getting it out involved a weeks repeated soaking with Ballistol, and then some very careful work with a re-shaped pair of needle nose pliers.
Considerable downward pressure needed to be applied to the tool to keep it from slipping out of the holes in the threaded nut. A spanner could be bought or made, specifically to do these recoil lug nuts, but the pliers work with a little care.
Working slowly, and with quite a lot of pressure, the crusted over nut begins to turn. There is no rush in this procedure. Just keep the inward pressure applied while turning slowly, with frequent breaks to reorient tool and work to avoid awkward positions.
Once the nut is unthreaded, the game is not over. It may stay in place, having forced the lug out the other side of the stock. If that happens, a 90 degree probe is inserted into the nut and it's gently, but forcefully, pried from it home of 70 years. After that, a hammer and thin punch will push the recoil lug free from the stock, with a little gentle tapping.
Shazamm! One truly ancient and rusty old recoil lug removed from one beat up old Mauser military rifle stock. The lug is actually in fine condition for it's age, and can be restored with little more than some careful clean up and rebluing.
Next up, a barrel band catch spring that hasn't seen light of day since Carteach's father was a young boy.
This too was soaked for a week with Ballistol to break up the old finish, gum, tar, mule exhaust, and whatever else had been smeared on the Turkish military rifle over several generations. Once the finish was softened enough (scrapes away with a knife blade), the stock is turned over and a properly sized punch is tapped into the hole opposite the band spring, until the spring body is driven clear of the stock.
Now the spring catch can be gently grabbed with a padded pliers, and slowly twisted side to side as it's pulled from the stock.
The stock set stripped of it's hardware, it's now ready for 'refinishing'. This will be an article of it's own.
The object here is not a pristine new stock, nor even something that doesn't look like 70 year old military wood. The goal is clean, and a worn but well cared for appearance. With some luck and a lot of care, the end product will seem like an unusual military-ish style rifle... a beast that never was...
More to come on that thought. Check back later.
Purists please note: This stock was purchased as a project piece, and was not removed from the rifle by this author. No antique Mauser military rifles were harmed in this project. Relax.
6 comments:
Patience IS a virtue when working with old equipment :-)
Patience is rewqired when working with old stuff.
God knows I've broken enough "old stuff" in my younger days trying to understnd how it went together so I could take it apart.
But back then, even though it was "old stuff", it was still available in the surplus channels.
Carteach0....what are you going to use to strip the wood? I've heard E-Z-Off oven cleaner works quite well.
Jim, the first hit is with a stripper from a spray can. Dad's I think it is. Might be Zep. I'll have to check tomorrow, in the shop.
There's another step involving degreaser and a tub full of hot water. Not there yet....
Oh... a note....
These photos were taken with a cell phone, the usual DSLR staying in it's padded bag that day. I don't if that will become a habit, but it was interesting this once.
A tub of hot water?
This I GOTTA see!
I know it doesn't do you a bit of good to know this now, but that two-hole nut for the recoil lug has a hex-shaped bit you can buy at the hardware store. My K-31 has a similar nut that holds some bit of hardware into the stock, and I was able to get it loose after a trip to the hardware store (I took measurements, not the rifle, to the hardware store). The manufacturers of my Savage Mk II, on the other hand, had the good sense to use a standard Allen Key.
But that's the charm of old rifles, isn't it?
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