For the experts

[Patrick Chadwick]

I was going to replace the parts that do not belong to the rifle in order to restore to its original condition and not having a “mixmaster” like we call them on the CMP.

Which parts that do not belong?
Up to now, I do not think that we have seen any evidence that it is a mixmaster. And what is "original"? As it came out of the factory? You won't find any of those. Boltaction put it quite succinctly. Basically, don't mess it about.

And don't jump to any conclusions about "correctness" of stamped or milled parts. If you change out a part that was original to the rifle, just because someone opines that the replacement part is "more correct", then you are in fact falsifying it, and in a well-meaning - but misguided - way, taking the first step on a slippery slope that leads to downright fakery of the "this is how it ought to have been " kind.

Barrel bands and the like got replaced by armorers, and cleaning rods can be viewed almost as "consumables". The important bits seem to match, and most (all?) of the rest that is numbered.

However, I realize that we have not yet seen any photos. That must be the next step.


Patrick

[Alexisrq]

That is why I said “I was going to…” there is a different mindset with Mausers and I willing to adapt. Still the little things like the front side cover and the cleaning rod (IMHO) could be exchange for the correct ones and will give it a more “original” or familiar look. The wood needs to be re-oiled to protected from the element and remove a lot of grease from the inside. I read that the furniture was originally oil and then re-oil as need it, is this true? Thanks for your time.

[m4a3sherman]

On earlier production 98ks, through about 1942-43 or so, most of the stocks were polished and then finished. Later rifles were forgone the polishing and left a bit rough but still finished. Of course in the final months of the war, the stock was simply there. What I, and I am sure a lot of people would suggest, is that you wait to do anything until you can post pictures. Let us see the rifle and we can lend suggestions for things to do in terms of maintenance or light cleaning. For most wood stocks, I use a boiled linseed oil. Applied to a soft rag, one can usually lightly buff the stock some and pull of a lot of grime from the outside without destroying finish. But again, as noted before, becareful with this and I would not suggest any sort of sanding action or adding any sort of finish. Honestly, sine you are pretty new to the mauser thing, just post some pictures. We will point you in the right direction! And yea, I suppose these are a bit different than garands but I really find M1 Garands to be the exception to the rule. Generally, most other milsurp rifles tend to follow the same concept in terms of serial numbers and parts replacement as the 98k.

[geladen]

Series numbering went up to 9999, and then repeated with a letter a, then letter b etc. Since the year was also (usually?) marked, the numbering could start again the following year. I am not sure what they did if they got through the whole alphabet in one year.

After 9999z, if they got that far in a year, the next number would be 1aa.

[Patrick Chadwick]

After 9999z, if they got that far in a year, the next number would be 1aa.

Sounds plausible. Has anyone ever seen one?

[Alexisrq]

I already strip the rifle and am in the process of a deep cleaning and part cataloging. I am new to Mousers but not to historical rifles so I understand the importance of markings on the stocks, I have restore several Garands and Mosins. BTW, I found the serial # on the inside of the stock and the front guard 9712 on both. Without getting into the eternal discussion of linseed oil and tung oil this is the product I use,

Pure Tung Oil Finish - Wood Finishing - All Natural Finish - China Wood Oil - Real Milk Paint

And here are the results,

[Alexisrq]

sorry, here are the links.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...srq/photo4.jpg
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...srq/photo3.jpg
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...srq/photo2.jpg
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...srq/photo1.jpg
http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...srq/photo5.jpg

[Alexisrq]

Couple of pictures. There is something going on with this rifle, in the first pictures I post you can see that they scratch the stock trying to remove something. In on of this pictures you can see that there are some punches that look like a eagle stamp. Very strange, I ask the seller if he knew anything about that and he told me that the rifle was like that when he acquired it.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Well that looks OK to me, how about some more photos?


Patrick

[m4a3sherman]

I wonder if you're over analyzing it just a bit; from those two pictures, it looks pretty typical, but we need a lot more photographs to be able to tell you anything new.