Stock cleaning dilemma, what to do?

[Oatmeal Savage]

What is proper to do? I just received a Steyr Mannlicher M95 long rifle. I am impressed with the manufacturing of the rifle, Steyr really knows how to make a quality firearm. I would like imput on what to do with the stock. It is dented and dirty. Should I strip the remnants of the finish that is there and also remove the dirt? Should I just leave it the way it is? Would I destroy part of the rifle's history by cleaning and refinishing the stock? I won't sand or steel wool the stock. What was the original finish? I was thinking of BLO.

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[Claven2]

In the case of that stock, I would tend to want to clean it without removing the finish.

Here's something to try. Get some el-cheapo no-name vaseline. Liberally smear it all over the exterior of the stock and let it site for a day or two. Then use lots of paper towel and wipe all the dirty vaseline off. Much of the dirt and excell oil will have leeched into the vaseline and wipe right off. Then hand-rub small amounts of BLO into the wood and buff off the excess after about a minute or two. More crud will come off on the buffing rag.

Repeat as necessary.

[Oatmeal Savage]

What I was thinking of doing was to brush on some turpintine and rub with a cloth. I will see if I have some vaseline around.

[Claven2]

Turpentine might be a bit too intrusive for a stock finished in oil. I doubt I'd try anything more than a light rub with methylated spirits if you want a rush job and still retain some original finish.

[sdh1911]

I've often used hand cleaner (that gunk stuff) followed by a good oiling, something like linseed or even lemon oil HTH-SDH

[Son]

If the current finish is greasy to the touch, I would experiment very carefully with "pulling" it with methylated spirits. On a Lithgow FTR'd SMLE, (still in grease from 1955) I used a clean soft cloth soaked with metho. One wipe gently down the full length of one side, applying a heavy coat. Then immediately follow with a firm swipe with a clean absorbent paper towel- again only one wipe. The towel should be filthy with excess oil and surface grime- don't re-use them.
You can carefully work your way around doing a bit at a time and keep the appearance of the wood even as the dirt comes out. When you think it is clean enough, try rubbing it with your palm. This should warm the surface drawing out more oil and spreading it evenly. You may then need to apply more BLO.

Leaving the metho on more than a few seconds may soak it in, taking the gunk with it.

I see the reasoning in Claven2's method of vaseline. Probably be the gentlest of methods and well worth a try first up. You can always try something a little harsher if one method fails, but if you go too far first time, recovery may not be so easy.

Let us know how you get on......

[230HB]

I have a Turk that I recently pick up that is slightly greasy also. Think I`ll give the vasoline a try on a section and see how it works. Thanks for the idea guys.

[Oatmeal Savage]

I have coated the stock with vaseline and will let it sit over night.

Thanks

[Claven2]

Great Let us know how it turn out

[Oatmeal Savage]

Well the vaseline is off. It showed that the stock had been finished with varnish. Places where the varnish had come off came out lighter that the varnished areas. It left the finish kind of blotchy. I am sure that the vaseline will work with a BLO or oil based finish. I think I will have to use a stripper and fine brush to remove the varnish remnants.