Enfield No4 MkII

I met Fritz/Frederick yesterday and picked up the No4 MkII from him. Had some good discussions as usual. Everytime I converse with him I learn something new. I wanted to first thank him for selling the rifle to me at a fair price.

Secondly the wrap was already coming off as mentioned in a previous thread so I carefully removed it. I will likely save it. Why I'm not really sure other than I have the space to store it.

Now with it unwrapped I would like to clean it up and shoot it. I shoot all my rifles except one. I know there will be those that say don't shoot it, but that is what they were made for.

Are there any suggestions to cleaning it? Anything different than what one would do with a rifle covered in Commie Grease? I'm thinking sweat the stock in a black garbage bag on the dash of a truck with some paper towels to soak up the grease, and wipe the metal down with Ballistol.

Pretty sure they will say leave the grease there under the action/furniture to help protect it from moisture if I am incorrect I will be informed of such just going on previous discusions held on this site. I should gather your going to have to clean out the trigger, mag well bolt & mag etc. I have never had to clean caked on cosmoline off but have heard it is a bit of a chore.

What's the grease? Is it cosmoline? If so then boiling water will take it off. Volatile mineral spirits too... Strip and clean. You shouldn't have to do the garbage bag thing, really. You can use liberally wet rags with varsol to clean the wood. So many things...if it's cosmoline.

The grease on the bayonet and scabbard should be the same. you could try whatever method you use on those first. Two tries possible prior to hitting the metal of the rifle.

Whatever you use you do not want to use anything that will attack suncorite.

The wood should still have the original layer of linseed oil under the hot grease dip. Whatever method used you do not want to dry out the stock or stain it.

off topic:

As per our discussion on "the grey blanket" there is a interesting thread on that topic over on the Jap page on Gunboards.