1903 Mark I time capsule **PICS**

[jjjxlr8]

I guess I thought it was cosmoline?? Everything I've read about cosmoline suggests that heat will soften it so it can be wiped away. Lot's of techniques about placing rifles in trash bags in your car on a hot day, wrapped in absorbing material. I've dealt with it a little bit with Russian surplus rifles, but never on a US rifle. So the US stuff is different, huh?

I was thinking that if the rifle had an older, hardened oil finish, that maybe it wouldn't seep into the stock with 125degree heat (melting point of cosmoline). Maybe wishful thinking on my part!

Does anyone have any photos of a stock cleaned with acetone? Fred? I guess I was envisioning bare, dry looking stripped wood. Maybe that's not the case. I've never used acetone on a rifle but I've seen how easily it eats away plastic so I guess I was thinking of it as a pretty aggressive solvent.

The aspect of the stock that I really love is the deep reddish brown color. I don't want to screw it up and end up losing the reddish color that may be from oxidation over time.

[Fred G.]

Upon cleaning with a solvent like acetone, the wood will be in need of wiping down with a dry, clean rag. It will be dull in color. Upon rubbing linseed oil into it by hand, the color will suddenly appear and the grain will be highlighted. The color will return and it will be natural. It is not a stripper and will not necessitate scraping. The crap will just dissolve and come off into the rag. You could use #0000 steel or bronze wool soaked in acetone, but unless you apply it Very lightly against the wood, it will ever so slightly put wear on the corners and edges. That's why I say to use a rag with acetone. As it dissolves the grease, it will draw it out of the stock into the rag or steel wool or bronze wool. You mentioned using a heat gun. That advice was given on another forum and it is probably OK if one hasn't any solvent to use. By the way, why would you want to buy a heat gun when you could just use a hair dryer?

[jjjxlr8]

Here's one source that was describing the "heat gun" method but I kept coming across it in various posts and the previous owner suggested it, too, indicating that he had done it before on another rifle with success. At this point, I'm listening and considering all suggestions. I've never had to clean a US rifle of preservative 'grease' before.

Cleaning your M1 Garand Stock

I don't have a hair dryer! Lol. My wife has one but she won't let me take it near that greasy rifle. I can get a cheap heat gun for about $8.

[Fred G.]

Have fun. Good luck. Share pictures of the rifle after you do what you're going to do.

[jjjxlr8]

Thanks. Will do!

[Father Ted]

Great rifle and time capsule factor. Good luck with whatever you do.
Cheers

[stryker]

clean it. Use it. Enjoy it.