Ugly M91/30 - What's Russian for "Bubba?"

[Seaspriter]

Nice Job. Did you have a couple of shots of vodka between coats, like a true Russian?

The idea of using lemon and garnet flake shellac to get the original color is informative.

Shellac can be notorious for chipping, that's why it's more often used as a sealer, rather than a final finish. Have you considered using Tung Oil or something similar as the final finish?

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Just a matter of personal pride -- but I'd never put a sloppy coat of anything on a gun I owned, even if it mimicked the Russian quality. Why perpetuate a poor standard?

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[MosinVirus]

Nice Job. Did you have a couple of shots of vodka between coats, like a true Russian?

The idea of using lemon and garnet flake shellac to get the original color is informative.

Shellac can be notorious for chipping, that's why it's more often used as a sealer, rather than a final finish. Have you considered using Tung Oil or something similar as the final finish?

--------
Just a matter of personal pride -- but I'd never put a sloppy coat of anything on a gun I owned, even if it mimicked the Russian quality. Why perpetuate a poor standard?

Oh it all depends on what you are going for. I completely agree that shellac is not great top coat. But to those that want to reproduce what was there originally, it is the only thing to use, because I personally cannot find a new version of that lacquer they used on 91/30s (for color match)

I am an ex-USSRian but from Ukraine originally. And, yes, vodka is a pretty standard drink for me. LOL, but it may dissolve shellac...

I was just sharing what I found to work for me when trying to reproduce that finish.

In any case, if you need to look up some information in Russian, like Russian manuals, hit me up.

Oh, I did try Tung Oil finish, so it was more of a varnish, and it was great, and I tried Danish Oil, also interesting, and TruOil by Birchwood, and BLO. I like them all. I like to experiment for sure.

[WarPig1976]

I like to experiment for sure.

And build wicked custom 1911's too,,,,By hand.

[MosinVirus]

And build wicked custom 1911's too,,,,By hand.

Thank you. Last two came out excellent shooters.

[MasterChief]