Pictures of the RB 1903 after wiping it down a little...

[Fred G.]

Just acetone in cotton rags. It dissolved the crud and I followed up with a clean rag to get any residue off then I oiled it with a little linseed, allowed it to dry and rubbed it down by hand with a little Artists Stand Oil, which is a very thick and rendered down linseed oil that comes in a bottle and that has the consistency of honey. Wiped off the excess and allowed it to dry, then polished it with my hands. I haven't finished that part of it yet. I've since darkened the receiver and rear sight base since the latest pictures were posted. I'll have to post more pictures of what it looks like now. Basically the original Rod Bayonet stock was un used and was meant as a field replacement. Possibly the hand guard was too, but it not having a riveted clip either means that it hadn't been installed yet if it IS an original hand guard or that the hand guard is a reproduction. However, the unused stock never had a rear trigger guard screw bushing put in, so who knows?