Rust on an old 12-41 rifle

[Torpedo]

That is a really nice find!
I own one almost just like it, and as rust goes it's really not bad.
My approach is always to do as little as possible, simply shoot it, clean it and oil it as you would any other rifle.
You will find that after several sessions of this most of that rust will be gone.
The cleaning solvents and light oil will eventually get under the rust and lift it, don't be in a hurry.
As long as you keep it oiled and store it properly it will not get any worse and remember, the worst thing you can do to any machine is to let it sit unused.

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[AZshot]

I agree, that little bit of surface rust is no big deal, has probably occured in the past 5 years, and similar happened to it back in time before. Just put oil on it (don't let the oil be so thick next to the wood that you'll stain the wood) and wipe it off after every handling session with a cloth rag. Remember the rust that comes off is abrasive, turn your rag often, use oil on it.
Extreme methods like boiling, steel wool, acids, bases, needle guns....are what ruins guns. Not a touch or red powder that oil will remove in a few sessions.

[Rick B]

Can you tell me if the stock is a long channel or short? Thanks,,Rick B

[Ms15710]

I wanted to thank everyone who raised suggestions on how to properly deal with this rust.

I'll go over these options and carefully assess them to see what my father and I feel most comfortable doing. If the rust wasn't too spread out I'd leave it alone, but I don't want a good piece of history like this rusting away due to my negligence.

[Ms15710]

Hi Rick,

It looks to me like a short channel stock with a faint inspection stamp of 97 in the channel.

There are also spots where the wood has turned black and a tad bit of mold where the receiver sits. I have provided photographs of all these identifying marks. Any idea why those black spots could be?

[browningautorifle]

The black in pics two, three, four, five are simply oil in the wood. Is that what you refer to?

[Rick B]

Thanks Mike and if you pull the butt plate I would like to know if the lower screw hole is equal size to upper or large. Also if it is a 2S butt plate. They showed up later but just incase. Thanks,, Rick B

[Ms15710]

Hey Rick,

I'm sorry but I couldn't get the lower screw to budge. The first I was able to get to turn with a larger screw driver, but the lower one refused to dislodge. I'm starting to strip the screw which I'm afraid of.

I took a few photos of the buttplate; I know this won't reveal what you're looking for but at the moment it is all I can provide. What should I be looking for? I'm not well educated on butt plates other than the 2S marking.

[Rick B]

Thanks for trying. You can leave it as the lower screw is centered making it a Springfield. If it was shifted to the left it would be a Winchester. No need to take it off. Thanks for the pics. Rick B

[1563621]

Kroil is your friend on Butt screw. Dribble it into sling swivel to get to screw threads.