Restoring M1 carbine, Garand, No.4Mk2

[fullm3taljacket]

I have the two American arms with about 45% of their finish remaining. I obviously want to avoid pitting, rust, etc. While none of them are going to be museum pieces, nor am I going to try and completely refinish the arms entirely, I don't want to hurt their value either. I live in a very dry environment and don't know if I should worry about their finishes, or if I should get a very high quality re-parkerizing job done or just keep them lightly oiled to ward off corrosion. Any advice?

Also, I have the British arm that could use some TLC but is not in bad shape. It appears to be parts matching (save for the bolt).Should I even bother taking it of the stock for a one-time decent cleaning, or should I leave what I can't see alone? I know some of these rifles need to really settle in their stocks if one really wants to see decent accuracy out of them. Advice here is also welcomed!

Much thanks!

Information

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[mmppres]

Best advice is post some good pictures an the power to be on here will give you all the info you can use.

[fullm3taljacket]

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[fullm3taljacket]

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[browningautorifle]

Just keeping your rifles oiled will keep them from rusting. If you have a cleaning kit with an oiled cloth in it and wipe them down after handling and maybe weekly, you should be fine. Not dripping, just a light oiling. Parkerizing will rust too over time...care is the recipe for a healthy firearm. There's no magic anti rust recipe. A good coat of Parkerizing will help mind...

[Seaspriter]

For the Garand, it looks like it's in excellent shape. Do as little as necessary, anything more is too much; do as BAR suggests. If it's never been taken down, consider doing only that, cleaning, checking wear, etc. oiling, and reassembling.

The Carbine looks like it's seen heavy usage over the years. Remove the stock, which should have the finish removed with anything like rubbing alcohol or ammonia (or Citristrip if that's old varnish.) Only use a soft brush, Scotch pad or fine steel wool -- no sandpaper (which will remove the patina) and don't try to sand out the dings. If needed, steam out any gouges. Give it a good bath of BLO, until it stops absorbing. Then rub all the BLO off with some good elbow-grease to heat/burnish the surface. Then final finish with Tung Oil (this was SOP for M-1s). Coat the inside of the stock where metal contacts wood with a 50/50 mixture of wax and petroleum jelly (you have to melt it to mix it) to prevent gun oil from penetrating and rotting the wood.

As for the barrel and action, these look like they could be dirty and worn. At a minimum, put the action in a bucket of penetrating oil or rust buster, and slosh out the dirt and grime. Replace any worn parts. Check worn piston, etc. Oil like BAR said. At a maximum, take the whole thing apart and clean/replace, or have it checked out by a gunsmith if you intend to shoot the gun.

The problem with trying to re-Parkerize the Carbine is that you will never replicate the greenish ting of the original, so don't bother trying -- collectors know the real deal when they see the right patina on the metal. Just keep it well oiled and give it TLC.

BTW, what manufacturer made the carbine?

[fullm3taljacket]

BAR,

Thanks for your input, I'm just trying to do right by the rifles and by history. I will do as you say. What do you think about the No4Mk2? Take it out of the stock for a good cleaning, or just clean as I can see it? I don't have pictures of the "dirty" areas, but it looks like it had been taken to "the field" for a week and then shoved back in a safe. No rust, just needs some TLC I figure.

---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------

Sea,

I will do as you and BAR advise, save for the stock. I have had it for about 8 months and have already shot it and it is both reliable and accurate. It is a 1944 IBM re-imported from Korea (I think) with what appears to be original barrel and bolt (with obvious small replacements as needed). The action was originally an Auto-Ord, but if I've read the history correctly, they couldn't produce them fast enough, so I believe IBM gave them an assist.

Also interested in what you think of the No4Mk2, for generalities, please see my most recent reply to BAR.

Much thanks!

[browningautorifle]

Personally, no mater what the firearm...I do a detailed strip and clean. Every pin and screw. Also you get to know what state it's in that way. Then it's spotless to start. Did I miss some pics? No #4 mk2 here...

[fullm3taljacket]

BAR,

I don't have any particularly good pictures of the Enfield, but I have some posted here:

No4Mk2 Questions

I have always done as you advise (detail stripping) I just wanted a second opinion is all. Thanks again for all of your help.

[browningautorifle]

Yes, I saw that thread but didn't post because I had nothing useful to add. Nothing wrong with that one. I'd still detailed strip and clean and oil while I was at it. Then it will probably stay that way. If you store these in your home, even though you may be on the edge of the AZ desert...you should be OK with the preventative medicine I prescribed. It worked well for me in the summer conditions (40 C) in the Mediterranean while I did UN duty...the other guys didn't wipe their FNs down after handling and in 4 months, there were two still black in color, mine and my section commander's...the rest were silver from rusting and being scrubbed clean with steel wool or scotch brite pads.