K98 barrel fix

[mcorbei3]

Hello gentlemen,

I received a RC K98 a while ago that I'm planning to restore. I removed the shellac, which was peeling pretty badly, and it's got a lot of potential. One issue is the barrel, right by the front band. It looks like someone took a screwdriver to it and pocked it up real well. I used a bluing pen and marked them darker, but I'm hoping that this is only a temporary fix. Any ideas on a permanent solution? Thanks for looking.

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[Aragorn243]

You could polish them out but that would take a while and would reduce the diameter of the barrel a bit.

You could knock the high spots off and then fill them with JB weld and spray paint the barrel.

You could knock the high spots off and cold blue it.

[browningautorifle]

JB weld and spray paint the barrel.

Probably about the best...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

If that damage was not done under combat conditions bubba deserves a sound thrashing. I am not a welder could it be tiged & refinnished?
Please post some after photos of the repair.

[vintage hunter]

I am not a welder could it be tiged & refinnished?

Yes, it could be, but a warped barrel would be the result.

[Aragorn243]

It's weird how the wood is all messed up right there also. This would have had to have happened after the refurbishment and I don't know that a lot of these coming from the Ukraine would have ever been issued. A Soviet refurb isn't going to come out with the same stock that it went in with.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Bubba driving tent pegs?

[browningautorifle]

Yes, it could be, but a warped barrel would be the result.

Absolutely correct. I know, I've done it. However, I also straightened the barrel. I suggest don't try it though...

[Trap4570]

I would avoid frustration and search out a replacement barrel. I would have a gunsmith inspect the entire arm after removal of the barrel to make sure no other hidden damage is present.

[Aragorn243]

I would avoid frustration and search out a replacement barrel. I would have a gunsmith inspect the entire arm after removal of the barrel to make sure no other hidden damage is present.

Nothing like adding a ton of expense to a minor problem and paying someone that's most likely clueless on this particular arm to tell you they can't find anything wrong with it. But that's up to you.

I've personally done all three of my recommendations to different rifles, and two of them on the same one. They all work, just depends what the look is you are going for. If I was not worried in the slightest about collectability or resale, I'd polish the barrel. It's not hard, can be done by hand with cloth sandpaper strips and the end result if you are careful is hard to distinguish from original with the naked eye. Blending the bluing is the hardest part.

You think the barrel on this one has problems, check out this one: 1941 Swedish Mauser needs a LOT of help Pretty much went through the process step by step but you can skip to the end for fixing this little problem.