Ross MK III Restoration Project

[altadiver]

About 99% done restoring a MK III back into full military dress.

Barrel, receiver and bolt looking nasty.








Degreasing nasty 100 year old grime. Parts degreased using a ultrasonic cleaner.






Degreased three times. Finally come out clean. Cleaning solution below after 2nd run in ultrasonic cleaner.




Next phase. Glass bead blasted parts.



The parts were rust blued. Taking about 6 rusting phases to complete. Don't have any pictures of the process, however you will see how black they turned below. Do to pitting on the parts from rust, rust bluing gives a matte finish which obscures the pits.

Here is the wood ready for BLO.



Final product.
















The front nose cap and sight hood are the ones I make. The wood is by Bill @ Alberta Gun Stocks.

Finishing touches left to do are the upper wood rivets and a new interrupt screw.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Lee Enfield]

Nice job!

A note, not a criticism, but the bolt body was originally colour case hardened. Occasionally you run across one with brilliant remaining colours.

[altadiver]

I have one that only has about 20% of the colour from case hardening on it. I have 7 to case harden in the future!

[Surpmil]

Nice job, but I would turn down the pressure on the glass bead cabinet to about 20-25psi next time so you don't get all that stippling of the surface. Well broken up beads also stipple less than new beads.

[browningautorifle]

Rust blue doesn't give the matt finish, glass beading it does. Although it's more work after, you could glass bead to remove rust and then paper polish the areas that are out in view to bring them back to original hue. Fine machine paper and oil give good result without removing metal like a buffing wheel.

Still, nice restoration overall. Good job on the replacement parts you make...