Belgian 1889 Project

[Aragorn243]

I got lucky again, I think anyway. Went to the Cabelas in Delaware yesterday and was going through their surplus rack, they actually have one. The reason they have one is their prices are simply ridiculous and have been since they opened. I'm not really looking at the rifles, just flipping the price tags which are ranging from $599 for a type 38 that's been there since they opened, to $499 for a Mosin Nagant Finn capture with nothing done to it other than changing the front sight. Flipped the last tag and it was $99 so I grabbed it right up and took a close look at it. Belgian 1889 which I've been looking for for quite a while. It's rough, tag called it a project rifle but it's something I enjoy messing with and figured I wasn't going to beat the price. Bore has strong rifling but a coating of rust, not sure how bad but it looks serviceable at minimum. Bolt was bent back a little but not down. All parts with the exception of the cleaning rod appear to be there but the sight spring is broken. Butt plate is probably also beyond reasonable salvage but I'll make an attempt. Both the spring and butt plate are among the very few parts available from Numrich so I may place an order later after I verify it needs nothing else. It functions properly, and firing pin is in place. Biggest issue I see is the stock. It is in good condition with the exception of about 2 inches of the butt, top for the most part. It is dry rotted, some of it is missing. Not sure of proper repair for this, I guess it depends on how bad it is after I get the butt plate off. I'd like to remove minimal original wood but don't want a big hole there either. I'll probably start cleaning today but going to have to let the screws soak as they are locked at present. With a veterans discount it was $95 out the door.

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[browningautorifle]

Looks like it stood in water for a spell to do that to the butt. Doing a patch there will be hard but not impossible. The hardest part will be as you say getting all apart without twisting off screw heads...I'd straighten the bolt handle too...the rest will be harder, I'd remove all the rust. Others will want to leave it...

[Aragorn243]

I'm thinking the same thing about the butt. Unfortunately I can't get any of the screws to move yet. This one might take a while. Rust will be removed.

[browningautorifle]

I know there'll be a couple of suggestions on the woodwork, love to see the follow up on this...when it finally comes apart... If the barrel is good, it definitely has promise.

[Aragorn243]

The barrel bands are off. Not looking too good under the wood line. Had hopes it would be protected. Screws are soaking in penetrating oil. On the plus side, the rust is coming off the exterior and it is not deeply pitted. Never going to win a beauty contest but will be a bit smoother anyway. I'm also somewhat concerned with getting the sleeve off but the wood has to come off first.

Be a good candidate for electrolysis bath, might have to make one up.

[browningautorifle]

Never going to win a beauty contest but will be a bit smoother anyway.

It's just the sort of thing I like to spend time undertaking. The most excitement here lately was a couple of #5 LE that needed help. One's done and proven and the other closer than it was. Then there's a two man bucksaw to strip the rust from...

Keep us up with current pics, this one should be good.

[Aragorn243]

I got the bolt handle straightened, that went easier than expected. Bolt body cleaned up also so making some limited progress. Wish I had a faster way to get those screws out. Hate waiting. I figured I'd have this all cleaned up with the exception of the stock by the end of the holiday weekend. Bolt does not match (is only 99 numbers off 4915 to 4816) but everything else that's numbered does.

[browningautorifle]

Wish I had a faster way to get those screws out.

Most will probably be advocates of Kroil or some such. I've used a screw driver with the appropriate width blade and set it in the screw...and rapped it sharply with a machinist's hammer. A solid hit has often released the rust. Careful...

[Eaglelord17]

Wow that certainly is a project. Congrats on getting a 1889, I know I have been looking for a while, and they don't come up often. Definitely interested to see how this turns out.

[Aragorn243]

One screw out, second still holding fast. I'm using a combination of two rust dissolvers. Liquid Wrench and some other stuff that stinks to high heaven but you can see the rust dissolve when you spray. Tapped the screw driver in with a hammer and turn them with a wrench on the screwdriver blade. Good news is the first screw wasn't really rusty at all, just stuck fast at the head. Hoping second is the same. The stuck one is the receiver screw so no way to get the oil in the threaded area.