Pre-War Mosin Nagant Stock Finish

[usabaker]

definitely an improvement over the "bubba" paint job. Hopefully I will get a chance to shoot it this week!

1000% improvement over the paint job. Nice work! she looks beautiful.

[Singer B]

Thanks, I had some good advice! Now I just hope it shoots!

[Steyr Man 146]

I stripped all of mine Mosin 91/30 and an M44 and went straight BLO (boiled linseed oil) lots of coats required in my opinion better than stain/paint or that nasty red shellac, That is MY OPINION. Did the same to my Steyr M95 and Steyr Budapest, got rid of stains and BLO my Arisakas are next. BLO has proven to be athe best wood finish. MY OPINION

[Singer B]

I stripped all of mine Mosin 91/30 and an M44 and went straight BLO (boiled linseed oil) lots of coats required in my opinion better than stain/paint or that nasty red shellac, That is MY OPINION. Did the same to my Steyr M95 and Steyr Budapest, got rid of stains and BLO my Arisakas are next. BLO has proven to be athe best wood finish. MY OPINION

It has worked well on the rifles I have used it on. I dont use it on my collectible milsurps unless it was the original finish that came in the rifle. I wouldn't use it on an Arisaka if that rifle has the orginal Japanese finish since you can't replicate it. For non-milsurp rifles, I use it all the time since it is really good looking and feels great. This Mosin was definitely "bubba" painted and based upon what I could learn, BLO was the closest to the original pre-war Mosin finish.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Step away from teh Arisakas!

If yours have a "reddish hue", and are in overall "excellent" condition, with the timber slightly rough, they are likely as "original" as you will get.

The Japanese used Potassium Permanganate (Condy's Crystals) as a fungicide on a LOT of their woodwork, hence the "reddish hue".

Most people see Arisakas that are pretty much "black", but that is a result of a lot of "fondling in the field" and being outdoors in "interesting places". Being tossed into piles for decades in dodgy warehouses, post war probably didn't help, either.

Apparently, they also played with Teak as a furniture; tough as old boots but harder to work and somewhat denser than Walnut.

[Steyr Man 146]

Me I prefer BLO/TRU-OIL on these older rifles as a finish I strip off the varnish, leave the wood natural and BLO (Boiled-Linseed oil) Takes close to 2 weeks it is worth it. And then TRU-OIL another 3-4 days I do not worry about it and awesome. As far as "Original Finnish" that is subject to whom/what you believe Me of German/Finnish Decent. Listened to dad/grandad/great grandad as they would speak of WWI and WWII the weapons production lines the stocks were cut set for receivers and screws then dunked into boiling linseed oil, dried,assembled and sent out that was it. Varnish/Shellac was an after war Preservative most soldiers returning home counted on the rifles for hunting, supplying the family meat needs. Keeping Linseed oil boiling or hot enough can get flammable Red Shellac Total American hang up Russia did not use it was the importers trying to add $3 or $4 dollars to overall cost for a nickles worth of red shellac.

[Steyr Man 146]

Step away from teh Arisakas!

If yours have a "reddish hue", and are in overall "excellent" condition, with the timber slightly rough, they are likely as "original" as you will get.

The Japanese used Potassium Permanganate (Condy's Crystals) as a fungicide on a LOT of their woodwork, hence the "reddish hue".

Most people see Arisakas that are pretty much "black", but that is a result of a lot of "fondling in the field" and being outdoors in "interesting places". Being tossed into piles for decades in dodgy warehouses, post war probably didn't help, either.

Apparently, they also played with Teak as a furniture; tough as old boots but harder to work and somewhat denser than Walnut.

I just soap/water had to clean it up my stocks the Black you mentioned I have not applied a Finnish after cleaned dried the first one I accepted as being as it should (Dirt, Grease, Powder burnt/unburnt, caked mud, dirt) simple green hot water that was it after it dried I did nada just reassembled, looks awesome Bruce in Oz I wished Reddish hues (did no cutting or sanding.)

[usabaker]

Red Shellac Total American hang up Russia did not use it was the importers trying to add $3 or $4 dollars to overall cost for a nickles worth of red shellac.

Not sure about this statement. I have a number of Russian Arsenal refinished Mosin Nagant's that have the red varnish and came that way directly from the crate shipped from Mother Russia.

[Aragorn243]

Here's one of mine with BLO.

[Singer B]

Here's one of mine with BLO.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../DsEHOy7-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../3KqagqR-1.jpg

That turned out really nice!!