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1918 Amberg Arsenal EWB

jk4545

Member
Is this worth anything? All matching serial numbers, even the little screws. I cleaned it, got the rust off, touched up the stock and put some rust coating paint on the bands and part of the reciever. Hope I didnt (I have a small penis) it up, but it wasn't in the best condition.
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Is this worth anything? All matching serial numbers, even the little screws. I cleaned it, got the rust off, touched up the stock and put some rust coating paint on the bands and part of the reciever. Hope I didnt (I have a small penis) it up, but it wasn't in the best condition.
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Absolutely. It's a late war Amberg.. they blued the receivers on them. It's pretty valuable..though you probably hurt it some by your conservation methods. Hold onto it.

The rust coating paint was a bad idea.

What did you touch the stock up with?
 
The gun appears to have good bones, but late Amberg stocks are supposed to be almost devoid of stock treatment (nearly raw). They are usually the lightest in color out of all the manufacturers still making guns in 1918.

Please tell me you didn’t put truoil or something on it? I would strip whatever rust preventative paint you applied. It’s important that you never touch the stock, I hope this is just Balistol making it look varnished. If it’s something permanent, this was an exercise in turning a $2500 rifle into an $800 one.
 
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Bubba strikes again😭, always the rarer ones. But in all seriousness as a rule of thumb don't "restore" anything on the rifle just gentle cleaning with a brass brush and oil. And the stock I typically leave alone unless someone has already sanded/refinished before. See if you can remove the paint on the metal with the method above may take awhile but better then removing the bluing underneath. The stock probably can't do anything about it now.
 
Might as well chrome that bolt and burn Mitchell’s into the stock next to the EWB now. Good grief.
 
When I cursed Bubba in Sam's last thread, I did not think I would see his wrath so soon thereafter...

Do you have before photos? Perhaps comparison would allow for better perspective. I'm going to remain hopeful based on you saying it wasn't in good shape that before this rifle was worked over, it wasn't untouched perfection. Regardless, the rifle does have a 'refinished' status now. If it was really really bad before then any kind of project can be seen as an improvement so long as you weren't in it for all that much $$$. Ideally, less invasive practices would have made for a better cleaning. Hindsight is 20/20.

Funky wire sling setup in the lower band I might add.
 
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It is unfortunate however you are hardy alone and you had good intentions. I would suggest only that questions should precede actions when you are unsure, it still looks like a worthwhile rifle!
 
Absolutely. It's a late war Amberg.. they blued the receivers on them. It's pretty valuable..though you probably hurt it some by your conservation methods. Hold onto it.

The rust coating paint was a bad idea.

What did you touch the stock up with?
The paint is off now, I only put it on the bands, trigger housing and butt plate. I stopped shooing it also, I put 200+ rounds in it before I refinished it. I through the stock in the bath tube, cleaned it with soap, sanding it with 180 grit, and then I applied 2 coats of Shellac.
 
The gun appears to have good bones, but late Amberg stocks are supposed to be almost devoid of stock treatment (nearly raw). They are usually the lightest in color out of all the manufacturers still making guns in 1918.

Please tell me you didn’t put truoil or something on it? I would strip whatever rust preventative paint you applied. It’s important that you never touch the stock, I hope this is just Balistol making it look varnished. If it’s something permanent, this was an exercise in turning a $2500 rifle into an $800 one.
Yea, I was going to sand the stock with 120 grit to get the imperfections out, but the stock has a serial number and multiple markings on it so I backed off. The serial number is also seen in the inside of the stock. My dad was about to sell it, two other firearms and some ammo in his estate sale because it's his ex-wife's (my mom) family's "nazi shite' but I took it instead.
 
Bubba strikes again😭, always the rarer ones. But in all seriousness as a rule of thumb don't "restore" anything on the rifle just gentle cleaning with a brass brush and oil. And the stock I typically leave alone unless someone has already sanded/refinished before. See if you can remove the paint on the metal with the method above may take awhile but better then removing the bluing underneath. The stock probably can't do anything about it now.
Should I cold blue the parts? I didn't touch the barrel and receiver, there was no rust. Its almost like the bands, buttpad and trigger housing were never treated with anything because they were the only parts with rust. The stock was nasty though. Smelt like horse Sh**.
 
I’m sick to my stomach seeing a valuable and original rifle turned into a cheap conversation piece in 2024 - as stated a $2500 rifle turns into an $800 shooter. May as well keep shooting it, the collectibility is basically gone regardless of if your intentions were good. It survived over 100 years …….
 
When I cursed Bubba in Sam's last thread, I did not think I would see his wrath so soon thereafter...

Do you have before photos? Perhaps comparison would allow for better perspective. I'm going to remain hopeful based on you saying it wasn't in good shape that before this rifle was worked over, it wasn't untouched perfection. Regardless, the rifle does have a 'refinished' status now. If it was really really bad before then any kind of project can be seen as an improvement so long as you weren't in it for all that much $$$. Ideally, less invasive practices would have made for a better cleaning. Hindsight is 20/20.

Funky wire sling setup in the lower band I might add.
So my dad had an estate sale in January, I drove down to help him and he had two ww1 Mausers and a ww1 luger pistol. I knew that they were like my Mom's grandfather's or something so I snagged them (she took everything but the guns in the divorce I guess). The other Mauser (1918 Amberg also, EWB marked) and pistol (DMW/Navy?, EWB marked) are in perfect condition, left in a closet for years with a bunch of old ammo. I "donated" (they're technically mine still) the other Mauser and pistol to the WW1 Musem in Kansas city. They REALLY wanted the pistol, but seemed indifferent about the mauser. They didn't want the Mauser shown above because I didn't even send them a picture. This Mauser shown above was left outside in barn for 10 years and didn't have a bolt. It was covered in tacky black tar like sh**. I found the bolt body 2 months ago on my dad's old jeep. He made some jig using a mauser bolt to open the heat vents in his old jeep. The other bolt parts were in a random tool box. Then I cleaned it up, it shoots fine.
 

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