KneverKnew
Well-known member
Any idea what the two letters/numbers are to the right of the stamped serial number inside the stock? Looks like an "S" or an "8" and something else. Can't tell.
1944 WWII GERMAN ZB M98 MAUSER RIFLE, DOU. My first 98.
- Thread starter KneverKnew
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KneverKnew
Well-known member
heavy_mech
RKI- Reasonably Knowledgable Individual
Well I don't like telling people what to do with their rifles but regarding the buttplate (easier) and takedown disc (not so much) there are techniques to put some color back into them. They were parts in-the-white but currently shouldn't look like they just came off a buffing wheel. You can find some ideas on this forum but probably just leaving them be might be best. As far as the stock, the color you see in the channel is how it looked when manufactured. Whether the stain/oil which darkened the color was during or post war I can't say with any certainty. One other thought, the photo of the sling cutout certainly doesn't show any sanding at least to my eye. The edges of the bolt cutout tell a lot too.
KneverKnew
Well-known member
Your being a big help actually. I'll look into "fixing" the butt plate and disk. No hurry though. Your comments about the unsanded sling cutout and bolt cutout edges have me curious. Can you elaborate on your thoughts about this? I'm not sure if your saying the stock was lightly sanded except for those areas, or are you suggesting it's not been sanded, but was stained at some point? Since it seems most people think the dark stain of the stock isn't appropriate, would it be completely insane to suggest removing most of the stain with mineral spirits or similar, and then just putting a coat of Linseed oil on the lighter wood? Or would I be walking off a cliff? I'm fine leaving the stock as is. Just exploring all the possibilities.
heavy_mech
RKI- Reasonably Knowledgable Individual
When discussing a 'sanded' stock normally those areas (the edges actually) really show it. I didn't zoom in on the edges of the hole for your recoil lug, but the others I looked at show really crisp edges and that is difficult to keep when sanding. It's not impossible however most who would sand a stock don't bother trying to keep those edges looking crisp.
It's not insane to want to remove whatever was applied whether to make it more visually appealing to you or trying to make it look more like when it was issued. Sometimes it's easy to remove what was applied and other times not so much. It would be awful to ruin a stock trying to improve it. Several members have had excellent results even removing some of the more difficult finishes.
It's not insane to want to remove whatever was applied whether to make it more visually appealing to you or trying to make it look more like when it was issued. Sometimes it's easy to remove what was applied and other times not so much. It would be awful to ruin a stock trying to improve it. Several members have had excellent results even removing some of the more difficult finishes.
Looking at the pictures here I see no evidence of sanding. I do not believe it was sanded. All edges look nice and sharp and the texture of the surface looks normal as well. I do believe it has received some kind of stain. Looking at your pictures on GB you can tell it has been stained because the color underneath the barrel bands is the same as the rest of the stock. That is what gives it away for me. Someone took a stock in excellent+ condition, polished the metal on it and stained it.
Still it is a very good looking rifle. If you paid a reasonable price for it I would be happy with it, especially if it has a really nice bore. You can't ever replace a sharp shiny bore.
Still it is a very good looking rifle. If you paid a reasonable price for it I would be happy with it, especially if it has a really nice bore. You can't ever replace a sharp shiny bore.
WAZUP13579
Senior Member
dou 44
I also have a dou44 but a U block. I would like to check something if that would be ok. Can you post a pics of the SN of the bayonet lug and barrel bands?
thank you.
I also have a dou44 but a U block. I would like to check something if that would be ok. Can you post a pics of the SN of the bayonet lug and barrel bands?
thank you.
I would highly recommend leaving the stock as is. There is no way you are going to be able to remove the stain and then refinish it with something more appropriate. There is nothing that you can do to improve its present state. You would only be setting yourself for major disappointment and you will end up regretting whatever you try. Even though the finish isn't original at least it is not sanded and it looks attractive.
KneverKnew
Well-known member
Sorry for the delay in answering this post. Life tends to get in the way of these things. The bayonet lug it’s self does not have a serial number that I can see. The front band behind the bayonet lug in the rear band have matching numbers to the receiver. Here are pictures that you requested.
KneverKnew
Well-known member
Concerning the original sling on this K 98 there are some notable areas that are showing drying out and a few cracks starting. I’ve been researching how to rejuvenate the sling the proper way and of all the techniques I keep coming across ballistol. I know it was used extensively to clean these guns to great effect and I’ve also read where they used it to rub down the wood as well as the slings to keep the slings soft and supple. Unless there’s some particular reason not to, I plan On rubbing the sling down with Ballastol soon. Please advise. Here are some pictures of the dried sling.
Touching on the point about the stock finish. All the edges around the recoil lug, sling notch, and buttplate seem sharp still. I don’t know what they used to stain the wood with but some wipe out bore cleaner got on to one small spot and Lifted some of the color a bit raving a faint streak. I took some raw linseed oil on the tip of my finger and rubbed it into that spot then use the palm of my hand to buff it further and most of the light streak darkened and blended in with the darker stain. I’m wondering if a very light hand rubbing of linseed oil would be beneficial over the rest of the stock?
Touching on the point about the stock finish. All the edges around the recoil lug, sling notch, and buttplate seem sharp still. I don’t know what they used to stain the wood with but some wipe out bore cleaner got on to one small spot and Lifted some of the color a bit raving a faint streak. I took some raw linseed oil on the tip of my finger and rubbed it into that spot then use the palm of my hand to buff it further and most of the light streak darkened and blended in with the darker stain. I’m wondering if a very light hand rubbing of linseed oil would be beneficial over the rest of the stock?
Phantom Man
Junior Member
Do not put gun oil on leather... Use a good product for leather. I have used many products and have found this on accident and is the best Ive used..! http://www.skidmores.com/
Using a mild acid solution will dull the buttplate and bolt takedown if you are serious about it. Vinegar or HCl will do it. Vinegar is a weak organic acid so it will do it in a much more controlled and slow manner. HCl is a strong acid and if you don't dilute it it will easily dissolve the whole piece. So be very careful if you use that.
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KneverKnew
Well-known member
Well, I have plenty of vinegar in the house. Can’t recall the last time I had hydrochloric acid handy.
Thanks.
No problem! I'd degrease it and let it sit in a vinegar solution for probably 20 minutes. pull it out and see how it looks. Vinegar is very mild so it takes a little bit. You might need to put it back in. After its dulled to your liking just pull it out, rinse and oil.
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KneverKnew
Well-known member
Will do. Surprisingly, the take down disks are already getting duller. I think it will all look more appropriately soon. Now if only I can find the matching bolt!!!!