Should the SN be near the screw end or slotted end? Lots of residue on the rod so it's hard to see.
Sent from the woods (or work)
Acquisition - S147K
- Thread starter Hi_c
- Start date
Should the SN be near the screw end or slotted end? Lots of residue on the rod so it's hard to see.
Sent from the woods (or work)
Yeah, that end is the blackest. I'll put the light oil rag on the rod tonight to see if I can wipe away the loose crud to reveal the number and Waffenamt. Not gonna scrub too hard though. I do know that it has the pointed screw end which seems to indicate original. Seems that repros have a flat thread.
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Take your time, an elixir of time and a tincture of patience will go a long way when cleaning a fine firearm. I'm restoring some Civil War leather items and it's a slow process but as I restore moisture to the leather, stampings that had been invisible are beginning to appear and I've had the same experience cleaning Mauser stocks with boiled linseed oil. It's amazing what can emerge with gradual cleaning.
Wow. Seriously?! I certainly don't feel experienced enough to do that. I would love to do something to retain the pliability and life of the sling and getting the marks on the stock to reappear would be awesome. But frankly, I don't trust anyone with the rifle. I barely trust my wife with my new F150!
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Words of wisdom, don't put anything on the sling or wood. Boiled Linseed oil hardens over time and is not what Germans used. I know people use it, but it's not good for German firearms in my opinion. Your best bet is do nothing- the rifle has lasted this long, and careful storage will keep it that way.
^This. The gun has survived 70+ years at this point. A well intentioned but misinformed person can do more damage in two days than was done in the previous decades. Lightly wipe oil on the metal and keep it dry and safe. It'll be good.
stahltrent
Member
How does the barrel look? I will take it off your hands if you wish hahaha 
How does the barrel look? I will take it off your hands if you wish hahaha
I assume you mean inside since exterior pics have been posted. The rifling grooves are strong and there doesn't appear to be pitting or other damage. I've only cleaned the dust out, not really cleaned the bore with a brass-bristle brush and break-free or oil. I don't think I'm gonna.
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We used raw linseed oil in the Marine Corps and slowly worked it in with a clean cotton rag on M1s that had been through rebuilds and the results were excellent at inspections. Using the same process with BLO on even my 1795 Springfield and rubbing it in has restored the moisture to the stock. Painting it on will give the result you're referring to but if it's rubbed in, the wood soaks it up and there's no residue. Many of my rifle slings are over 150 years old and were dry and easily torn when found. Several applications of SNO-SEAL with careful buffings in between with a soft brush has restored much of their strength nicely. I use the same procedure on Luger holsters because that product doesn't darken stitching and preserves original color. Allowing antique leather to succumb to loss of strength due to excessive drying makes absolutely no sense. Anything organic will deteriorate over time if we let it and after all, we are only caretakers responsible for preserving these items for the next generation. Whenever I trade an item, I get maximum benefit due to its stable condition.
Good rod and looks to be an armorer's replacement which isn't surprising considering the amount of service the rifle probably saw. We have to bear in mind that weapons and accoutrements were designed for highly finite periods of service and that with routine levels of maintenance. The manufacturers cared little that they would still be in existence seventy-five or a hundred years later. Their preservation is a must.
Warrior1354
ax - hole
I believe its the original rod has that nice aged look too it same as the rifle. By the way when you bought this rifle was there in background info with it? As in how the original owner came by it?
Here's how much silly luck I have and the only story that goes with it. My wife was buying a kids table and chair set from her co-worker who was cleaning out her house. I didn't even know she was doing this. When she arrived, the lady says "do you think (Hi_C) would want these guns? They were my grandpa's and I just want them out of the house." Wife calls, tells me the price for 3 guns; it's super low so I say yes blind. Getting antsy while at work I ask her to text me a pic of the three guns and below is what I got back. Still didn't know the gem in this "pile." Now that I know, I asked my wife last night, "we're there other parts or papers?" (Because the sxs double is missing the forend). She said no, they were just laying on the floor of her garage.
Yikes.
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Warrior1354
ax - hole
Laying on the floor in a garage! Well you know that you just to save of the rarest k98k rifles out there and it has a better home then a garage floor. And yes I have heard of situations like this before some people just hate guns and want them gone. Hell some people even turn them into the gun buyback program for $100 Walmart gift card.
My all-matched WWI C-96 rig came from the grandson of the GI who brought it back from that war. No one in the family wanted it around. I told him its value and that I'd pay 70% of that, which was fine with him. The 1918 dated leather was dry but the stitching was still tight and it came back beautifully.
Congrats on a great find, one of the best I've heard of this year.
Congrats on a great find, one of the best I've heard of this year.
iron bender
750 Press Operator
I resemble that remark. I live in leftist Dallas. Me and my crew of hunting buddies from my kids' school are definitely known as the typical crazy a$$ red neck Texas gun nuts. Congrats on that awesome rifle!