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RC BNZ45 Kriegsmodell stock restoration

bmwr12

Senior Member
I recently purchased a RC BNZ45 because it had the very rare correct stock on it and I needed one for my non RC BNZ45 action. The stock is in pretty good shape with intact large eagle small H proof but has the ugly receiver number stamped on the left side. Is there any way to remove that number without destroying the stocks value?

I am by no means trying to hump up the rifle to sell it I just want the stock to look and original on my rifle for my personal collection or am I better off just leaving the stock alone? Thanks
 
Are they stamped in there? Will they steam out to the surface? I would rather send it to someone who knows how to do it. I do not want to risk messing it up.
 
Are they stamped in there? Will they steam out to the surface? I would rather send it to someone who knows how to do it. I do not want to risk messing it up.

If the wood fibers are not broken from the stamping, they should steam out, or at least soften, after any finish or sealant is removed from the area. Then you have a stock to try to make look like it has original finish, which is tough. Then you can sand them away as Farb says but the lost wood is kinda obvious. No winning IMO, and I also need such a stock. Good luck and post results if you would please.
 
If the wood fibers are not broken from the stamping, they should steam out, or at least soften, after any finish or sealant is removed from the area. Then you have a stock to try to make look like it has original finish, which is tough. Then you can sand them away as Farb says but the lost wood is kinda obvious. No winning IMO, and I also need such a stock. Good luck and post results if you would please.

I will try to steam it out first. Are there any people who do K98 stock restoration specialists on here?
 
was the stock belt sanded flat before the numbers stamped or were the numbers just stamped in it?

The rifle is coming Friday to my FFL. There is no shellac on it. I would assume the stock wasn't sanded as the eagle H proof on the other side appears untouched. The number does not look too deep.

number.jpg
 
What you show isn't bad for RC. It doesn't look sanded in the area with the Russian numbers.
 
I have that felling it will steam out to the surface and you will see the number outlines on the surface. This is the part I am worried about messing up trying to remove.
 
Don't be overly aggressive with it. You may not be able to de-RC it completely. If you can steam the numbers to the point where they are ghost markings and not as prominent that might be a win. I guess what I am saying is that some residual sign of the Russian numbers would be preferable to an over sanded mess with distortion of the laminate lines.
 
I tried to steam some Russian serials from one of mine but no good, just stamped too deeply.
Didn't bother with sanding, I figured I would just make it worse.
A friend steamed his out then sanded and got a decent colour match by rubbing in a little used motor oil on the sanded patch.
 
I ran into a similar situation with my swp45. I took the shellac off but have left the SN alone. The chatter on the stock is too nice. I just have the rifle on a display rack so I never see the left side!
 
I ran into a similar situation with my swp45. I took the shellac off but have left the SN alone. The chatter on the stock is too nice. I just have the rifle on a display rack so I never see the left side!


I am not going to trash the stock by sanding it to remove the numbers. If I can get them to the surface with steam I am sure I can make them disappear somehow.
 
Had a walnut stock someone sanded off the number - looked terrible - better to leave the number.
 
Steam then sand. A tea kettle with hose works best.

I would add that repeated steam treatments over a an extended period (weeks or months) of time will get the best results for extremely deep dents if the wood fibers aren't cut. I've seen a video on YouTube where a guy boils the wood and dents that you wouldn't think could be resolved were remarkably restored. Some with cut wood fibers. I don't recommend that extreme of a treatment, but a more conservative approach that I've had success with is multiple treatments with the tea kettle over extended periods of time.
 
I just purchased a matching BNZ45 sporter to replace my mismatch BNZ45 action that I have in my RC stock. I have tried to raise the numbers but they are still visible. Is there a video of the teapot method? The stock feels kind of smooth but the eagle H is crisp. I am not trying to hump anything. Thanks
 
Like said before, go easy on the steam. The laminate glue and wood can be seperated by too much steam and moisture.

In the end, like farb said, physical removal by sanding is more complete, but you can't add wood back on! A careful combo of both, and degrease the area first to help with the steaming. Acetone works.

Jeff
 
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