Would you refinish a Mosin 91/30 PU?

[Armistice]

Hit it with some 0000 steel wool and some sort of mineral spirits (ok, don't quote me on the mineral spirits part)

Like Fate said, if it's legit, leave it. If it's one of those mixmaster thrown together replicas, have at it

[6mmintl]

Ah, 185K thought to be minimum made, I think you could touch it up with some lacquer/wash or BLO.

There's plenty left for the hysterical collectors.

[Enfield47]

I wouldn't mess with it, you'll probably do more harm than good. If the chips really bother you though, get some shellac flakes and denatured alcohol and do a little touch up work. At least that way you're still keeping it original.

[johnthomas]

You own the gun. I myself would refinish it. But then, that would make it my gun, may taste and my business.

[Jarhead]

Not if OE, yes if made up copy

[Nevada Hudson]

No and No again!

[Discogodfather]

The history of the finish on PU's is that they sat in a warehouse for the last 30-40 years. Before that they where likely refurbed many times as well, while in service. The guns would sit, then every 15 years or so someone would pen the crate and splash some shellac on the stock, mostly to prevent corrosion. That's why you see shellac all over the receiver and metal parts, it was applied with a brush liberally and with no specific target.

As they where transported around while in the crate, gouges developed in certain areas on the stock. Brittle poorly applied shellac just flaked off and usually the wood was penetrated. Moisture from sub zero Russian winters permeated the wood, ballooning it up and making the wood very soft.

Then another dude probably came by and shellaced over all that, then rinse and repeat 5x over 40 years.

When I get a PU (I have three now) I just take a cotton cloth with warm water and some soap and a lightly wipe everything down. This removes the old flaked shellac and cosmoline. If the stock has heavy gouges, I take a tiny tiny amount of clear shellac and dab it on the exposed wood. I leave all the shellac on the metal as it doesn't hurt anything and actually preserves the metal.

As you use and fire the gun all the loose stuff will wear and fall off, so after a few range sessions and cleanings it will start to look much better.

[adamjay]

No.

Refinishing any at all destroys the resale value. Destroys it. It's prob a real PU, recent run from Classic, right? Those were gotten at a good price - best price in a long time. As an investment, you've got a lot more room to appreciate. If you think you will ever want to get your $ out of it, don't do a thing, except shoot it.

Refinishing also compromises it's history - each one of these Mosins is a snapshot in time after a long back story.

Remember, it's not too long ago that guys picked up Garands super cheap - those guys have rifles worth thousands now, especially when they haven't refinished them.

That said, it's your rifle, do what you want. I guess if you refinish, it makes mine more valuable. I like the idea of getting a second stock to refinish and preserving that one.