On the hunt for a different war-time Mauser 98k stock

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Hey guys, just registered right now. Great site by the way, and thanks soup nazi for referring me to this forum.

Anyways, I recently got ahold of a russian capture Mauser 98k. I'm perfectly happy with it except for the severe color variation in the stock. I know it's a purely cosmetic issue, but I'd love to get ahold of a stock in a dark brown, similar to the handguard in the picture posted. Currently mine has a "lovely" russian red finish (darker due to my attempt to someone finish it, but still not to my satisfaction).



I've browsed quite a bit on the net, but haven't found anything.

Any suggestions? I am also thinking of just completely sanding the thing and trying to do a refinish on my own.

Thanks ahead of time.

[M. Sage]

Hey, Doc, glad to see you made it over!

Have you tried stripping and refinishing? That "nice" red seems to be a surface thing on the Mosins, red-stained shellac...

[Icarus]

Try this for a start http://www.vvm.com/~histpart/stock.htm.

[Limited10]

old time seceret

You can still purchase true shellac (Made from beetles) at Vista paint and other paint store. There are two types of shellac a red tint and Clear /yellowish. The red tint is hard to find but can be ordered. If all you find is the clear buy it and follow instructions.

After purchasing it take it to the guy who mixes paint and ask him to drop in .25 oz of burnt umber pigment. Wait at least two days for all the bubbles to settle out and then just brush it on. Now mind you, you will never be able to replicate the original finish due to the fact of yellowing with age.
Good luck

[Fate]

The germans DID use a red glue on some of their lamanate stocks. You might never get the red out because it was made that way. Careful that you don't go too cuckoo in trying to turn a cow into a horse...yanno?

Mauser stocks were oiled with a mineral oil out of the factory. The kind for butcher block treatment (available at Home Depot) is good stuff that is pretty accurate.

[Pryde]

I would instead search for a lighter colored handguard.
The reason why your handguard is so dark is because it is completely cosmoline soaked. Mine came the same color but after baking it in my trunk over the summer it is now the same color as my stock.

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

lol, so leave it in my car?

[Rogerbutthead]

Germans used Ballistol.

http://www.ballistol-lube.com/b^index01.asp

[M. Sage]

Pack it in a box with cheap cat litter, put the box somewhere where it'll be warm, come along once in a while and shake the box up... The trunk of your car in the summer'd work well, since it'll get hot, and depending on how you drive, it'll get agitated.