how to strip the shellac off?

[AngryPossum]

I think you'll be happy you didn't strip it. People will say, "heck it's an RC, it isn't original anyway". I disagree. The Russian refurb process is part of it's history. It will never be more original or valuable than it is now.

very nice looking rifle, btw.

+1. As far as RCs Go Yours looks great to me. I got some RC's in a bulk buy and one of them looks like it was sanded and never finished. It's just dry bare wood. I'm either going to sell it or make a project out of it. It's the only one of the 3 I haven't shot yet.

[77bawls]

The Russian refurb process is part of it's history. It will never be more original or valuable than it is now.

Since it will never be a valuable gun I was thinking about refinishing and maybe parkerizing mine.

[Interloper]

Since it will never be a valuable gun I was thinking about refinishing and maybe parkerizing mine.

Never be valuable? How do you figure?

[mauser98k]

forgive me for bumping an old post, but i just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. i have 6 RC's and wanted them to look more like German issue than post war Soviet stored rifles. here was my way of doing it:

1. Use Citristrip (a mild stripper)
2. Brush Citristrip onto stock and let sit for 10 - 15 minutes, wipe off with clean cloth
3. Let air dry for a few minutes
4. Use cloth with Denatured Alcohol to remove leftover shellac and Citristrip
5. Wipe off stock
6. Denatured Alcohol again. let dry
7. Let stock sit for an hour to draw out any remaining shellac or cosmoline, if present wipe off
8. When finally ready, apply finish. Boiled Linseed Oil, Howard's Feed 'n Wax work very well (i used BLO)

here's a before and after of one of mine





they look much more presentable when done properly and the stamps show up more clearly too.

[AngryPossum]

Mauser98k, I can't make out the difference between the rifles. Pics are to big. Tried to copy and crop em, but I couldn't figure it out. I got a old K98mthat was sanded and never finished...(at least it looked that way last time I had it out)...I'm going to finish it or sell/trade it. How do you guys feel about Tung oil? I've used it with another rifle and liked it....What is correct for a K98?

[mauser98k]

ok, how about this pic:




the after picture is not the shiny yellow/red of the before and the Waffenamts on the stock are more clearly visible than they were with the shellac over them

as far as Tung Oil is concerned i'm uncertain about that. i've heard the best to use is Howard's Feed N' Wax. i used BLO because it's also acceptable and it was the only stuff available to me

[AngryPossum]

Much better...