Refinishing a Mosin...should I?

[cycle61]

Picked up a Mosin this week, it's rough cosmetically but the bore looks good, the bolt moves freely, all the parts are there, and it chambers rounds in, through, and out without a hitch. Haven't shot it yet, will get to that this weekend. Wondering what the protocol is for refinishing these things, am I some sort of heretic if I disassemble it, strip the wood, and redo it with Tru-Oil or similar? I kind of like the hell-and-back look it has at the moment, but I'd equally love to see it glow like new again.

Soviet/Tula, date stamp is 1932. Hex receiver, numbers matching. Not sure how much that matters.

[OHOD]

I like the hell and back look as well.

Nothing wrong with a historically correct refinish.
I committed a huge MN sin a year or so ago.

Still have the project.

[1tuf57]

I really regret refinishing my mosin.
I wouldn't change that gun one bit.

[Bigtwin]

Op do what you wish to your rifle! Some will chastise you for it, some will praise you for it. It is after all your ****ING rifle! Try not to do it with a rare Mosin that has much collector value!

OHOD....how is that rifle coming about? Been a long time since it has surfaced...and I would like some updates if you have not given up!

[cycle61]

Well, I guess it's good that this one isn't a rare collectible...darn.

Somebody told me there's no such thing as only having one of these, anyway. Maybe once it finds a partner, one of them gets restored.

[kouye]

Well, I guess it's good that this one isn't a rare collectible...darn.

Somebody told me there's no such thing as only having one of these, anyway. Maybe once it finds a partner, one of them gets restored.

I started with one MN on 6/21/12...I now have 12 and counting...

It's a disease...run away, run away...

[mosinnagantm9130]

I wouldn't, it's a nice pre-war stock.

[cycle61]

Cool. I'll leave it ugly and beat to hell.

That much better if I manage to keep up with my buddy and his fancy hunting rifle this weekend.

[yellowsled]

good choice... Dont refinish it.

[CDFingers]

It's your gun.

But you can't un-do a refinish.

I agree that a spiffy, refinished stock would look pretty cool.

You can have it both ways. Here is a link to buy an early 91/30 stock that you can refinish. Save your "heck and back" stock to keep it original.

link to early stock site, one of many found w/ my google-fu:

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=446&idcategory=17

The action will just pop out of the old stock that you'll save, and drop right into the early stock you buy.

I bought one of these. Easy buy; good company.

Good luck.

Happy trails.

CDFingers

[wellfedirishman]

Wipe it down with some quality wood oil (Tung oil or Boiled Linseed Oil) to refresh the wood without changing it's character, and call it good.

Wood needs to be oiled occasionally. That is preserving it, not refinishing it.

[Marcus von W.]

You need to post more photographs of it. It's an early 91/30, with the correct style stock and correct style bolt body. What, if any cartouches are on the right side of the buttstock? What and were are the import marks, if any?

If it has the correct original style handguard with the brass endcaps, solid barrel bands or "button bands", and tall blade front sight, it is a very scarce and desirable rifle, and only a drooling moron toothless albino Bubba, who thinks "Deliverance" is a love story, and who has sex with his sister, barnyard animals, and occasional guys in canoes, would mess with it.

The thing about refinished Mosins is that they almost always look like refinished Mosins - and I don't mean that in a good way.

CDFingers has the right idea - if you really want to refinish it, buy another stock....sometimes you can find one that someone has already stripped the original finsih from, so whatever you do to it doesn't matter. Also, you might be able to find a very nice looking correct stock with a decent arsenal finish, so you won't have to do anything.

From what can be seen in the photo, the stock is kind of nasty looking. This is not always a bad thing. I've seen Finn captured and Spanish Civil War issue Mosins with some pretty thick dark finishes. Mosins that ended up in Albania sometimes got a finish like that too.

[Fate]

You know, if it's numbers matching AND doesn't have a box with a slash on the barrel by the serial number, it might be one of the VERY FEW original matching 91/30s left out there. Don't mess with it. Not even oil. Take more pics please. Does it have a boxed SA on the left side of the barrel near the receiver? Does the rear sight have a pin that goes crosswise thru the base? Is there an import mark anywhere (look at barrel near muzzle)?

This could be a true, un-messed with treasure, worth over $250...until you True Oil or refinish it in any way.

[SideWinder11]

Short answer No

[Capybara]

Howards Feed'N'Wax is wonderful for C&R wood, it won't touch the original shellac and will refresh dried wood. I wouldn't do any thing but use some Howards on it.