Mauser guru's!!

Monofletch

Monofletch

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Jan 14, 2010
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Just acquired this Turkish 8mm Mauser. It is a 1940. The wood is awesome. Great looking gun with a super smooth action. How do I get some of the grime and grease out of wood without ruining it?? I need all the advise I can get!

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I would guess. I used oven cleaner on my SKS, but that WAS cosmoline. The flash from the camera makes it look a lot lighter than it really is.
 
I've seen and heard of mosins having cosmoline removed from the stocks by taking the stocks of, wrapping them in paper towel or something and putting them in a couple of black trash bags for a few days and leaving the stock (trashbags and all) in the dash of a car for a few days when it is hot and sunny to melt out the cosmoline.

I personally have not tried it yet, but whenever I manage to get another mosin (after I foolishly sold mine) I am going to try cleaning the stock up the same way.

I'd say that if it is cosmo on your mauser it might work, and I don't think that it has even a possibility of harming the gun (my opinion)
 
I read that as well.

My Mosin is probably my favorite rifle. I haven't shot this one yet though. I have the bayonet too.
 
Ifit's just grime and a little grease a good scrubbing with mineral spirits should work. If it's something more sinister like cosmoline I used to throw Mosin stocks in the trunk of my car and just wipe the cosmo out every day. Some stocks took a couple of days, some of the nastier ones a week. I would NOT leave stocks directly in the sun, especially thinner pieces like the hand guards. I have seen them warp pretty badly.
 
Monofletch said:
I read that as well.

My Mosin is probably my favorite rifle. I haven't shot this one yet though. I have the bayonet too.
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Don't clean it up too good, reduces the collector value. You're right about the wood; what a fluke you get curly maple-like fancy figure on a wartime piece of board.
 
Cosmoline supposed to melt at about 150 F. Saw an article about making a garbage can and light bulb unit to melt out the cosmoline .Solvents took out the remaining.
Take the gun completely apart inspect and thoroughly clean all the metal parts.
 
I was trying the wrap the stock in paper and stash in the car business a few years ago. The car caught fire, burned up on the side of the highway and the Mosin stock burned up with it. :(
 
May not really need cleaning. Brownell's sells TCE Degreaser. Use it and some shop rags and 0000 steel wool. Try it on just a spot of the stock to ensure it just cuts through the grease and gunk and not that particular rifle's finish.

While nice rifles, Turkish Mausers aren't collectable so I'd have no problem totally refinishing the stock, if I thought it needed it.

You might want to pay a visit (with just the stock) to a wood workers supply store like wood crafters or something similar. They know about refinishing/finishing wood and protecting old finishes.
 
I used oven cleaner on my SKS. My Mosin was a pain in the @ss, but it turned out pretty good!

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Cosmoline was designed to be cleaned with what would be available to soldiers in the field. Stuff like gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel.
I don't recommend gasoline for obvious reasons. I have had good results with kerosene.
 
I know this is an old thread, but I have shot this Mauser a little since I picked it up. It seems to be higher quality than my beloved Mosin. They are very similar in design, but the Mauser is more accurate and a lot smoother action than the super, mass produced Mosin.
These Missouri whitetails don't have a chance this year! :D
 
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