Black finish rubbing off

Anton · 07-06-2008, 09:51 PM

Hello, I purchased a 98k which is a Russian capture. When I cleaned the rifle, the black finish rubbed off of the magazine floor plate. I noticed a number scratched into the plate which matched the number that the Russians put on the stock.
Any ideas why this would occur? Is this common with Russian captures?

Big Dog · 07-07-2008, 04:53 AM

Yes, the Russian captures are known for the crappy finishes applied. You would also soon begin to see the reddish wood finish flaking away.

Some would leave it alone.
I personally would strip it and refinish as is proper for a WWII German Mauser.

Anton · 07-07-2008, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the info.
Are these Russian captures still better than the ones from Mitchell's Mausers?
I shot it yesterday and it shot well - very accurate.

Dookiebutt · 07-07-2008, 07:01 AM

Some have "force-matched" parts like that. They numbered them with an electropencil.

BOHICA1962 · 07-07-2008, 08:22 AM

I bought an RC German Mauser recently and when I cleaned the bolt all the black finish came off and the bolt was blue. When I cleaned the action most of the finish came off. It had been applied over rust and most of the surface was pitted. I stripped it all off and now it's in the white. I don't think I'll refinish it.........the humidity here is very low and I'll just keep a thin coat of CLP on it and rust shouldn't be a problem. The finish on the stock was coming off so I stripped it off and found a very nice walnut underneath. I didn't try to take out the dents and scratches and applied a few coats of BLO. It looks a little like the well worn stock on my M1 now. I'm still getting grunge out of the barrel and it's looking much better. I haven't been to the range yet........maybe this week.

Anton · 07-07-2008, 08:22 PM

As far as the stock, I took Krud Cutter and took off the old finish. Then I sanded it with 0000 steel wool. Then I coated it with Tung Oil. It came out nice. It is a Yellow/Brown wood with reddish grain and some black spots. The spots may have been from the cosmoline. It came out nice, however. I was also able to bring out some of the German marks that were covered by the "finish."

Jack75 · 07-16-2008, 12:12 PM

anton could you post pics of this rifle?

Anton · 07-21-2008, 08:23 PM

Here is a photo.
Sorry for the delay.

Ballbearing · 07-22-2008, 12:27 AM

It's still a very nice looking rifle. Much nicer looking than my Czech. My Czech has a dark stock with obvious damage patches and some of the bluing missing off of the obvious places where it was handled by a soldier somewhere. I can't help but like it though, i always did like a gun with some character.

ArkansasHunter · 07-22-2008, 12:32 AM

Anton you did a super job on the stock !!! feller ! Tung Oil is great stuff !!!
Your mauser looks excellent...A.H

GlockMeister · 07-22-2008, 12:50 AM

Anton, you picked yourself up a very nice looking rifle. And you've already said it shoots great and is very accurate. SO it sounds like a win win? And from what I've heard here about Mitchel's, you got a better gun then had you gone through them. There's I guess are refurbs. They do look good and all but the complaint is in the way they advertise them...

Good looking rifle though Anton...

Just get some good flat black paint and touch the bottom of that mag up is all? that's all I'd do anyhow. For a temporary thing anyways. Just get a good brand of flat black as I said though.

Anton · 07-22-2008, 06:06 AM

Thanks for the compliments.

After my previous post I did a little more to the stock.
Full process:
Stripped with Krud Kutter.
Used 0000 Steel Wool to get remainder of finish off.
Coated with Tung Oil.
Then I put a coat of Minwax Wood Finish (Red Mahogany) oil based stain.
Then I went over it again with Steel Wool to dull it and take out the redness (it was a little too red).
Then I coated it with Minwax Finishing Wax (Wood wax - used like car wax) to give it a protective coat.

I did NOT remove any of the markings on the stock by this process because it was only very lightly sanded with the 0000 Steel Wool.

07-06-2008, 09:51 PM	#1
Anton Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 46	Black finish rubbing off Hello, I purchased a 98k which is a Russian capture. When I cleaned the rifle, the black finish rubbed off of the magazine floor plate. I noticed a number scratched into the plate which matched the number that the Russians put on the stock. Any ideas why this would occur? Is this common with Russian captures?

07-07-2008, 04:53 AM	#2
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,201	Yes, the Russian captures are known for the crappy finishes applied. You would also soon begin to see the reddish wood finish flaking away. Some would leave it alone. I personally would strip it and refinish as is proper for a WWII German Mauser. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

07-22-2008, 12:27 AM	#9
Ballbearing Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Boondocks Posts: 146	It's still a very nice looking rifle. Much nicer looking than my Czech. My Czech has a dark stock with obvious damage patches and some of the bluing missing off of the obvious places where it was handled by a soldier somewhere. I can't help but like it though, i always did like a gun with some character. Last edited by Ballbearing; 07-22-2008 at 01:51 AM.

07-22-2008, 12:50 AM	#11
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 5,361	Anton, you picked yourself up a very nice looking rifle. And you've already said it shoots great and is very accurate. SO it sounds like a win win? And from what I've heard here about Mitchel's, you got a better gun then had you gone through them. There's I guess are refurbs. They do look good and all but the complaint is in the way they advertise them... Good looking rifle though Anton... Just get some good flat black paint and touch the bottom of that mag up is all? that's all I'd do anyhow. For a temporary thing anyways. Just get a good brand of flat black as I said though. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

07-07-2008, 06:27 AM	#3
Anton Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 46	Thanks for the info. Are these Russian captures still better than the ones from Mitchell's Mausers? I shot it yesterday and it shot well - very accurate.

07-07-2008, 07:01 AM	#4
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 1,156	Some have "force-matched" parts like that. They numbered them with an electropencil.

07-07-2008, 08:22 AM	#5
BOHICA1962 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LUBBOCK TEXAS Posts: 211	I bought an RC German Mauser recently and when I cleaned the bolt all the black finish came off and the bolt was blue. When I cleaned the action most of the finish came off. It had been applied over rust and most of the surface was pitted. I stripped it all off and now it's in the white. I don't think I'll refinish it.........the humidity here is very low and I'll just keep a thin coat of CLP on it and rust shouldn't be a problem. The finish on the stock was coming off so I stripped it off and found a very nice walnut underneath. I didn't try to take out the dents and scratches and applied a few coats of BLO. It looks a little like the well worn stock on my M1 now. I'm still getting grunge out of the barrel and it's looking much better. I haven't been to the range yet........maybe this week.

07-07-2008, 08:22 PM	#6
Anton Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 46	As far as the stock, I took Krud Cutter and took off the old finish. Then I sanded it with 0000 steel wool. Then I coated it with Tung Oil. It came out nice. It is a Yellow/Brown wood with reddish grain and some black spots. The spots may have been from the cosmoline. It came out nice, however. I was also able to bring out some of the German marks that were covered by the "finish."

07-16-2008, 12:12 PM	#7
Jack75 Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New york Posts: 59	anton could you post pics of this rifle?

07-22-2008, 12:32 AM	#10
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,675	Anton you did a super job on the stock !!! feller ! Tung Oil is great stuff !!! Your mauser looks excellent...A.H

07-22-2008, 06:06 AM	#12
Anton Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 46	Thanks for the compliments. After my previous post I did a little more to the stock. Full process: Stripped with Krud Kutter. Used 0000 Steel Wool to get remainder of finish off. Coated with Tung Oil. Then I put a coat of Minwax Wood Finish (Red Mahogany) oil based stain. Then I went over it again with Steel Wool to dull it and take out the redness (it was a little too red). Then I coated it with Minwax Finishing Wax (Wood wax - used like car wax) to give it a protective coat. I did NOT remove any of the markings on the stock by this process because it was only very lightly sanded with the 0000 Steel Wool.