M44 STOCK

WISCSHOOTER · 03-23-2008, 10:46 AM

I JUST BOUGHT A M44 TWO WEEKS AGO. MY FIRST MOSIN. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF CLEANER I COULD USE ON THE STOCK. THERE IS DRIED UP COSMO ON IT, BUT I DONT WANT TO RUIN THE FINISH. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Geo M44 · 03-23-2008, 11:01 AM

If you want to keep the original finish (not sure why) just use a mild detergent in very warm water. That may not work either as it depends on how much cosmolene is under the finish. Unless its a M44 Tula Just refinish the stock.

Cyrano · 03-23-2008, 11:28 AM

Geo, he needs to identify it before he can decide if he has a rare one or not. Wisc, there is a sticky at the top of the Mosin forum that will take you to a site with pix where you can identify your carbine. But here's a down and dirty check: if there is a star with an arrow in it on the receiver below the USSR seal, it's a Tula Arsenal piece. If it's a triangle with a star in it, it was made at Izhevsk.

Okay, what's your next move? If you decide the cosmoline and finish has to go, I suggest using mineral spirits, brass soft bristle brushes, and perhaps green scrubbie pads to get the gunk off the stock after you detail-strip the firearm. After that, I'd use tung oil varnish or Tru-Oil to refinish the stock. Just my 2 cents.

Geo M44 · 03-23-2008, 11:59 AM

Another stripping method (less fummy) that I like is using a good degreasing detergent like Dawn Power Desolver which will pull the cosmolene out of the grain. The downside is that you will nedd to let it dry for about 2 days and it slightly raises the grain so light sanding is required. Final finish is whatever you like.

Here is how it turns out (one of these days I need to take some more pictures):

lowercase · 03-23-2008, 12:48 PM

I read that you can "sweat" the cosmo out of the stock and not harm the finish in any way. Cosmoline has a melting point of 130 degrees Farenheit. One method I read about is to wait for warm weather and put the gun (or just the stock) on some newspapers and then put everything into a black plastic garbage bag. Put this bag on a car dashboard or set it on a deck in the sun. Change the newspapers periodically, and it should take a few days to sweat the cosmo out.

Until the warm weather arrives, I believe (get this confirmed by another source) that you can clean up the stock with Murphy's and warm water. They make a spray version that may be worth trying.

I also want to keep the original finish on my Mosins, as I love them the way that they were made.

WISCSHOOTER · 03-23-2008, 01:18 PM

I"ve already checked and it was made at the Izhevk arsenal.

Geo M44 · 03-23-2008, 06:58 PM

Izhevsk (Izzy) arsenal is the most common of the M44's, so probably not a true collectable. It's your rifle, so do what suits you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowercase

I read that you can "sweat" the cosmo out of the stock and not harm the finish in any way. Cosmoline has a melting point of 130 degrees Farenheit. One method I read about is to wait for warm weather and put the gun (or just the stock) on some newspapers and then put everything into a black plastic garbage bag. Put this bag on a car dashboard or set it on a deck in the sun. Change the newspapers periodically, and it should take a few days to sweat the cosmo out.

Until the warm weather arrives, I believe (get this confirmed by another source) that you can clean up the stock with Murphy's and warm water. They make a spray version that may be worth trying.

I also want to keep the original finish on my Mosins, as I love them the way that they were made.

If the cosmolene has penetrated the pours of the wood then then whatever surface finish is on there will come off with the cosmolene. Better off just to either leave it alone or strip it and start with clean wood.

Many of the arsenal refinished stocks are fine the way they are. I just happen to like the natural grain of the birch stocks.

marion57 · 03-24-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowercase

I read that you can "sweat" the cosmo out of the stock and not harm the finish in any way. Cosmoline has a melting point of 130 degrees Farenheit. One method I read about is to wait for warm weather and put the gun (or just the stock) on some newspapers and then put everything into a black plastic garbage bag. Put this bag on a car dashboard or set it on a deck in the sun. Change the newspapers periodically, and it should take a few days to sweat the cosmo out.

Until the warm weather arrives, I believe (get this confirmed by another source) that you can clean up the stock with Murphy's and warm water. They make a spray version that may be worth trying.

I also want to keep the original finish on my Mosins, as I love them the way that they were made.

I have used Murphys oil soap on several occasions and it works pretty good but does take some time to get the cosmolene out .. If you want to save the finish just dont use abrasive material to apply murphys .. If that fails get some kutsit stripper and you wount have to sand on the stock and can apply Tru oil to it in about Three coats you will have a nice finnish..Just remember you have to stain it to get the russian red color ..

WISCSHOOTER · 03-24-2008, 12:09 AM

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'll keep it the way I bought her. Old and purty.

marion57 · 03-24-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WISCSHOOTER

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'll keep it the way I bought her. Old and purty.

+!

GlockMeister · 03-24-2008, 12:47 AM

Congrats on the getting a Mosin M44.

SwedeSteve · 03-24-2008, 01:24 AM

Yep, congrats on the new Mosin!

Geo M44 · 03-24-2008, 09:47 AM

As issued or refinished you will be amazed at what these $90 rifles can do.

Welcome to Mosinitis.

F1609 · 03-24-2008, 10:43 AM

Ok, might be a little late, but try steaming it. Not sure how well it will work with it. Make the cosmo "sweat" out of the rifle. I did it to my Yugo 59/66 and my Yugo M24/47 and it worked well for both of them. There are abunch of different ways to do this. One is a steamer, the other is take a garbage bag and put the stock in it, seel the bag and put it in a HOT bath tub. it may take a while but keeps everything on the rifle in the original condition.

WISCSHOOTER · 03-26-2008, 12:27 AM

Thanks eveyone

sh4d0ww4rri0r · 04-10-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marion57

I have used Murphys oil soap on several occasions and it works pretty good but does take some time to get the cosmolene out .. If you want to save the finish just dont use abrasive material to apply murphys .. If that fails get some kutsit stripper and you wount have to sand on the stock and can apply Tru oil to it in about Three coats you will have a nice finnish..Just remember you have to stain it to get the russian red color ..

Now when it comes to that red I have seen mostly a light colored red. I want a very dark red like when I took it out of the box. Some people have suggested miniwax red mahogany but the pictures I have seen so far look too light, almost "tan". How can I get that rich dark red look? What stain should I use?

ArkansasHunter · 04-10-2008, 10:51 AM

Being someone that doesn't own a Mosin yet, I beleive I would try the heat trick first before putting any kind of liquid on the stock.

SwedeSteve · 04-10-2008, 11:05 AM

Shadow- This may be red enough for you!

sh4d0ww4rri0r · 04-10-2008, 11:10 AM

Awesome! that looks great! thanks!

marion57 · 04-10-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sh4d0ww4rri0r

Awesome! that looks great! thanks!

You do know the longer you leave a stain on before wiping the darker it gets? Sometimes you need to stain it twice to get the color you want

03-23-2008, 10:46 AM	#1
WISCSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MILWAUKEE Posts: 101	M44 STOCK I JUST BOUGHT A M44 TWO WEEKS AGO. MY FIRST MOSIN. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF CLEANER I COULD USE ON THE STOCK. THERE IS DRIED UP COSMO ON IT, BUT I DONT WANT TO RUIN THE FINISH. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

03-24-2008, 12:47 AM	#11
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 4,293	Congrats on the getting a Mosin M44. __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

03-24-2008, 01:24 AM	#12
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 6,925	Yep, congrats on the new Mosin! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

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03-23-2008, 11:01 AM	#2
Geo M44 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Desert Posts: 1,773	If you want to keep the original finish (not sure why) just use a mild detergent in very warm water. That may not work either as it depends on how much cosmolene is under the finish. Unless its a M44 Tula Just refinish the stock.

03-23-2008, 11:28 AM	#3
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 1,609	Geo, he needs to identify it before he can decide if he has a rare one or not. Wisc, there is a sticky at the top of the Mosin forum that will take you to a site with pix where you can identify your carbine. But here's a down and dirty check: if there is a star with an arrow in it on the receiver below the USSR seal, it's a Tula Arsenal piece. If it's a triangle with a star in it, it was made at Izhevsk. Okay, what's your next move? If you decide the cosmoline and finish has to go, I suggest using mineral spirits, brass soft bristle brushes, and perhaps green scrubbie pads to get the gunk off the stock after you detail-strip the firearm. After that, I'd use tung oil varnish or Tru-Oil to refinish the stock. Just my 2 cents.

03-23-2008, 12:48 PM	#5
lowercase Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 86	I read that you can "sweat" the cosmo out of the stock and not harm the finish in any way. Cosmoline has a melting point of 130 degrees Farenheit. One method I read about is to wait for warm weather and put the gun (or just the stock) on some newspapers and then put everything into a black plastic garbage bag. Put this bag on a car dashboard or set it on a deck in the sun. Change the newspapers periodically, and it should take a few days to sweat the cosmo out. Until the warm weather arrives, I believe (get this confirmed by another source) that you can clean up the stock with Murphy's and warm water. They make a spray version that may be worth trying. I also want to keep the original finish on my Mosins, as I love them the way that they were made.

03-23-2008, 01:18 PM	#6
WISCSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MILWAUKEE Posts: 101	I"ve already checked and it was made at the Izhevk arsenal.

03-24-2008, 12:09 AM	#9
WISCSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MILWAUKEE Posts: 101	Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'll keep it the way I bought her. Old and purty.

03-24-2008, 09:47 AM	#13
Geo M44 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Desert Posts: 1,773	As issued or refinished you will be amazed at what these $90 rifles can do. Welcome to Mosinitis.

03-24-2008, 10:43 AM	#14
F1609 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 200	Ok, might be a little late, but try steaming it. Not sure how well it will work with it. Make the cosmo "sweat" out of the rifle. I did it to my Yugo 59/66 and my Yugo M24/47 and it worked well for both of them. There are abunch of different ways to do this. One is a steamer, the other is take a garbage bag and put the stock in it, seel the bag and put it in a HOT bath tub. it may take a while but keeps everything on the rifle in the original condition.

03-26-2008, 12:27 AM	#15
WISCSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MILWAUKEE Posts: 101	Thanks eveyone

04-10-2008, 10:51 AM	#17
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,178	Being someone that doesn't own a Mosin yet, I beleive I would try the heat trick first before putting any kind of liquid on the stock.

04-10-2008, 11:10 AM	#19
sh4d0ww4rri0r Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 186	Awesome! that looks great! thanks!