M39 barrel into a 91/30 stock?

killsnapz · 11-02-2009, 11:27 PM

Just out of curiosity would anybody know if a complete barrel assembly from a M39 would drop into a 91/30 stock. I know the first thing you are going to ask is why the heck would you want to do that for! I purchased a M39 that had a great barrel but the stock is a post war version that was originally finished in a varnish. The varnish turned soft while the rifle was in storage and over the years slowly melted down the stock that was stored with the bolt facing down. The stock is one stick nasty mess and has plenty of dings and dents in it. I managed to remove alot of this sticky mess but the varnish is proving to be very stubborn and it is hard to remove without damaging the stock. I saw a couple of complete 91/30 stocks with all of the hardware for $30 bucks and I started to wonder if this would be the easiest was to bring the gun up to useable condition so I could take it to the range and see how it shoots. S o am I crazy or what?

Michael

Mike82 · 11-03-2009, 01:22 AM

well, depends on how far you wanna cut the stock? the 91/30 stock is 44.75" overall length....most of the carbines are only around 38-40" or somewhere around there. If you wanna make the stock end at the end of the barrel and leave the handguard on, then you'll pretty much be making an M39 version of the bullnose rifle. It'll look very interesting, the 91/67B sure does. I needa find that guy at my gun range that has one and get a pic, it really is awesome.

Mooseman684 · 11-03-2009, 01:25 AM

Send me your stock and let me see if I can clean it for ya and refinish it !
The 91/30 stock is different from the M39 stock completely in the front end ...
Rich

roggom · 11-03-2009, 02:17 AM

Not sure if a M44 stock will get you closer to where you want to be, but I bought one from Numrich for another project. Its a carbine stock.

MOSIN NAGANT | TYPE 53, 1944 | ITEM#1044180 | e-GunParts.com

Around $34 out the door

killsnapz · 11-03-2009, 02:17 PM

Mike if the 91/30 stock is 44.75 inches then it does appear it would be to long for the M39 barrel. That would put the stock right up agianst the front sights. I am not oppsed to modify the stock a bit. I think I have to think a bit more about my options now. I was really hoping that it would drop in the 91/30 stock.

I would love to see pics of that rifle if its not to much trouble.

Rich I appreciate the offer but you are about 5000 miles away from me here. It would probally cost more to ship it back and forth than the stock is worth. I was able to remove alot of the varnish but it had settled so thick on the top of the stock that was facing down that I actually sanded all of the way down right to the wood to get it off.

roggom a M44 stock might be a workable idea. The M39 stock is 42.75 inches. I believe the M44 stock is shorter. My friend has a M1944 with the laminated stock I will have to ask him to measure it. It could make for a different looking rifle. So many good ideas now which one to pick.

Thanks everyone for the good feed back. You guys are great1

Here is what she looks like now after 3 hours of scraping sanding and wiping it down with mineral spirits. Thats my best mate Scooter keeping an eye on it in the first pic!

Michael

Cyrano · 11-03-2009, 03:17 PM

killsnapz, before you give up on the Finnish stock, go to the hardware store and get yourself some Citra-Solv. The stuff is an organic paint remover, and it's powerful without being abusive to whatever you're trying to get the paint off.

Case in point. My goal was to assemble a Russian/Soviet Mosin Nagant 'type' collection, to show the evolution of the gun from the 3-line rifle to the final 91/59 type modification. Of the main types, the hardest to find at a price I can afford was the original Model 1891. A million and a half of them may have been made here, and most of those may have stayed here (the Remingtons and the New England Westinghouses), but when they turned up they were always priced higher than I could afford at the time. I finally got lucky on Gunbroker.com and bought a bubba'd Tula Model 1891 mixmaster made in 1899. In addition to cutting down the stock in a pathetic attempt to sporterize it (good American walnut, yet; damn Bubba anyway!), Bubba coated everything but the bolt in black paint to the point the slider on the ladder sight wouldn't budge.

After spending four hours with mineral spirits and steel wool removing a tiny amount of black paint, I did what a New Englander should have done in the first place and went to talk the problem over with the guys at the local hardware store. They put me onto the Citra-Solv. It took another six hours and multiple applications, but it took off all the black paint back to bare metal so I could detail-strip her. The ladder sight took two additional hours and it still doesn't want to lock into the notches as it ought (even Citra-Solv has limits), but it works.

If Citra-Solv can get black automotive enamel paint off, it won't have any problem with your melted varnish. And it won't hurt the wood under it. I think it only comes by the gallon but it's not horribly expensive. It's worth giving a try before you buy a new stock that isn't the correct stock for the rifle.

killsnapz · 11-03-2009, 04:48 PM

I am going to check to see if I can find any Citra-Solv around here. I have a little experience with removing bad varnish but it is only from furniture. My family collects antiques so I have seen alot of wood in my day. I think my biggest problem is I did not realize it was melted varnish at first. I thought it was some type of protective sealer that would wipe off with some mineral spirits. Afterwards I showed it to my mom who is a bit of an expert on antiques and she recognised it right away as varnish that had gone soft. So it looks like if I wan't to use the original stock I am going to be doing a complete strip job. This leaves me with another question. What did the stock look like when it was new? I am thinking mabye alot like a Russian stock with a light colored varnish? Still I would have to remove all of the dents from the wood if I am able to remove the bad varnish. It does not sound like it would be hard just alot of work. I did buy this rifle to learn so I guess I am going to give it a try.

Michael

roggom · 11-03-2009, 05:50 PM

I use a similar product Citristrip Welcome to CitriStrip.com
this will take all of the varnish down to the wood in two sessions. The varnish just bubbles up and wipe off with some blue shop rags. No scraping needed.

Also I measured my M44 stock and it comes up 36 3/4, I went the other route and dropped a 91/30 barrel into it for an easy sporter.

killsnapz · 11-03-2009, 06:09 PM

Do you have any pics of that? That must look different. At 36.75 inches the M39 barrel would definetely fit. I will keep it in mind. I think I will try my hand at refinishing the original stock and see if I can raise the dings in the stock. Lets see how I do on my first attemp. Whish me luck. If I screw it up at least I know I can always grab the M1944 stock.

jmeck · 11-03-2009, 06:32 PM

Killsnapz, Here are a few pics of what your M39 could look like when refinished. These are post war rifle stocks that don't have a pinetar finish,
I am not sure what they have on them but I would imagine the Finns put something on them to preserve the wood, maybe a light coat of varnish. I have an M44 that was very difficult to refinish,I ended up bleaching the wood, ( not recomended avoid if possible) staining it , and coating it with 3 coats of shallac. It looks good now. Hang in there, you'll get it looking good , its just going to take a bit longer than you thought.

roggom · 11-03-2009, 07:05 PM

Here is a pic of my sporter, just dropped in the 91/30 for a perfect fit.

killsnapz · 11-03-2009, 07:59 PM

That finish on the first pic looks great. If mine comes out half as good I will be happy. The full lenght barrel looks good in the short stock. It definetely has a different look to it. I also have a pine tar finished M39 with a nice tiger stripe pattern that is in beautifull shape. Did you apply the varnish with a brush. I t really looks sweet.

Michael

11-03-2009, 01:22 AM	#2
Mike82 Mmmmm, I Like PIE!!! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Starkville, Mississippi USA Go BullDAWGS!!! Posts: 2,762	well, depends on how far you wanna cut the stock? the 91/30 stock is 44.75" overall length....most of the carbines are only around 38-40" or somewhere around there. If you wanna make the stock end at the end of the barrel and leave the handguard on, then you'll pretty much be making an M39 version of the bullnose rifle. It'll look very interesting, the 91/67B sure does. I needa find that guy at my gun range that has one and get a pic, it really is awesome. __________________ No Trespassing! Violators Will Be Shot! Survivors Will Be Shot Again!

11-03-2009, 01:25 AM	#3
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness. Unit 13 Posts: 12,788	Send me your stock and let me see if I can clean it for ya and refinish it ! The 91/30 stock is different from the M39 stock completely in the front end ... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

11-03-2009, 02:17 PM	#5
killsnapz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norwalk CT Posts: 496	Mike if the 91/30 stock is 44.75 inches then it does appear it would be to long for the M39 barrel. That would put the stock right up agianst the front sights. I am not oppsed to modify the stock a bit. I think I have to think a bit more about my options now. I was really hoping that it would drop in the 91/30 stock. I would love to see pics of that rifle if its not to much trouble. Rich I appreciate the offer but you are about 5000 miles away from me here. It would probally cost more to ship it back and forth than the stock is worth. I was able to remove alot of the varnish but it had settled so thick on the top of the stock that was facing down that I actually sanded all of the way down right to the wood to get it off. roggom a M44 stock might be a workable idea. The M39 stock is 42.75 inches. I believe the M44 stock is shorter. My friend has a M1944 with the laminated stock I will have to ask him to measure it. It could make for a different looking rifle. So many good ideas now which one to pick. Thanks everyone for the good feed back. You guys are great1 Here is what she looks like now after 3 hours of scraping sanding and wiping it down with mineral spirits. Thats my best mate Scooter keeping an eye on it in the first pic! Michael Last edited by killsnapz; 11-03-2009 at 02:20 PM.

11-03-2009, 03:17 PM	#6
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 8,220	killsnapz, before you give up on the Finnish stock, go to the hardware store and get yourself some Citra-Solv. The stuff is an organic paint remover, and it's powerful without being abusive to whatever you're trying to get the paint off. Case in point. My goal was to assemble a Russian/Soviet Mosin Nagant 'type' collection, to show the evolution of the gun from the 3-line rifle to the final 91/59 type modification. Of the main types, the hardest to find at a price I can afford was the original Model 1891. A million and a half of them may have been made here, and most of those may have stayed here (the Remingtons and the New England Westinghouses), but when they turned up they were always priced higher than I could afford at the time. I finally got lucky on Gunbroker.com and bought a bubba'd Tula Model 1891 mixmaster made in 1899. In addition to cutting down the stock in a pathetic attempt to sporterize it (good American walnut, yet; damn Bubba anyway!), Bubba coated everything but the bolt in black paint to the point the slider on the ladder sight wouldn't budge. After spending four hours with mineral spirits and steel wool removing a tiny amount of black paint, I did what a New Englander should have done in the first place and went to talk the problem over with the guys at the local hardware store. They put me onto the Citra-Solv. It took another six hours and multiple applications, but it took off all the black paint back to bare metal so I could detail-strip her. The ladder sight took two additional hours and it still doesn't want to lock into the notches as it ought (even Citra-Solv has limits), but it works. If Citra-Solv can get black automotive enamel paint off, it won't have any problem with your melted varnish. And it won't hurt the wood under it. I think it only comes by the gallon but it's not horribly expensive. It's worth giving a try before you buy a new stock that isn't the correct stock for the rifle. Last edited by Cyrano; 11-03-2009 at 03:19 PM.

11-02-2009, 11:27 PM	#1
killsnapz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norwalk CT Posts: 496	M39 barrel into a 91/30 stock? Just out of curiosity would anybody know if a complete barrel assembly from a M39 would drop into a 91/30 stock. I know the first thing you are going to ask is why the heck would you want to do that for! I purchased a M39 that had a great barrel but the stock is a post war version that was originally finished in a varnish. The varnish turned soft while the rifle was in storage and over the years slowly melted down the stock that was stored with the bolt facing down. The stock is one stick nasty mess and has plenty of dings and dents in it. I managed to remove alot of this sticky mess but the varnish is proving to be very stubborn and it is hard to remove without damaging the stock. I saw a couple of complete 91/30 stocks with all of the hardware for $30 bucks and I started to wonder if this would be the easiest was to bring the gun up to useable condition so I could take it to the range and see how it shoots. S o am I crazy or what? Michael

11-03-2009, 02:17 AM	#4
roggom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Firestone, CO Posts: 148	Not sure if a M44 stock will get you closer to where you want to be, but I bought one from Numrich for another project. Its a carbine stock. MOSIN NAGANT \| TYPE 53, 1944 \| ITEM#1044180 \| e-GunParts.com Around $34 out the door

11-03-2009, 04:48 PM	#7
killsnapz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norwalk CT Posts: 496	I am going to check to see if I can find any Citra-Solv around here. I have a little experience with removing bad varnish but it is only from furniture. My family collects antiques so I have seen alot of wood in my day. I think my biggest problem is I did not realize it was melted varnish at first. I thought it was some type of protective sealer that would wipe off with some mineral spirits. Afterwards I showed it to my mom who is a bit of an expert on antiques and she recognised it right away as varnish that had gone soft. So it looks like if I wan't to use the original stock I am going to be doing a complete strip job. This leaves me with another question. What did the stock look like when it was new? I am thinking mabye alot like a Russian stock with a light colored varnish? Still I would have to remove all of the dents from the wood if I am able to remove the bad varnish. It does not sound like it would be hard just alot of work. I did buy this rifle to learn so I guess I am going to give it a try. Michael

11-03-2009, 05:50 PM	#8
roggom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Firestone, CO Posts: 148	I use a similar product Citristrip Welcome to CitriStrip.com this will take all of the varnish down to the wood in two sessions. The varnish just bubbles up and wipe off with some blue shop rags. No scraping needed. Also I measured my M44 stock and it comes up 36 3/4, I went the other route and dropped a 91/30 barrel into it for an easy sporter.

11-03-2009, 06:09 PM	#9
killsnapz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norwalk CT Posts: 496	Do you have any pics of that? That must look different. At 36.75 inches the M39 barrel would definetely fit. I will keep it in mind. I think I will try my hand at refinishing the original stock and see if I can raise the dings in the stock. Lets see how I do on my first attemp. Whish me luck. If I screw it up at least I know I can always grab the M1944 stock.

11-03-2009, 06:32 PM	#10
jmeck Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NC Posts: 852	Killsnapz, Here are a few pics of what your M39 could look like when refinished. These are post war rifle stocks that don't have a pinetar finish, I am not sure what they have on them but I would imagine the Finns put something on them to preserve the wood, maybe a light coat of varnish. I have an M44 that was very difficult to refinish,I ended up bleaching the wood, ( not recomended avoid if possible) staining it , and coating it with 3 coats of shallac. It looks good now. Hang in there, you'll get it looking good , its just going to take a bit longer than you thought. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Just because I can't explain why its done this way,does't necessarily mean you can do it differently

11-03-2009, 07:05 PM	#11
roggom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Firestone, CO Posts: 148	Here is a pic of my sporter, just dropped in the 91/30 for a perfect fit.

11-03-2009, 07:59 PM	#12
killsnapz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Norwalk CT Posts: 496	That finish on the first pic looks great. If mine comes out half as good I will be happy. The full lenght barrel looks good in the short stock. It definetely has a different look to it. I also have a pine tar finished M39 with a nice tiger stripe pattern that is in beautifull shape. Did you apply the varnish with a brush. I t really looks sweet. Michael