[jefftire]

I had seen this rifle several times at local gunshows but didn't want to lay out cash to take on a questionable project so tonight I made a trade for it. It's a 1942 VKT M39 painted black.....all over.... including the cleaning rod. The bore is darn ugly and the bolt face and firing pin are rusty. After a few patches I see some rifling but it's worn and frosty. It is also counterbored about an inch. The stock has some splits in the butt area and one by the receiver. All parts are there and nothing was cut. I have no idea what is beneath the paint. I am guessing there is not much if any bluing left on the metal or if there is filling/bondo in the wood. The good news is I now have a 42 VKT to fill a hole and also the bolt has a Sako gear wheel stamp on it. In the next day or so I'll get the rest of the rifle apart and see what else awaits. Then the cleaning will begin.

jeff

 

[tep0583]

What was done to that poor rifle should be criminal!

Thankfully, it is now in good hands. Good luck with the restoration. I look forward to seeing how you make out with it.

 

[TuscoTodd]

You "might" get luck in how it cleans up. I bought a Turk Mauser that someone had painted black like that. I used a citrus cleaner (http://quicknkleen.com/) and white 3M pads (the non-abrasive ones) and was able over the course of about four hours, get all of the paint back off - stock included!
I found that the bluing was basically non-existent, but that the wood was pretty nice.
Good luck with the cleaning!

 

[Leftyboy81]

I know this sounds weird but I "enjoy" restoring old rifle stocks. This one would be a pleasure!! If u lived closer I'd do it for u for free. What I enjoy is the idea of restoring a "life" to the old wood so it can have the appearance of its early days. As it begins to get better with each hr of work the since of accomplishment and joy is to me at least like rescuing an old dog, which I have done recently too. The stock once finished BREATHES a new life just like my old dog "TREY" which happens to have only 3 legs!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway i just find that kind of work sort of breathing new life into an old anything. Yes to me you have a genuine labor of love there sir.

 

[Stalin's Ghost]

You can chemically strip that stock, sand it down and refinish with the Finn pine tar mix that is talked about on the board.
Should look pretty much like the original.
I bet there is more blue than you think under that paint, but I guess a reblue might not be too Bubba on that "back from the dead" rifle if the previous owner took off the original blue.

 

[themosinator]

There is another forum here where folks do restorations on ol' sad milsurps like yours...the Workbench Forum has lots of people with experience and insight to share...


...check it out!!... :thumbsup:

 

[Izzy1943sniper]

You happen to get it from an Iowa gun show? I've seen one exactly like that multiple times at the show

 

[jefftire]

Today I took the rest of the rifle apart. There was still cosmo underneath the wood. I am assuming that she was probably just hung up and spray painted. No real surprises though just needs a lot of cleaning. I will not re-blue anything on this. It is what it is. As far as the stock goes I'll just have to take it one step at a time. I am not a purist by any means but there is something about a well worn Finn that appeals to me. IMHO the "Bubba" term gets thrown around quite loosely so I don't use it. I don't know the person who did this or why so I don't judge but I am enjoying this little adventure like TuscoTodd and Leftyboy81.

Izzy1943sniper...Yes this was from the Adventureland show.

Everyone else... Thanks for the tips on cleaners and forums. I will look into them.

jeff

 

[vintovka]

I had one painted just like yours and seen at least 2 others I wonder if they were done by someone other than Bubba for some special purpose.

 

[clayshooter2]

Nothing wrong with trying to restore a rifle that has already been messed with. If nothing else, you will have a good shooting M39 that you can be proud to take to the range. I personally wouldn't leave the house with that black painted stock the way it is. Besides this way you can put less wear and tear on your truly collectible rifles.

 

[Pahtu]

I remember reading here on the forums long ago about rifles that were sold from the importer with such modifications. Apparently some rifles were in rough well used/rough condition, so Century "Wizards" or something like that spray painted some to look like cool tactical rifles.....

Maybe someone with a better recollection can chip in .02 here...?

Pahtu.

 

[Pahtu]

There is another forum here where folks do restorations on ol' sad milsurps like yours...the Workbench Forum has lots of people with experience and insight to share...


...check it out!!... :thumbsup:

Themo, I know there are numerous members here who do not care for bringing back old milsurp pieces that were bubba'd - I know I cannot tolerate viewing or commenting(anymore) on pieces that folks post that they bubba'd - But salvaging old guns that were ruined by someone else....well that is a labour of appreciation in my book.....If one chooses to take the time and $$ to do so.....Within the last couple years I had the time and $$ to do just that.....

FYI - I have not seen for sale, in person, any of these in the last several years.....

Pahtu.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthr...t-is-complete-almost-o)&highlight=restoration

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?242808-1931-Tikka-M27

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/topic/40032/1928-M27?page=1

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?188969-M91-B-Barrel-save&highlight=Barrel

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthr...dish-Mauser-Carbine&highlight=Swedish+carbine

 

[rmasters]

Good luck on your project. I think it will be very rewarding. You are lucky that they did not drill and tap it or remove the original sights. A local shop has a "Finnned" M91 from which someone removed the rear sight and replaced it with what looks like a sight from a cheap .22 rifle. Why???????

 

[Mosin Nagant 91/30]

good luck hope to see this beautify rifle back to its original beauty

 

[damuralt]

I spend a lot of time and effort on "damsels in distress." Good for you for taking a chance on a rifle that clearly needed rescuing.

 

[jefftire]

I removed almost all of the paint from the stock. It has a number of arsenal repairs that are pretty cool and adds nice character to it. I have removed some paint from the barreled action and the bluing is not bad at all...kind of what you would expect from a 1942 VKT. The pine tar will be here in about 7-10 days. In the meantime I'll get the rest of the paint off the metal parts and see how bad the firing pin and bolt face are rusted. Been fun so far. : )

jeff

 

[themosinator]

There is another forum here where folks do restorations on ol' sad milsurps like yours...the Workbench Forum has lots of people with experience and insight to share...


...check it out!!... :thumbsup:

Incidentally...I apologize if my above post came off wrong...I was merely suggesting that there are MORE folks in the Workbench Forum that might appreciate your project as well those here on the Collectors Forum, and that it might be a good idea to post over there too!!...I was in no way condemning your project...just trying to open new doors for ya, if you haven't found them already!!...

your project firearm is starting to take shape!...Have fun!!...

 

[Vic]

I bet it will clean up rather nicely. I don't see any cracks on it. The bolt fave is not really much of a problem. Put some naval jelly on it or some rust remover and a brass or soft wire brush will clean it up pretty good.

 

[jefftire]

This week I got the paint off the metal. It came off a lot easier than I thought it would. Doesn't look to bad and I would rate it at about 50-60% blue. Even the nasty bolt face is cleaning up nicely. Pine tar should show up in about 7 days I hope. In the mean time I may just put it together and run some rounds through it.

jeff

 

[jefftire]

Finally got her done. I received some Pine Tar from a member off another board. Only had to pay for postage, many thanks! Very fortunate to have a sunny week so after applying and then placing inside my car it dried rather quickly. Love that smell by the way. Then finished off with some Tom's 1/3 mix. No sanding involved just a bit of knife scraping in the corners of the sling holders to get the rest of the paint off. Overall it came out pretty fair. Head space is fine so now all I have to do is go out and shoot.

jeff