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7MM Mauser Refinish Tips
EW0302
Member Posts: 75 ✭✭
I recently purchased this rifle at an estate sale. It needs some attention and I am hoping to find out how far one should go. All the numbers match. There is rust. How aggressively should I go at removing it? The stock has a crack. Do I glue and clamp it? The rest of the stock is a little beat up but fine for me. Evidently it spent some time hanging from a saddle. Should I just wipe it down and let it be? The barrel looks great so I do plan on shooting it.
Comments
Not in too bad of shape. Seen 'em a lot worse than that. Use regular wood glue to glue the wood. Use fine steel wool to clean the metal. A copper scouring pad also works. If you are dealing with old, rusty firearms (like I do), get a Frontier Big .45 Metal Cleaner online - $6. It works as advertised. You are lucky it has a good bore.
A Chilean police carbine like that with the Mauser banner I have seen go for upwards $500. I would hesitate doing anything aggressive aside from judicious use of copper wool and oil.
Your rifle shows use and character, and aside from the cracked handguard (replaceable) looks pretty good. Just my .02
Just my opinion: Try to find a better handguard(but don't discard the broken one), wipe down the external metal parts, and shoot it. Anything else you do will destroy the 'original' value. Trying to make this old Mauser a modern sporting rifle will cost more than buying a new 'price point' rifle.
As above, fix the wood and lightly clean the rest. Mauser Banners are very collectible.