1909 Argentine project rifle

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MasterChief	1909 Argentine project rifle	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1027 (12/13/09 02:26 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I am starting the restoration of this one today. Some of the rust is as bad as it looks and some is not so bad. Sad because this was obviously one of the otherwise unissued specimens imported many years ago and simply not stored properly after arriving in the US. A prime example of how 'original condition' can sometimes be a false god to worship. THIS is not what I call original condition. What was the finish of the buttplate. Looks like it was bright. More to come. Thanks for looking and best wishes. Dave
WVchuck		#1	[-]
Posts: 12764 (12/13/09 08:46 AM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Good luck with bringing that one back to specs!
Vladymere gr		#2	[-]
Posts: 2545 (12/13/09 08:51 AM) Forum Co-host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yes. buttplate was in the white. Vlad Looking for Gew.88 based sporting rifles Looking for a Lyman #22 sight for the Gew.88/Mannlicher
Aubullet		#3	[-]
Posts: 1486 (12/13/09 10:15 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Soooooo sad! Glad someone is willing to give rescueing her a try, How's the bore? Best of luck with that, and let us know how it goes!!!
MasterChief		#4	[-]
Posts: 1028 (12/13/09 05:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Initial results on these two badly-rusted bright parts are satisfactory. I will attempt to replicate the original surface finish and texture using 400 and 600 grit wet/dry sand paper. With the revelation of the cleaning rod serial number I can now state the rifle is fully matching.
69396	A worthy project	#5	[-]
Posts: 824 (12/16/09 11:37 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Great work. These are wonderful rifles. That poor thing must have been stored on a shrimp boat!
Aubullet		#6	[-]
Posts: 1491 (12/16/09 12:02 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	My guess is that it was stored in an airtight plastic case or similar.
Rustybore		#7	[-]
Posts: 931 (12/16/09 06:34 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Is there any product that you can use to disolve the rust on the receiver? My first thought was a mild form sulfuric acid, as used for swimming pools. It would remove the rust, but would probably leave pitting marks in the metal. The rust looks, at least in the picture, that it is fairly new surface rust, perhaps not deep into the metal yet. Kevin in Or.
ADCC		#8	[-]
Posts: 181 (12/17/09 11:02 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I find Peruvian Mauser 1909s in that (Or even worse) shape all the time; these have the in-the-white receiver too and to start with I use very thin (Like 0000 size) steel wool, gently rubbing the rusted area with gun oil or WD-40. An old bore bronze brush will do the trick too. Rust will remove easily but it's a slow work; some might suggest using a dremel tool with a bronze wire wheel and a low-speed setting (Don't forget the oil) but I like to do the job by hand. From the pics, probably below the rust there is not visible pitting damage yet; anyway you'll end up with blackish freckle-like rust spots all over where corrosion appeared. Returning it to the original condition can be done, but it's not easy; met this guy who has done such job to a few Mausers from a friend's collection, and apparently he uses some kind of special cloth buffing wheel uder very low RPMs and a very, very soft abrasive paste like the one used by jewelries to polish gold and other precious metals. He made the job to one of mine and not even the smallest and faintest of the crest's details or even the factory machining tools marks was erased or damaged, while restoring the original factory looks. Dunno who and how the job can be done to yours, but with appropiate tooling and ability it can be accomplished.
MasterChief		#9	[-]
Posts: 1031 (12/17/09 10:03 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks for all comments and advice. I will post a link to the photos when the project is finished. The two most difficult pieces are the front band and the receiver. The front band is cleaning up with 0000 steel wool, small brass bristle brush and Kroil-Hoppe's. The finished piece will retain some pitting. The bright receiver is cleaning up with the same techniques but the freckling will not be completely removed. This was a factory-new rifle which was not used but was abused, mainly by storage near an evaporative cooler (think lots of hunidity). The inside surfaces of this rifle are perfectly immaculate. An amazing experience to disassemble a 100-year-old weapon and see a virtual time capsule of Mauser excellence. You might not want to disassemble a perfect piece but this effort was a necessity and labor of love. The finished rifle will be a good specimen for my humble collection but will never look like it did when it came out of storage in Argentina. No regrets. Best wishes. Dave Last Edited By: MasterChief 12/17/09 10:08 PM. Edited 1 times.
beanstrung		#10	[-]
Posts: 5840 (12/18/09 09:04 AM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think I'd stop at 400-grit or even 320-grit. 600-grit will make it TOO bright, smooth and shiny, I think. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand? Joel 3:9-10
ADCC		#11	[-]
Posts: 182 (12/18/09 09:43 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If front band has no s/n to match the rifle(And I think it doesn't) , you can find a proper original replacement in good condition online in ebay or gunbroker. As I said before, cleaning the corrosion crusts will almost for sure leave the receiver with small rust spots. Although it looks bad, you should see the condition we've found many here, with no traces of the original in-the-white finish, completely covered by rust; even those were pitting has not started to erode the metal yet were cleaned to great looking condition. At least if you want a better-looking rifle you can clean this one, sell it and then with some extra cash get another one in great condition without even leaving your home; here if we want something better, it'll be easier to start building our own time machine!
maxima2		#12	[-]
Posts: 639 (12/18/09 07:41 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've disassembled and cleaned up a few unissued Mausers and know how you feel about taking apart a new-old rifle. The hardest part is cleaning the hardened preservative out of the bore - it hardens like concrete. Anyway, I've cleaned a stain off a brazilian receiver before and used a scotch brite pad. It's a green pad and leaves a surface very similar to the original polishing which looks like a fine brushed finish. The scotch pad also won't leave metal behind like steel wool nor will it look too smooth and shiney as was already mentioned. I can try to take pictures that will show the direction of the polishing of the various surfaces on the receiver. I'll post if they come out. That's a nice project you have there but looking at the pictures makes me want to wipe mine down with an oil rag.
Carl Gustav		#13	[-]
Posts: 3594 (12/18/09 09:07 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It may not be perfect when you're done but it will look a lot better and you'll more than likely have an excellent shooter. I looking forward to seeing the final pictures. Carl
Rustybore		#14	[-]
Posts: 934 (12/19/09 10:56 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I wouldn't mind seeing pictures "in progress" as you work on the project. It would be interesting to see the receiver as you work on it, ie... partially cleaned, explaining what steps have been taken with what cleaning material. Great project. Kevin in Or.
HoosierDaddy		#15	[-]
Posts: 5638 (12/19/09 03:45 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wonder what "Naval Jelly" would do? Just don't get it on blued stuff. Ash Iron Construction
MasterChief	Finished for now...	#16	[-]
Posts: 1032 (12/20/09 02:42 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There is still a bit more clean-up to do but I had to put it together for a look-see. There will be some freckling, tarnish and micro-pits remaining but otherwise satisfactory. Pardon my Pancho Villa fantasy sling. More to come. Best wishes. Dave Link to full size image Last Edited By: MasterChief 12/20/09 02:45 PM. Edited 1 times.
Aubullet		#17	[-]
Posts: 1502 (12/20/09 03:53 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Most Excellent! It certainly found the right home to get the help that it needed so badly!! GOOD ON YA!!!
maxima2		#18	[-]
Posts: 641 (12/20/09 04:53 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Nice!
ADCC		#19	[-]
Posts: 183 (12/21/09 11:51 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wow! Nice work.
gil		#20	[-]
Posts: 930 (12/22/09 01:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	master chief nice work. did you ever buy the 1999 peruvian long rifle that was in similar shape? gil