Painted Gewehr 98?

[Son of Dorn]

Was looking at Mauser 98 actions and cheap sporters and found one that appears to have been painted black, including the magazine follower. Bits flaking off. Stock was a horrible piece of bubba's best handiwork, looked like, and overall the rifle looked kinda junky. But I've never seen one painted before and I'm wondering if that was that ever something done by an arsenal or is it more likely it's just some guy's attempt to refinish the rifle?

~~S.o.D

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Door number 2....

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Son of Dorn]

Door number 2....

Cheers,

Sirhr

That's what I figured, especially with the stock so poorly buggered. Here's a pic of the receiver inside. Think it might be worth trying to save?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

That's what I figured, especially with the stock so poorly buggered. Here's a pic of the receiver inside. Think it might be worth trying to save?
View attachment 7185375

Go for it... what
Have you got to lose? Stocks are out there. Paint comes off easy. Have fun!

cheers. Sirhr

 

[Son of Dorn]

If I did, what's the best way for paint? Acetone, rag, and toothbrush?

 

[Dan M]

Some were blued during the Weimar era... never painted. Looks like it was converted to a 98M with a tangent sight.

If the stock has the original butt plate, check for a number in the middle of the plate...that is the mark of the WW1 era rebuild facility. Weimar proofs will be on the receiver and stock.

 

[RTH1800]

There could be some extra bubba work under the paint. Patched holes etc. Or it could be the special SS painted super duper G33/40 silenced model.

 

[Son of Dorn]

There could be some extra bubba work under the paint. Patched holes etc. Or it could be the special SS painted super duper G33/40 silenced model.

"Special SS super duper" comment aside, that's a fair point. And I doubt the seller would be willing to find out before I purchased. But on the other hand it might NOT and isn't that a risk with any online purchase?

 

[RTH1800]

That part was just kidding of course. Yes, all online purchases have some potential downside.
There are literally millions of Mauser actions out there so no need to take much risk. You can easily purchase a rifle in any configuration you want for pennies on the dollar compared to building.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Everything is a risk... the action is a potential basis for a custom sporter at worst. At
Best you get a diamond in the rough!

this is how restoration happens. You take a risk and go for it. And usually end up with something cool after much sweat and learning.

Paint remover... Removes paint quite effectively. The name is kind of a clue.

homer Formbys furniture refinisher and a steel wool pad 0000 gently applied will remove paint. Don’t scrub finish off. There are a million videos on YouTube.

Don’t do this on the Walker your great uncle Fester carried at Bull Run. But for a nasty old Nazi thing... go for it. Sirhr

 

[Son of Dorn]

Everything is a risk... the action is a potential basis for a custom sporter at worst. At
Best you get a diamond in the rough!

this is how restoration happens. You take a risk and go for it. And usually end up with something cool after much sweat and learning.

Paint remover... Removes paint quite effectively. The name is kind of a clue.

homer Formbys furniture refinisher and a steel wool pad 0000 gently applied will remove paint. Don’t scrub finish off. There are a million videos on YouTube.

Don’t do this on the Walker your great uncle Fester carried at Bull Run. But for a nasty old Nazi thing... go for it. Sirhr

Reason I said acetone was that I read it'll take the paint off and leave any original finish intact. Not that it necessarily matters, since chances are the replacement barrel would need to be finished too and I could just have it done together, but I could always see what's under the paint.

Gun show is this weekend. I'll see what's there and keep this one on the radar as an extra option. Found a few small ring WWI sporters that look good but I think I'd rather go with a large ring for a 9.3mm and do a small ring for a 8mm or 7mm companion piece one day.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Have you ever bought anything? Or been tire kicking for 7 months??

sirhr

 

[sandwarrior]

That's what I figured, especially with the stock so poorly buggered. Here's a pic of the receiver inside. Think it might be worth trying to save?
View attachment 7185375

Paint don't mean shit if it's on there or not. You can strip that crap off. What you need to look for are pits that the paint covered. The stupid thing is paint will help prevent corrosion in the place of regularly oiling and wiping a firearm. So, if it's online ask for some more pics. Especially of those under the woodline. A lot of Mausers have been saved under the woodline due to saturation of the stock. But, have pits right at the woodline as they were stored out in humid environments.

Depending on the money, I'd go for it if you don't see damage AT THE WOODLINE. That's almost always the telltale. Corrosive crap gathers there and that is where you usually see the worst pits.

Added: Wear your damn chemical gloves when you take the paint off this thing....WE WANT PICS!

 

[Son of Dorn]

Have you ever bought anything? Or been tire kicking for 7 months??

sirhr

Planning, collating, and a few more important things than a rifle got in the way. Not tire kicking, just doesn't always get to happen when or how I'd like it to.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Collating?

cheers, Sirhr

 

[Dan M]

Amberg only produced 300,000 Mauser Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98az firearms, the fewest of the Imperial Arsenals.

I personally would only purchase it with the paint removed. That thick paint can hide a load of flaws that would increase your total project cost to remedy. As I stated in a DM to you, I would use a commercial large ring like the Husqvarna 640 and build on that. It is your project and you can do what you want...if you are not doing the work yourself you wind up spending thousands on a rifle worth hundreds of dollars.