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Thread: Cleaning finish on older and well-used rifles.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2015
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    Garibaldi, Victoria, Australia
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    179

    Cleaning finish on older and well-used rifles.

    G'day,

    After much nagging from disciples of the Religion of FeinWerkBau I purchased an FWB 300S from a state target shooting association. In other words it is a club gun dating from about 1974 and has been used by very many shooters of all levels. Because the club gunsmith maintained all the guns it is in very good shooting condition and gave me quite tight groups straight out of the box in spite of my inexperience with an action that comes rearward. In fact the box in which I received it is likely the original FWB box in which it came from FWB! It has some very tiny rust 'specks' on blued areas and some equally tiny discoloration/staining/rust on the sliding breech. I suspect that it did not always receive a wipe down after each use to remove sweat and oil, but it's not too bad. The bluing seems pretty even too. What is the best way to deal with these tiny rust specks, hopefully without have to completely strip and re-blue it?

    Advice would be appreciated,

    Jim

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    christchurch
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    7,130
    I tend to leave older guns in this condition as they are.
    Adds to their charm.

    Attempts to partially reblue can be disappointing.

    If you keep using an oily rag now and again it shouldn't get worse.

    But if you want to have a careful go with very fine wire wool and oil that's a start.

    G96 gun blue Creme is the best cold reblue imo.
    If you wish to go this far.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Annan
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    635
    I have had a good result using light oil, 3 in one, and a soft cloth, the rust comes of with gentle pressure, and turning the cloth as it gets rust coloured prevents scratches, the remaining oil helps protect the surface.
    David

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    aberdeenshire
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    25,209
    https://youtu.be/J41c-uWChmM some ideas here.

    Try an onion too. It's supposed to be good for removing rust.
    Last edited by bighit; 12-09-2017 at 11:46 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    ROYSTON Herts
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    229
    Quote Originally Posted by gingernut View Post
    I tend to leave older guns in this condition as they are.
    Adds to their charm.

    Attempts to partially reblue can be disappointing.

    If you keep using an oily rag now and again it shouldn't get worse.

    But if you want to have a careful go with very fine wire wool and oil that's a start.

    G96 gun blue Creme is the best cold reblue imo.
    If you wish to go this far.
    The only chap for quality re bluing is

    Colin Malloy
    The Smithy
    2 Crown St
    Failsworth
    Manchester
    M35 9DB

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    aberdeenshire
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    25,209
    Quote Originally Posted by 12/200 View Post
    The only chap for quality re bluing is

    Colin Malloy
    The Smithy
    2 Crown St
    Failsworth
    Manchester
    M35 9DB
    Might cost a fair bit of postage to and from Australia though

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    ROYSTON Herts
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    Quote Originally Posted by bighit View Post
    Might cost a fair bit of postage to and from Australia though
    But well worth it

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Bolton
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    16,435
    I'm pretty sure there are plenty of alternatives in Australia.

    It's big country and shooting sports there are very popular.
    Arthur

    I wish I was in the land of cotton.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    aberdeenshire
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    25,209
    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur John Smithsplease View Post
    I'm pretty sure there are plenty of alternatives in Australia.

    It's big country and shooting sports there are very popular.
    There may well be but as quoted below

    The only chap for quality re bluing is

    Colin Malloy
    The Smithy
    2 Crown St
    Failsworth
    Manchester
    M35 9DB




  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Blackburn, Lancs. (under a bridge)
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    22,944
    Quote Originally Posted by bighit View Post
    Might cost a fair bit of postage to and from Australia though
    Ive heard hes big down under.
    Founder & ex secretary of Rivington Riflemen.
    www.rivington-riflemen.uk

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Boise, Idaho, USA
    Posts
    88
    Very fine steel wool and oil. Easy does it.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Basingstoke
    Posts
    218
    I was recently given an old Cometa springer that had surface rust like you describe, I had an old an old "scotch pad" (it was used and a lot softer than original) that I soaked in oil and gently rubbed it down, took about 40 mins just for the barrel as I didn't want to disturb the original blue. That came up very nicely for me.
    "just don't lead 'em so much!!"

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Bruton
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    6,591
    I use Ballistol with tissues or kitchen paper, and go gently, saving the OOOO grade wire wool for the worst bits.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Garibaldi, Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    179

    Cleaning-finish-on-older-and-well-used rifles

    Thank you all and a special thank you to 12/200 - perhaps I should chuck all my rifles in a case and come to visit the UK for a quick re-blue and a bit of sight-seeing? I've always wanted to visit Hertfordshire which is where my Mother lived as a child.

    I am intrigued by the suggestion by bighit of using an onion. What 'chemicals' does an onion contain that can affect rust?

    As gingernut said such subtle wear is part of the 'history' of the rifle as are the small 'dings' and scratches in the stock - there is no hiding the fact that it is a vintage rifle - and I bought it to shoot not hang on the wall. I don't mind 'honest' wear marks. [I have quite a few such marks and 'dings' myself that cannot be polished out.]

    I'll hasten slowly for now and keep wiping it down well after use as I do with all the rifles I own.

    Jim

    PS. Please pass on my disappointment to the excellent Colin Malloy and explain I won't be using his services as I can't afford the postage!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Lairg
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    I've just watched a video on YouTube where the guy used a copper coin & 3in1 oil to scrub off rust on a gun barrel. I'll give it a shot but I've personally always used fine, 0000, wire wool & 3 in 1 myself.

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