There must be a zillion opinions (or at least 3?) about restoring/cleaning/whatever you want to call it when it comes to vintage mil-surp rifles.
One camp- don’t do anything to it, ever. Leave it exactly as it was. Second camp: it’s fine to restore it to exactly how it looked when it left the factory/ arsenal. Make it pristine. Third camp- hey it’s yours do whatever you want.
My situation is that not surprisingly the K31 I picked up is beaver chewed for about 1 to 2 inches near the butt of the stock.
It’s a Beech stock from 1954 that matches the manufactured year per the serial number. The serial numbers match all around. This is a post WW2 weapon that appears to be in excellent mechanical shape with strong rifling and a shiny bore.
It doesn’t look like it’s ever been restored or fixed up. Looks like it’s been in a closet for 40-50 years after the original soldier it was issued to quit hauling it out on maneuvers.
My intent is to go shoot it in vintage turnbolt military matches. I don’t want the butt to disintegrate (e.g. at the toe) and require stock repairs. There’s already gaps between the butt plate and the wood.
Practical standpoint- Making it prettier won’t make it shoot tighter groups AFAIK.
So, I’ll open the can of worms. Clean up the stock or not?
One camp- don’t do anything to it, ever. Leave it exactly as it was. Second camp: it’s fine to restore it to exactly how it looked when it left the factory/ arsenal. Make it pristine. Third camp- hey it’s yours do whatever you want.
My situation is that not surprisingly the K31 I picked up is beaver chewed for about 1 to 2 inches near the butt of the stock.
It’s a Beech stock from 1954 that matches the manufactured year per the serial number. The serial numbers match all around. This is a post WW2 weapon that appears to be in excellent mechanical shape with strong rifling and a shiny bore.
It doesn’t look like it’s ever been restored or fixed up. Looks like it’s been in a closet for 40-50 years after the original soldier it was issued to quit hauling it out on maneuvers.
My intent is to go shoot it in vintage turnbolt military matches. I don’t want the butt to disintegrate (e.g. at the toe) and require stock repairs. There’s already gaps between the butt plate and the wood.
Practical standpoint- Making it prettier won’t make it shoot tighter groups AFAIK.
So, I’ll open the can of worms. Clean up the stock or not?