Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
127Got it thank you for replying to the newbie questions. I had seen on YouTube someone using linseed oil instead and I wondered if that was something special for the bluing process instead of regular gun oil.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
128Anything new on the latest installment of this old gun?
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
129Prepping the bits and bobs for bluing. Got it all sanded, need to degrease then start the process. Probably start sunday night.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
130Didn't end up starting the bluing process this weekend, had family in town and I started a new job on monday so the scheduling just hasn't worked. I might try again this weekend but I have to find that 10-12 hour window where I'm going to be free at the beginning as well as the end.
I have started work on polishing the bolt. Its not going to be perfect as there was actually a bunch of pitting under the remains of the bluing/rust. I could have gone over it with some more aggressive grit but decided to just deal with it as is. Went up from 120 to 480 grit brushes, next up I'll have to buff it.
I have started work on polishing the bolt. Its not going to be perfect as there was actually a bunch of pitting under the remains of the bluing/rust. I could have gone over it with some more aggressive grit but decided to just deal with it as is. Went up from 120 to 480 grit brushes, next up I'll have to buff it.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
131So the polishing is done. Went up to 480 grit with a couple passes of buffing compound. Its pretty shiny but theres some pitting that I don't feel like I want to address which keeps it from being mirror finish. I could have sanded with 80 grit and tried to remove the pitting but I didn't want to hurt any fitting or markings.
Anyway heres the bolt:
Anyway heres the bolt:
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
132That looks rather nice! I dont think it needs a mirror finish and you made the right call with the straight bolt handle.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
133Sorry for the lack of in progress pictures, the new job is keeping me busy.
Anyway this week I made some mauser soup:
After 3 runs through the bluing process I called it good enough. Bluing the big parts is actually slightly easier because you can hang them easily. I used layer of cheesecloth which retained moisture and made things a little harder than they needed to be but they came out fine. There was actually less of that red mottling you can see in the receiver, not sure what that was but you get what you pay for.
Up next I have to get the sanded areas of the stock matching the rest of the stock.
Anyway this week I made some mauser soup:
After 3 runs through the bluing process I called it good enough. Bluing the big parts is actually slightly easier because you can hang them easily. I used layer of cheesecloth which retained moisture and made things a little harder than they needed to be but they came out fine. There was actually less of that red mottling you can see in the receiver, not sure what that was but you get what you pay for.
Up next I have to get the sanded areas of the stock matching the rest of the stock.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
134Sanded the bare spots to be a bit smoother than they were then put a coat of BLO on. Also took the time to reassemble the bolt so I could show off the two tone look.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
135Looking great!
It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
136Just read the whole thread twice. That is some amazing work!
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
138Still application after application of BLO. The sanded parts are darker but not the color of the rest of the stock. At some point I may have to either call it or look at other options.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
139So I've been meaning to update for a while with the progress on the handguard wood. I've stuck in a picture of the color difference. At this point there are 4 options:
1) Keep adding more BLO and hope it gets darker, I'm not sure its ever going to get that red hue though.
2) Sand down the other wood to match the BLO color
3) Try and find some red dye or something that matches the red.
4) Just say this is good enough.
What say ye.
1) Keep adding more BLO and hope it gets darker, I'm not sure its ever going to get that red hue though.
2) Sand down the other wood to match the BLO color
3) Try and find some red dye or something that matches the red.
4) Just say this is good enough.
What say ye.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
140I'd say option 4. In the end the winner can try options 1-3 if they so desire.
Option 1, could easily make a fun project a chore for little impact.
Option 2, could remove the stock's character for some.
Option 3, could end up with you wanting to toss the stock and try again if it goes pear shaped on you. Dye and stains can end up funky from my experience(DIY job trying to fix a floor board that got scratched to heck)
Option 1, could easily make a fun project a chore for little impact.
Option 2, could remove the stock's character for some.
Option 3, could end up with you wanting to toss the stock and try again if it goes pear shaped on you. Dye and stains can end up funky from my experience(DIY job trying to fix a floor board that got scratched to heck)
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
142Option 5. I kicked the can and tried supergluing the crack in the stock again.
I'll bring this up in the Discord chat, but I'm guessing I'll just leave it as is in the interest of getting this off my work bench.
I'll bring this up in the Discord chat, but I'm guessing I'll just leave it as is in the interest of getting this off my work bench.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
143Update. We decided to just leave it as is. The sanded and BLO'd wood isn't terribly out of balance from the rest of the wood and I'm ready to get this done.
I was putting everything back together and found a few odds and ends I forgot to blue. Gonna fire blue them this weekend. Also got some M4 screws to build a new set screw for the rear sight which needs to be a bit longer to stay in place, just need to cut off a mil or two from the screw and fire blue it with the rest and everything should be good to go. Then need to reattach the remaining bits and bobs.
Talking with the powers that be about how we'll do the sweepstakes.
I was putting everything back together and found a few odds and ends I forgot to blue. Gonna fire blue them this weekend. Also got some M4 screws to build a new set screw for the rear sight which needs to be a bit longer to stay in place, just need to cut off a mil or two from the screw and fire blue it with the rest and everything should be good to go. Then need to reattach the remaining bits and bobs.
Talking with the powers that be about how we'll do the sweepstakes.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
144This looks great! The difference in the wood coloring isn't bad at all, and I'm glad you decided against sanding the rest of the stock. Overall this has been a lot of fun to follow along with. Thanks for sharing this journey. Whomever ends up with this rifle is going to have a fun little shooter on their hands.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
145i'm having trouble imagining how to explain a .45acp kar98 at the range.
i'm retired. what's your excuse?
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
146I think that depends on the person you are explaining it to.lurker wrote: Sat Dec 12, 2020 2:17 am i'm having trouble imagining how to explain a .45acp kar98 at the range.
Range officer: I know I know its 45 acp but I didn't lube it with any tigers blood this trip so it shouldn't destroy your range.
Milsurp Purist: What you never heard of the 45 acp variant of the k98! [Insert dramatic gasp preferably from a friend] I thought you knew military history. You should probably read up a little more and we can talk.
The What's It's Purpose Guy: It's a 1911 magazine holder and in a pinch it will even shoot them.
Anyone else: It goes pew pew...
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
147option 5: because we could
i'm retired. what's your excuse?
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
148Mostly.
You could, theoretically, take it to something like a IDPA PCC competition. Running around with a bolt action PCC sounds pretty fun.
Personally I hope whoever wins this uses it to troll the milsurp purists who still harp on great great grandpappy who sporterized a $5 Krag during the depression.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
149If I win this, it will get threaded so I can out my can on it and it can join the suppressed 1873 Trapdoor as head-a-sploder-extraordinaire.
Re: .45 ACP Mauser Conversion, it could be yours!
150And here I was thinking that getting it drilled and tapped for a reflex sight was going to be head sploder.KVoimakas wrote: Sat Dec 12, 2020 11:15 am If I win this, it will get threaded so I can out my can on it and it can join the suppressed 1873 Trapdoor as head-a-sploder-extraordinaire.