M/N finish thoughts and ?

[Cerberus]

I got my first M/N back in the mid 90s, it was a Fin capture and restock 91/30. While well refinished with the superior Fin stock, it was a real bear to load, so I sold it to a friend of mine, right after I bought my '39 Tula. The Tula showed no signs what so ever of having been through arsenal refinishing. The metal was bright, and the stock was plain dark colored wood with no type of varnish on it. I degreased the stock and oiled it up and it looked sweet. Then I bought a '44 made M44 and it is new looking and I am going to make the call that it had gone through arsenal refinishing and put into storage. The stock has varnish and a nice reddish color that seems to be common to Soviet weapons. Now my new 91/30 has the same varnish, and it also has the postwar sling swivel grommets and Ukrainian refurb proofs, that were probably not on the original stock when it was made in 1942.

Anyone have any ideas when the USSR started putting the thick crusty varnish on M/Ns? The new rifle has such heavy varnish, so heavy it is hard to disassemble for cleaning, that I am thinking of stripping it down and oiling the stock, but wish to do the correct finish.

[tdbrown1969]

I was thinking of picking up another 91/30 to chrome the metal and refinish the wood in a dark walnut stain.I do not know when the USSR started using the thick varnish but both of mine are that way and one is 1939 the other is 1942.My 1943 M44 is the same way.Perhaps someone with more knowledge will be along to educate us both:)td

[AKBLUE]

Shellac has been used al least since since the 1930's on Russian rifles. It continued on through the SKS and AK rifles into the 1980's and beyond AFAIK. The Chinese and Romanians likewise use shellac as the finish on their rifles. It is very easy to clean up with 0000 steel wool or Denatured Alcohhol to strip from unwanted parts. I would stay with the shellac.

[Cerberus]

Thanks AKBLUE. Just found on 7.62x54r.net, the discussion about M/N stock finish. They say all originally had shellac. Guess I'll look into stripping and put on a much thinner, less flaking coating of shellac