Have a 98/29 Persian with dark spots on the stock. Over all finish of the stock is good. Since I plan on keeping rifle as is and shooting would refinishing the stock hurt later value ??

Have you tired to clean it. I had one with black spots on it and most of it cleaned off with wax.

IMHO yes,98% of the time refinishing it would hurt the value. Try weeping the oil out of the stock with a hair dryer (be patient, easy does it). Set it out in the hot sun on your back deck and sop the oil up with paper towels or cotton cloth. Once you start with the sandpaper and such there is no going back.

What later "value" are you worried about hurting?

These are great old rifles but they are hardly collectors pieces unless there is something very unique and/or special about them, and in that case you would be silly to be shooting them anyway.

Refinish your stock and enjoy your rifle.

Nearly all intact/original military mauser rifles are going up in value, particularly the large-ring variety.

If your rifle is already a 'beater', or not in original condition to begin with, then refinishing it is no big deal. But if it's intact (meaning original), good overall condition, with at least a semi-decent bore you will be taking a $250+ rifle and making it a $165 rifle (or less). The 98/29's were really well made rifles.


Remember all those vet bring-back K98's that got sporterized, refinished, and hacked up back in the 70's? Many of them can be found in gunshops for $200. Left original and in any kind of decent shape, vet bring-back K98's start at about 400 bucks now and can easily fetch double that if it's a particular code or marked a certain way.

I recently paid $500 for a 1909 Argentine and it was a bargain as it was in outstanding original condition. Had it not been in original condition it would have been a 200-250 'action donor'.

Thanks for the replies. Will try the hair drier first (sun will have to wait until summer its 2 degrees outside. fyj, you are right about being a fine rifle, I have looked at a lot of mausers and I managed to get this one for $175.00 two years ago. Other than the dark spots and the stencil on the barrel from the importer, its in excellent shape. I do plan on adding a peep if I can find one that does not require drill and tap. Eyes are not what they use to be. Matt, its all matching serial numbers including the cleaning rod.

That your 98/29 is matching is a real plus! If you want to upgrade the sights without drilling holes and making permanant alterations, consider a Mojo sight.

http://www.mojosights.com/

If you want a better trigger you can do one of the Huber offerings....

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/hubertrigger/index.asp

You can steam the oil out, too- take a clean, empty can, like laquer thinner or mineral spirits come in, poke a hole in the cap with a nail. Fill it 3/4's with water and place it on a stove burner, direct the steam jet at the oil spot, it will bubble up the oil. Wipe the oil away with a rag, keep doing it.

You can raise dents this way, too.

Make sure the can has nothing in it, traces of chemicals etc. before you use it.

Matt, have looked at the mojo sights. Want to look at one first hand before I invest. Huber triggers. Just installed one in a 1917 that has been sporterized (definately not bubbaized). Installation was a little more than drop-in but this was probably due to this rifle. Have yet to shoot but it feels good.
Tin can...guess you live up to your handle with this info...actually I knew that, have even done it, a v e r y l o n g time ago...thanks.