An uncle was a WWII vet who served in the ETO from Normandy to VE day. During his service, he sent a few firearms home as souvenirs. He died recently and those firearms have been passed on to me. The problem is, my uncle was not a shooter. The firearms were coated in oil, wrapped up in rags and stored in the attic for half a century.

They seem to have survived the ordeal fairly well. However, the oil has now hardened to the consistency of well-aged epoxy, making it impossible to do so much as lift a bolt handle.

Any suggestions on a solvent that will melt the gunk enough to allow me to begin cleaning and inspection in earnest?

Thanks (and expect more questions as the restoration moves forward).

Whiteeagle, have you tried heating it to make it more plyable? I don't mean to the extreme, just a little flame (to start with) from something like a stove/grill lighter?

Take the barrelled actions out of the wood and soak them in diesel fuel for a day or two.

kerosen or wd40... soak a rag, wash down the metal, let sit an hour, repeat
jeffe

Get the metal out of the wood and use carburetor cleaner (the kind in 1q or 1gal bucket) to degrease things. Works like a charm and won't hurt the metal finish. This stuff on a bronze brush will clean the grungiest bore. Get a nylon brush, rubber gloves and safety glasses and go at it. Don't get the stuff on anything plastic or rubber, it is a very strong solvent. When you are done make sure to re-oil all surfaces as they will be totally degreased.
C.G.B.

For loosening threads and cutting rust and other crud, I've had great luck with Kroil.

WD-40 works real good, it's cheap and available everywhere

My Uncle gave me his old gun that was in the Orginal box wrapped in a gunny sack. Used Brake cleaning fluid and rubbed. Then Used WD-40 to clean up and put on some good light oil after along with some Hornady One Shot Cleaner and Dry Lube in the trigger assembly and firing pin spring and tight places like that..

I use Simple Green and Scotch Brite pads.
I start with the ultra fine and work up until the stuff comes off.


Light Gray Ultra Fine
Maroon Very Fine
Maroon Very Fine
Brown Fine
Tan Medium


Sometimes I use FLITZ.

Thanks.

I appreciate the suggestions.

Well, if you want cheap:



I cleaned a pistol that was caked with solidified oil by putting it in a large pot of boiling water with a spoonful of laundry detergent.



It came out perfectly degreased, and of course the heat means that it dries instantly. Oiling is of course needed...



jpb

Just a little safety advice. Being that you cannot open the bolt do a safety check. With finger away from the trigger and muzzle pointed somewhere other than you know where, take a cleaning rod and gingerly run it down the bore. Mark the rod with tape at the point where it stops at the muzzle. Extract the rod and lay it parallel to the barrel and check the length against the barrel and bolt to be sure its not loaded. Uncrichie...

Try Break Free "Powder Blast" gun cleaner.

Carburetor cleaner works like magic. Remove the wood first. Dony forgert to re-oil.
Good luck!

My first thought was carburetor cleaner as well, but be carefull, Ive seen some of that stuff that is just REALLY agressive and I wouldnt be suprised if certian brands would take off the blueing. The usual autozone stuff should be fine. If it were mine I would try PB Blaster.

Hard to beat kerosene or diesel fuel! Just be carefull because these are used in large (gallon) quantities to soak the parts.
My .02