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1/16/2009 1:04:36 PM EDT
Found a lacquer coat on a rifle I just received.

1944 LB No.4 Mk I*...still a good amount of cosmoline thoroughout.

I can't see how someone would put a coat of lacquer on the wood with so much cosmo present.

Is it possible that that it got lacquered previous to being wrapped, were any of the misc depots doing such?? The metal finish is about 95%, almost no finish wear on the bolt...but no FTR markings. Supposedly, the rifle was still in wrap as of the late 1960's, when it was unwrapped, but not fully de-cosmoed. It was owned by that person for 30 years, then sold to the person I got it from, who hadn't cleaned it out either.

Can this lacquer coat be removed so as to get down to the original oil finish??
1/16/2009 1:24:42 PM EDT
[#1]
I seem to remember that Mineral Spirits or paint thinner will remove lacquer, but I'm not sure.
Im sure another member will be along shortly to confirm this, or to correct me.
1/16/2009 1:41:58 PM EDT
[#2]
Bah!!  I'm Stupid.

Disregard...False Alarm.

The price of inexperience!!

Should have tried the alcohol first...did the lacquer thinner check and panicked when the finish got tacky; turns out that it was the cosmo dissolving.

Switching to alcohol cleaned it right up and displayed the oil finish.

BTW...denatured alcohol was recommended on an LE dedicated forum and I must admit it works in a most excellent fashion to cut grime and cosmo off the surface.
1/16/2009 4:19:32 PM EDT
[#3]
Glad you got it sorted out
now lets see that old British work horse
1/16/2009 8:18:41 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
Glad you got it sorted out
now lets see that old British work horse


+1, don't hold out on us.

1/17/2009 4:36:11 AM EDT
[#5]
It's disassembled presently; working on getting the cosmo cleaned off.

Metal finish is about 90-95%...nice LB No. 4 Mk I*.

I seem to need a longer screwdriver to get the buttstock off.

Will post pics when done.

1/18/2009 12:07:27 PM EDT
[#6]
Update.

Cleanup proceeding...A Normandy Invasion style operation was required to get the %&@(*)!! leather washer out of the buttstock...it needed to come out so that the buttstock screw could be accessed for stock removal.

Wood cleaning up nicely with alcohol in preparation of oil srcub/rub.

Cosmo and grime had combined to place a shiny hard patina on the wood.

Hope to get all the wood scrubbed today and do the detail cosmo removal on the metal as well.

Pictures up later, of the wood at least.

Off to buy the worlds longest screwdriver...an 8" won't cut it for anything longer than the short length buttstock.
1/18/2009 4:59:57 PM EDT
[#7]
The screwdriver worked.

Pictures!!









Shiny...looks liked its been waxed.
1/19/2009 1:00:27 AM EDT
[#8]
Here's the wood after a good scrubbing with alcohol.

1/19/2009 6:42:00 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
Here's the wood after a good scrubbing with alcohol.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1236/hpim0624gd2.jpg


Nice looking stock you got there
Hows the condition of the metal?
The bore?
1/19/2009 8:41:52 AM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Here's the wood after a good scrubbing with alcohol.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1236/hpim0624gd2.jpg


Nice looking stock you got there
Hows the condition of the metal?
The bore?


Thank you.

The bore was cosmo'd too!!

It's shiny like glass.

The rifle's metal finish is at 95%.

1/19/2009 11:52:33 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Here's the wood after a good scrubbing with alcohol.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1236/hpim0624gd2.jpg


Nice looking stock you got there
Hows the condition of the metal?
The bore?


Thank you.

The bore was cosmo'd too!!

It's shiny like glass.

The rifle's metal finish is at 95%.



Well of course we need to see the finished product
Where did you pick this Enfield up by chance?
1/19/2009 1:13:49 PM EDT
[#12]
Purchased here on our EE.

Bought a Mk 2 on GB for a decent price...crapshoot there, it turned out to have a very nice bore...prefer to buy here.

It's still disassembled currently...cleaning up the small parts and have to oil the stock; I'll put up a picture when it's back together.

Here's the metal...I think that alcohol does a better job than mineral spirits and much easier on the lungs indoors this time of year.







1/19/2009 1:39:09 PM EDT
[#13]
Your Trigger is seriously F..... up. Wheres the other half?
1/20/2009 3:34:44 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Your Trigger is seriously F..... up. Wheres the other half?


It's on the trigger guard, as the above is a No. 4 Mk 1*, not a No. 4 Mk 2.

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