The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Just brought this one home. Took it apart (someones been in here already) and what apears to be black axle grease brushed on everything. Whats the cleaning method for this mess? Should I use a degreaser or just the hopps 9 and alot of it. Was it commonplace to do this dovetailing of 2 stocks? What was in the missing hole on butt of stock. No number on mag plate and a 105 on ball. Differant number on butt plate. What is the N and L in the serial number. What can you tell me about this one please. Heres the pics

Just noticed my 1924 Izhevsk serial number is 34 apart from the 1904 Tula. Interesting.

The hole in the butt stock was for a unit disc at one time. They were removed to keep the Russians from estimating unit strength through the numbers on them. I use mineral spirits to remove that black grease otherwise if it gets hot from shooting it goes everywhere. Then eventually it begins to breakdown and solidify like dark shellac. The SA marking indicates it was Finnish captured and the splicing of the stock was common on their part. Nice rifle! Congrats! That is what I look for and enjoy the most. Bill

+1 on mineral spirits, but I also like to use the black garbage bag method on a hot day. Put the action in a black lawn garbage bag, and place it in the sun on a hot day. The heat will help some of the chunky stuff to turn into a liquid and flow off.

To learn lots more about your Mosin and others in general, go to the information page on this site.
http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/

The black grease is black graphite grease and put there by the Finn's. Typical type of grease in use at the time, messy, don't wear good clothing while cleaning this and outside with a pile of rags is best. I used straight gasoline on the metal parts, yea, dangerous but last time I checked I wasn't yet stupid enough to smoke while doing it or have it near any ignition source. Nice rifle.

+++++1 on the mineral spirits. This is really the only thing that will (safely) remove this grease. I then, clean the metal with very hot water and grease cutter. This will bring out any rust you may have missed to you can remove it. Then give it a coating of CLP and you are good to go. To me, this is the most efficient and easiest method and it works. Find an old rag and douse it in some mineral spirits (not the newer "milky" stuff but the real stuff). Don't have to soak the rag. A little goes a long way. Just have to experiment. The mineral spirits, also works exceptionally well on the interior and exterior of the stock. It will not damage the wood or the finish. Good luck and have fun. This cleanup is a lot of fun and you really get to intimately know the rifle and it's parts. BTW... Nice rifle

Thanks for the info. Its too cold here now to use solar power method. Is there a particular brand of mineral spirits I should look for and what is CLP. Sorry nube questions.

CLP - Cleaner, Lubricant, Protectant.
Any shooting supply store (or, Amazon) ought to have it.

Great thanks Ill pick some up today.

Good stuff Bad stuff... Don't buy the milky "smell nice" or "eco friendly" mineral spirits. They simply don't work.

If you already have a can of WD-40, try it on the grease. It works well on brown grease , turns it into a thick oil rubbing with an old toothbrush that will wipe off w/ paper towels. Nice Russian/Finn M-91. The N is just abbreviated number, Fancy scrolled N used by Tula. Don't know what the L could be.

Very nice rifle! You have to love 'em when they still have the old grease all over them! As sad as it is, I actually have as much fun cleaning them of that grease as I do going out and shooting them! Make sure you don't let those shims inside the stock get away from you, they have a funny habit of trying to self-relocate.

The mineral spirits worked great and fast. Picking up the CLP tomorrow for the metals. What should I use on the woods?

Grinder wrote:The mineral spirits worked great and fast. Picking up the CLP tomorrow for the metals. What should I use on the woods?

You can use the mineral spirits on the metal parts also. Then before reassembly put a light coat of gun or any light oil, just enough to prohibit rust. As for the wood, after you are satisfied you have got as much of the oil/grease off it, you can put a light coat of Lemon oil on it. Lemon oil can be found at any large market in the home supplies dept.

I've never put anything on my Mosin stocks, except the two I ruined when I started collecting. And I have at least 15 over 100 years old.

I've used a mixture of very hot water and simple green. This has been very effective and hasn't damage my bluing. Great find btw.

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Longcolt44 wrote:

Grinder wrote:The mineral spirits worked great and fast. Picking up the CLP tomorrow for the metals. What should I use on the woods?

You can use the mineral spirits on the metal parts also. Then before reassembly put a light coat of gun or any light oil, just enough to prohibit rust. As for the wood, after you are satisfied you have got as much of the oil/grease off it, you can put a light coat of Lemon oil on it. Lemon oil can be found at any large market in the home supplies dept.

For those of you who don't know it Lemon oil is 99% mineral oil with an odor agent added. Balistoll is also 99% mineral oil so if you don't like your Mosins smelling like a furniture store go with it. Also here's a great way to clean Mosins! Buy a 42 inch section of ABS plastic roof gutter and two endcaps and the glue to attach them to the piece. Do your cleaning in that gutter and if your really frugal after your done pour the used mineral spirits back into the container through a fine paint funnel filter and keep reusing them both. Did that for years till I broke down and bought a nice parts cleaner with a pump and all and now have safety klean service it from time to time. Bill