Restoring my POS $50 M44 Nagant to something pretty

[FleischPfeife]

I found a post on the forum for a $50 mosin nagant and I decided to pick it up and see if I could turn it into something pretty. PrimeredJunk was nice enough to meet up and hand it over. Mechanically the gun was sound, there was a broken magazine clasp and some other small issues, but I was able to fix all of them quickly.

So, here is what we started with:

http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_before_001.jpg
http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_before_002.jpg
http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_before_003.jpg
http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_before_004.jpg
http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_before_005.jpg

After using a damp towel and ironing the depressions out I started sanding down with 80 grit, then 150grit.

Here is the stock after sanding:

http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_during_002.jpg
http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_during_003.jpg


I also decided I would polish all the steel on this one, which proved to be one of the most laborious parts of this gun. The machining quality was good, however some of it was rough, which required me to start with a 60grit, then 150, then 400, then I went to a 2000grit for polish, and then used mothers metal polish for the final. After that your favorite oil to prevent rust will do the job.

Total time involved was about a week on and off, an hour or two a day - a lot of time was spent drying stain/clear.

Here is the final product:

http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_finished_001.jpg
http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_finished_002.jpg
http://jadefalcon.shackspace.com/Pics/Weapons/nagant_finished_003.jpg

[nevada]

Holy smokes that's nice! Great job!

[QuickDrawMcGraw]

Nice work , I like it alot . How much to do mine ??

[FleischPfeife]

Nice work , I like it alot . How much to do mine ??

Well for what the price of these guns go for, and the technicalities involved in shipping I don't know if it would even be feasible. But, I'd be willing to do another one like this for $100, it takes quite a lot of time to do it.

[jlpskydive]

Wow that looks like a parade gun now!! Well done and no rifles were harmed in this experiment!! :thumbup:

[FleischPfeife]

Wow that looks like a parade gun now!! Well done and no rifles were harmed in this experiment!! :thumbup:

lol, that's what I've been told twice now. :) It's arousing to hold, feels like a piece of glass in your hand. Now, I just wonder if it works! I've never fired it! :)

[RandyCOG3]

Wow that looks like a parade gun now!! Well done and no rifles were harmed in this experiment!! :thumbup:

That's what I was thinking: parade rifle. That metal really shines.:thumbup:

WWBD? What Would Bubba Do? He'd have a) sawed something off, or b)glued/clamped something on, or c) applied silver <or other> spray paint as an expedient to all that sanding/polishing, or d) any combination of the above...

Nice job!:thumbup:

RandyCOG3

[FleischPfeife]

anyone have a rear sight for sale? Mine never came with one! :)

[jlpskydive]

Post a WTB and someone here has one or 50 of them laying around.

[DAT19K]

what country of origin is that m44?

[Commander47]

Congratulations...that is one fine looking Mosin. I like this rifle tremendously. I'm glad you didn't pimp it all out. :thumbup:

[heavy_weapons_guy]

:wow: Absolutely AWESOME :icon_biggrin: ! Yours started out looking just like my 91/30 and turned into that nice rifle,thats nothing less than amazing :thumbup: . Good job :icon_biggrin:

[wwIIBuff]

That looks great, nice work

[FleischPfeife]

what country of origin is that m44?

It's a 1953 Hungarian nagant.

Thanks for all the compliments!

If you're interested in how I did it specifically, I made a more detailed post on my local forum:

http://www.dfwstangs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=379664

[asshat]

That looks better than new! Gorgeous!

[M1 Tanker]

Looks like did a great job restoring the wood, but whats up with the shine ? Looks like it should be in the weapon rack of this for the pimpin parade.


12614

[jfowl31]

Looks like a very meticulous restoration for sure. I would have reblued it personally, mainly because I don't like the parade rifle look, but that's just personal preference, ours aren't quite on the same wavelegth on that one... no big deal.

But the wood looks really nice. What stain/oil/finish did you use?

[FleischPfeife]

Looks like a very meticulous restoration for sure. I would have reblued it personally, mainly because I don't like the parade rifle look, but that's just personal preference, ours aren't quite on the same wavelegth on that one... no big deal.

But the wood looks really nice. What stain/oil/finish did you use?

I used a polyeurathane clear, and minwax deep red stain. The link above shows the entire process from start to finish if you're interested

[brewskzilla]

Looks like something the Spatznost Silent Drill Team would carry.

[Noskov]

That is a beautiful rifle. I've always liked seeing old rifles restored, almost like a proper retirement if its a showpiece or getting a new lease on life as a hunting rifle, rather than being butchered by mall-ninjas and bubbas.

[AKsrule]

I used a polyeurathane clear, and minwax deep red stain. The link above shows the entire process from start to finish if you're interested

I read your other post - don't be modest. :thumbup:
If I tried that it would look like an 8th grade shop project :icon_neutral:

I would pay $100 + shipping just for the stock refinish and a bolt polish. :wink:

[FleischPfeife]

I read your other post - don't be modest. :thumbup:
If I tried that it would look like an 8th grade shop project :icon_neutral:

I would pay $100 + shipping just for the stock refinish and a bolt polish. :wink:

lol I'm more than happy to do it, I was a subprime loan officer, so as you can guess, I have some free time for projects like this! :)

pm me!

[DAT19K]

hunt it, shoot it, it is not a museum piece or anything.

[drine]

That is some fine work. Amazing how well the stock came out. I can see metal refinished with lots of work but wood is finicky some times. If I knew my K11 stock would turn out that well, I'd try it.

[FleischPfeife]

That is some fine work. Amazing how well the stock came out. I can see metal refinished with lots of work but wood is finicky some times. If I knew my K11 stock would turn out that well, I'd try it.

I can honestly say there is no way that stock is worse than this one, it was practically 20% grease and oil. I've rarely seen stocks in worse shape than this one, so it's the one I decided to do a how-to on. Give it a shot, If you sand it down properly, and condition it, it will turn out exactly like this one.

[FleischPfeife]

hunt it, shoot it, it is not a museum piece or anything.

People said the same things about Thompson's and M16A1's - I'm happy now that I didn't listen to them, and kept a few in pristine condition in the cabinets. Nagant's are just about the cheapest rifles you can buy, I decided to put this single one away, I'm sure someone in the distant future will appreciate it (even though I presume we may never see a shortage of nagants in this lifetime). I'm all about using these for the purpose they were intended, but I also hold a respect to save some of them for future generations to enjoy, if everyone went hog wild on everything, eventually you'd be screwed. Remember, we don't get any machine guns post 1986 anymore, some need to be preserved.

[jfowl31]

That is some fine work. Amazing how well the stock came out. I can see metal refinished with lots of work but wood is finicky some times. If I knew my K11 stock would turn out that well, I'd try it.

I think you'd be surprised at just how good you could make a K11 look with a good refinish. The key to wood work is not getting impatient or ahead of yourself. You can ruin good wood work by not sanding with a fine enough grit to where when you stain it you see the sanding lines. Little things like that make the difference.

Then just take your time with the finishing process. Don't throw an oil finish on top of another oil finish that isn't dry.... stuff like that.

I do a lot of sanding/staining/refinishing as a carpenter, and really, truly the key is just patience. That K11 will have some amazing figure pop out of the wood if you take your time. The Swiss did not use ugly wood with their weapons (minus the wartime K31 Beech stocks). You'll more than likely get some really nice tiger-striping out of the Walnut stock on the K11.

p.s. the K11 is my favorite carbine. I need one BAD! If you ever want to unload it, let me know first. I've never even seen one for sale at the gunshows around here.

[Commander47]

hunt it, shoot it, it is not a museum piece or anything.

I tend to agree. These mosins are considered throw away today at less than 100.00 for even the long ones.

I remember when Enfields were a dime a dozen and Garands were only a couple hundred bucks. That is true. I still have one M1 I only paid 200 for. There were so many at one time it was just "normal" for every red blooded American to own one.

Now its the Mosin. If everyone doesn't spend a little bit of money to have a Big bore .30 cal in their closet, well....that is just unmanly.:America:

[DAT19K]

fliesch, did you find a sight yet? i have one if your interested.

[FleischPfeife]

fliesch, did you find a sight yet? i have one if your interested.

Actually, no I haven't - pm sent.

[makerdy]

:rockon: MUCH respect.

My first Moisy had great refurbed bluing but a half-assed stock job. They really are beautiful guns regardless of the price. I used a slightly different stock technique but it came out the same:

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/makerdy/Picture004.jpg

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/makerdy/Picture005.jpg

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/makerdy/Picture008.jpg

Needless to say, you worked much harder bringing the wood back than I did....:icon_biggrin:

[AZPhil]

Holy smokes that's nice!

Those were the first words that came out of my mouth.

Looks like it should be used by the Unit that march in front of Lenin's tomb.
:thumbup:

[rifleman]

that is an exceptional rifle you got there. really hard work went into cleaning that rifle. i love mine, even though it looks like crap. but it is all #'s matching.

and makerdy yours is nice as well

[SteelCore]

on both of those.

[FleischPfeife]

:rockon: MUCH respect.

My first Moisy had great refurbed bluing but a half-assed stock job. They really are beautiful guns regardless of the price. I used a slightly different stock technique but it came out the same:

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/makerdy/Picture004.jpg

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/makerdy/Picture005.jpg

http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww215/makerdy/Picture008.jpg

Needless to say, you worked much harder bringing the wood back than I did....:icon_biggrin:

Ah, I'm jealous - that looks fantastic. Exactly the finish I wish I could get most of the time. What kind of sealant did you use?

[slim]

how did you address the oil impregnated wood furniture?...mine practically leaks oil as I was sanding it and loads sandpaper really fast....I wonder if you know a way to remove some of the oil from the wood...my hands look like I rebuilt a V8 after I work on it

[FleischPfeife]

how did you address the oil impregnated wood furniture?...mine practically leaks oil as I was sanding it and loads sandpaper really fast....I wonder if you know a way to remove some of the oil from the wood...my hands look like I rebuilt a V8 after I work on it

If you take a look at the link showing the full process, you place a wet towel over the wood and lay a iron on it, do that to pull out all the old stain/oils out. Once that's done, it should be relatively gone. You won't be able to get everything out, but with enough sanding you'll get it looking nice.

[ptrthgr8]

Why is that some people think Bubba only hacks and welds? Personally, this Mosin is a bubba job in my book - absolutely destroyed any history and character that this rifle had and instead turned it into a ridiculously shiny and non-military "showpiece." And to a Hungarian Mosin no less - not exactly the most common flavor of Mosin Nagant out there.

I'm sure you put a lot of work into it... but I personally think it was wasted effort. I also recognize that it's your property and you can do to it whatever you want, but surely you must also recognize that when you post something like this you're also opening yourself up criticism.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[Noskov]

In defense of FleischPfeife's hard work, his restoration is hardly a "bubba job". While I also value the historic value of WWII and post-war rifles, the Mosin M44 would probably be low on the list considering the sheer amount produced.

Look at it this way, instead of having an aged, worn, dented, rifle that would be confined to an attic or basement, this rifle has been given a second chance and a new life as something very presentable and of museum quality.

[ptrthgr8]

In defense of FleischPfeife's hard work, his restoration is hardly a "bubba job".

Perhaps not in your opinion, but the history and character of that relatively rare M44 variant has been lost forever and there's nothing anyone can do to bring it back. To me that defines "Bubba." I'm not debating the fact that he put a lot of work into it, but it's still the same net effect as having taken a hacksaw or drill to it - once you go there it can never be undone.


While I also value the historic value of WWII and post-war rifles, the Mosin M44 would probably be low on the list considering the sheer amount produced.

Sure. Except this was a Hungarian M44, so it's relatively rare (compared to, say, the Soviet versions). Too, there was a time when 1903s, K98s, and plenty of other rifles were considered cheap surplus and perfect Bubba fodder. Just because they're common now doesn't mean they always will be. I chose not to take the short-sighted perspective.


Look at it this way, instead of having an aged, worn, dented, rifle that would be confined to an attic or basement, this rifle has been given a second chance and a new life as something very presentable and of museum quality.

I'd prefer the aged, worn, dented, and non Bubba'd version. But, again, that's just me.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[jfowl31]

The only thing I don't understand is why you feel the need to speak out and bash someone even though you acknowledge that its his property and he can do whatever the hell he wants with it.

I'm sure not everyone thinks you are the greatest looking person in the world, but does everyone stop and tell you just how ugly you are? NO! That's rude.

So general rule... if you can't say anything nice SHUT THE F*** UP!

[RandyCOG3]

I'd prefer the aged, worn, dented, and non Bubba'd version. But, again, that's just me.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

So, if you squirted some used motor oil on it, flogged it with a chain a few dozen times, and left it out in the weather for a couple of weeks, who could tell the difference from how it was when he got it? It's not "damaged", IMO. No, it wouldn't be truly "battle-scarred", but, who could tell?

I don't think anybody that sees it would say its value is now less than what he paid for it.

RandyCOG3

[k98k792]

OK this is going down hill AGAIN. We had this same thing last year. If you can't add anything constructive why not leave it be? This is getting old.