Enfield 1917(WINCHESTER)
Found another Enfield for sale for $200.00,The receiver is marked WINCHESTER,The problem here is that the rifle is totally covered with some kind of clear coating that is so thick that I can't make out the smaller markings to see if it is all Winchester or a parts gun.Is this rifle worth the $200 plus all the work involved to remove the crap that covers this rifle?If so what is the best way to remove this crap?All wood and metal are covered.
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Assuming that you are talking about Cosmoline. Indeed, it can be a pain in the arse to remove. You will likely get 20 different methods from 20 different military gun collectors, but my method is generally mineral spirits and a few old trashed shower towels. I have yet to discover a method that is much faster or less messy. $200 sounds like a pretty darn good deal on a Winchester 1917 also!
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0 -
Thanks for the reply,but the coating is not dried cosmoline,It is some kind of spray on clear coating. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 5thSFG
Thanks for the reply,but the coating is not dried cosmoline,It is some kind of spray on clear coating.
Chances are it's Krylon, try Lacquer Thinner in a very small inconspicuous area, you don't want to do any more damage then you have to, to the original finish.
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I believe You'll find that the Coating is Shelac..Its for long time Dry Storage...Not Flamable like Cosmoline...I've owned several Rifles that was coated like this...Paint Striper and Brass Wool seems to work just fine in removing this stuff....
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
It doesn't have to be all original Winchester to be desirable; even an arsenal rebuilt M1917 is worth having. If the bore is good, & not excessively worn at the muzzle, you would not be taking a large risk.
Neal0 -
Try alcohol. Shellac is dissolved by alcohol. 0 -
Not knowing the material, I'd suggest you work your way through the various solvents and see which one cuts it. These solvents would include Everclear(95% ethyl alcohol), Lacquer thinner, terpentine, ammonia, if safely done-gasoline, and some special ones such as Hoppes #9. If those won't cut it, I don't know what it would be. 0 -
Since this is a "shiney" coating, does the gun look particularly "spiffey"? I am wondering what the purpose of coating the gun in shellac might be, and additionally, is there DP stamped anywhere on the piece? If so. perhaps this was a drill purpose gun and you might well be looking at a gun that has more problems than just a pretty coating?!
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0
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