Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,202
I get that. But, I picked up an Ishapur one time, $80 as it sat on the gun-show table all weekend, and the wood was so beat up no one wanted it. I picked it up and worked the action. Dang, it put a Krag to shame. The wood on it was so thick, that I was able to take it down to where there were no dents, dings or gashes. Also re-did the metal, as it had a thick coat of "choo-choo-train" black paint on it. (it had a beautiful parkerized finish underneath, but I did re-paint it black, which is "correct" for that rifle.) Anyhow, it's now one of the most beautiful rifles I own, stock seems to be rosewood or teak or something, don't know. It also had unit/rack numbers on it, I had an artiste friend duplicate those in their original location. Preserved that bit of history. So, in that case, I'm glad I did. On the other hand, I would not refinish my M1, or a Czech Mauser I have with "battle scars". It's never occurred to me to refinish any of my Short, Magazine, Lee Enfields, and I have a Lithgow that looks like it was in the desert shooting at Rommel. !!! My favorite hex-receiver 91/30 is well worn and battle scarred, but mechanically excellent and accurate. I'd not refinish it. So, to my mind there are exceptions. Most mil-surps I have owned have not been badly beat up. The Ishapur was a bit too beat up and ugly, a little too much history which looked more like storage history than use in the field. However, I'd do it again with that rifle.I would advise against refinishing military weapons.
The first centerfire rifle I ever owned was a M1 Carbine. The first thing I did before even shooting it was sanded off the marred up original finish, steamed out all the dings and dents then put a new beautiful finish on it. I was very proud of that beautiful M1 carbine... but the longer I have owned it the more I regret having refinished it. I removed a good bit of history of the weapon. The sweat and blood that was soaked into the stock. Some day I will buy a stock from that matches the original manufacture of the M1 carbine to put it back in a more original status... if I can find one.
This is just my experience, they are your rifles and you can of course do what you want with them.
Cheers!
Having said all that, I think the SKS's are more "fair game" for refinishing than relics from WW1 or WW2. ?