MAS 36/51 project pics

[REDSTAR]

This is the MAS36/51 I got in fair condition from WGA, $49. It had a cracked lower. I already posted a pretty good report on that. This rifle looked as bad as whos2kno's. The wood was BLACK and dinged up pretty good. I stripped the rifle and cleaned everything really well. I cleaned the stock with boiling water and mean green, an alkali detergent. I then fixed the lower with acura quick epoxy and stock pins from Brownell's. After the wood was clean I medium sanded some of the major gouges and mostly sanded some of the roughness and dirt layer down. I applied one application of minwax red oak to restore the original color. I applied some Oxpho to the buttplate which was completely white and to the grenade launcher which was 50% blue at best. Also a litlle Oxpho here and there. I may do the bolt at a later date since it has about 50% too. The bore is mirror on this rifle.

Here's the before pics (I didn't take one in the original crusty state, the first is after cleaning with mean green):

Stripped (shoelace describes travel of split):
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002102935AM0.3502248.jpg

Cracks and repair (glue line shows here):
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002103356AM0.659527.jpg
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002103357AM2.167475E-02.jpg
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002103359AM0.3944905.jpg

Here is the completed rifle, I'd call it cleaned up rather than a refinish. It still has plenty of character:
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002101554AM0.7923395.jpg
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002101558AM0.133186.jpg
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002101603AM0.1637776.jpg
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002102133AM0.2846033.jpg
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002102137AM0.3668438.jpg
http://imagem.webphotos.iwon.com/1000012251/1000012251_3102002102144AM0.6078237.jpg

I really like these MAS rifles. Thanks to Rcihard Simmons and whos2kno for getting me over the line on collecting these. Heck the ammo's not as bad as caracano's at least!

[neilwest]

1. The gun was great, it was the guys holding them that didnt work very well. Magonot line, right.

2. In all seriousness, These are fantastic weapons. A great addition to a collection, A must to have.:D

[whos2kno]

I noticed on your stock it had the ser.# on it,mine doesn't:( .
does you numbers match on the gun?
whos2kno

[REDSTAR]

The lower has the number stamped as well. The stock, receiver and lower match. The bolt and the floorplate do not.

Man these pictures look all blury on my machine but this morning at my dad's house they looked great when I first posted them. Are they blurry to you guys?

[neilwest]

1. Your pictures are very sharp, must be your system.:)

[REDSTAR]

Thanks Chief, I thought I was going nuts.