Bubba Stries again?

[Buster Charlie]

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56000


Okay when someone says this, is it rude to call them a bubba?

"Ok guys, I picked up this old Yugo Mauser 8mm for 75 bucks, it had all matching numbers, and was in perfect condition. Just got done re-staining and blueing it, and mounted a scout scope on it also, please feel free to tell me what you think. My brother and I are using these to go deer hunting this season, I think it should be fun and a little more of a challenge. Thanks "

Now granted he didn't stick a synthetic or non military stock on it, But he took a matching rifle, with excellent condition parts, a rifle that has withstood the test of time for over 50 years, and has been preserved as a peice of history, only to be stripped and refinished so someone can have a $75 hunting rifle. Am I being too sensative? If he took a $30 turkish mauser that was in bad shape, and he made it a better rifle, I wouldn't care less, but to take a near pefect matching rifle and remove any collectors value, is that right? Yeah it's his rifle, but still pisses me off, almost as much as classics being 'de-milled' or destroyed.

[zouavexx]

It is not something that I would do to a classic rifle like that.

I just thank god it was an M48 and not a K98 in that condition...

[Buster Charlie]

Originally posted by zouave
It is not something that I would do to a classic rifle like that.

I just thank god it was an M48 and not a K98 in that condition...

I agree, I sorta went 'overboard' I mean it IS his rifle. I just find it sad that these rifles where preserved in such good condition due to a fluke. As far as I understand it they built these after german occupation, a sort of 'never again' but since bolt actions became obsolete quickly they went into storage in 'military ready' condition, and when Yugoslavia broke up they sold a bunch to America. So as far as I'm concerned, stuff like this dosent happen very often, so to see a peice of history 'fixed' so some guy can have a cheap hunting rifle?

EH, maybe i'm too sensitive.

[Richard Simmons]

Not really a Bubba IMHO. There are quite a few of these out there and the collector value is not extremely high. Like Zouave said it's not a K98 or something like that. It does look quite nice even though it's not my cup o tea. I frown on the hacked barrrels, chopped up stocks, etc, much more than this. If you look on the flip side here is an individual who purchased a piece of history, basically cleaned it up and most likely will treasure it for many, many years to come. It will be appreciated, cared for and hopefully enjoyed. While hopefully not a trend setter, that rifle may do more to promote C&R importation/collecting than some seldom seen and never handled (correct) example in the back of some safe. Just my .02

[Buster Charlie]

This topic makes me think. To me, anything NRA 'good' or lower is fair game for refinishing. If the gun is already rusted, has replacement parts, or refinished parts, mismatched serials, then its already pretty much in its own 'historical catagory'. But I don't like to see guns that are NRA very good and up refinished. I can see someone wanting to refinish a really nasty stock, but to me if your stock has carvings, or say a peice of shrapnel in it, that itself is worth more to me, than the cost of the gun. That gives the gun personality.

Is cleaning cosmoline out of a stock and then reapplying BLO or Tung oil refinishing, or is that just cleaning?

I guess it boils down to personal pref, but to me as long as it's mil spec and period, its notwhere near as bad as 'sporterizing' but i'd rather people leave the full wood and metal refinishing to guns that deserve it, not the guns that are already in great condition.

[USMC_LB]

At least he is not selling it for $5.00 dollars or trading it for a gift certificate for a free McDonald's hot apple pie in one of those stupid urban "Gun Buy-back Programs" so that it can be sawed in half.

I would rather see a gun being utilized than demilitarized...

[Guinny_Ire]

I see both sides of the argument here. Who here doesn't get a great feeling when they pick up a rifle, in great condition, shoulder it, feel for the balance, play with the bolt, and just admire how beautiful it is. On the flip side of the coin, having seen plenty of old rifles butchered by asswipes trying to fix up a gun he and his brother did do a pretty nice job. So why I agree that yea I would have rather seen him fix up a shooter than one already in good condition at least it's not like that photo of that enfield bastard child jobber that zouave keeps posting. That one makes me sick to my stomach

[USMC_LB]

true true

[Schuetzenman]

:cryeyes: I am beside my self with greif over a piece of history lost! :cryeyes:

To me it's no different than that nickle plated AK that was up for auction! Jut bad, very very bad!

He probably had a rifle he could have gotten $125 for as is to a Military rifle collector. Now he's got a nice $75 dollar rifle that's still worth $75 bucks once the scope is removed. And what's that freaking black stripe on the stock?:mad: :eek: :elbarfo:

[Buster Charlie]

Originally posted by Schuetzenman
:cryeyes: I am beside my self with greif over a piece of history lost! :cryeyes:

To me it's no different than that nickle plated AK that was up for auction! Jut bad, very very bad!

He probably had a rifle he could have gotten $125 for as is to a Military rifle collector. Now he's got a nice $75 dollar rifle that's still worth $75 bucks once the scope is removed. And what's that freaking black stripe on the stock?:mad: :eek: :elbarfo:

Hey Shuetzenman, glad we see eye to eye. I hope my M48a cleans up real nice, I got some 100% pure tung oil for it ;) You said lemon oil is good for cleaning cosmo off wood?

the k31 looks awsome but I think I saw a crack near the front, I hope I was mistaken or its not a serious crack in the wood..

[Schuetzenman]

Yes Lemon Oil will take the cosmo off, clean dirt and moisturize the wood. Takes cosmoline off of metal too without hurting bluing.

If you have a crack, best thing to do IMO is fill it with some 5 minute clear epoxy and then carefully sand it to blend the surface with the crack or pit. Sometimes a bit of the sawdust can be mixed with it. Then when you sand it you will expose some of the sawdust and it will take the tunge oil or stain even if it's for a stock that has a dark color. Should stop the propogation of the crack and look wood like.

[neilwest]

1. I recently bought two bubbaized (Ivanized) 48 Sporsters and they were pretty hacked up. But like my Mogadishu 7mm they can be saved.

2. I hate seeing someone destroying the history but once the historical value is gone one can still make a decent bushrifle out of them.

Before: From Century at 59.00 sale

http://album.gunsnet.net/data/tammywest/90_p935.jpg

AFTER:

http://album.gunsnet.net/data/tammywest/90_p1233.jpg

[Buster Charlie]

That's a great improvement IMHO, at leas you didn't pay too much.

[neilwest]

1. The wood be damned, these rifles are still highly accurate and a joy to shoot. Im very pleased with mine.

2. Its fun to work on something and not worry about IM DESTROYING SOMETHING. No matter what the wood looks like, the strength is in the action.

3. Still I wouldnt hack one up. Just save those that have been.

4. but then again if you buy it you can do what you want with it IMO.

[Buster Charlie]

I agree that you should be able to do what you want with your own posession but who here dosen't feed bad when they see a big stack of classic rifles on the burn pile or being drove over by a truck or being demilled? There is something sad about these old war dogs being destroyed after they've withstood the test of time and war.

[neilwest]

1. I always feel bad when I see one destroyed and hacked up. I cant understand why someone would want to do that. If they want a cheap sportster they can always go to a pawnshop and get a 3006 105 Savage(Good rife by the way). Why destroy one that has as you say survived and seved so well.