Thanks, everyone! I detail stripped it and it is a mess. Looks like there may be rust under the chrome. Pitting is evident under the grips. Bore appears to be rough but will see how it turns out after EBC. It's too bad, b/c every single number matches, index marks are in place and I can see a little old bluing here and there. The good news is that it looks like there is a lot of dried oil, grease, and powder residue that is causing the action to be syrupy. That'll clean up and the new springs will give it even more life. It doesn't look like it's been cleaned since it was captured!!
Lugerdoc, thanks for your concern. I will have a GS check it out, but it looks a lot like some of the othermilsurps I've seen and I think this is going to make a good shooter project. For reference, I'm not above tackling one of the T53 Mosin Nagant carbines currently available from Omega Systems (I have a Romanian one, though)-right now a complete rifle is something like $35 to $50 but needs a large amount of cleaning and TLC. Check 'em out. They'll make you wanna be sick!
In another forum I belong to there are many of us who own Mosin Nagant rifles and have at least some pitting below the woodline-usually doesn't affect shootability if it isn't extensive or deep. Since the pitting I am seeing isn't in the breech block/firing mech. section (that actually is in much better condition!)I think I can dechrome it, dunk it in the electrolysis tank to de-rust, fill the pits w/ JB weld and sand smooth, then Duracoat in Gun Blue (don't flame me, purists!!-I'm trying to bring it back from the dead!!). Really, this pistol won't be decent with any kind of actual bluing (cold or hot) unless I dump some serious dough into it (which is not going to happen), so I will have to use a coating that will hide the repair. Bluing will just make it ugly and obvious and parking isn't an option.
Anyway, will post pics (poor quality, but better than none) along the way.
Thanks for the welcome,
Justin
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