GEW 88 Wood Preservation: Anvil 117

Preserve and recover the stock of the GEW 1888. NOT a tutorial...we show what you need to learn, not how to do . Cannot perform at this level? Do NOT attempt.
Support us: / anvil and a big shout out to those that do.....
Myers Arms: www.myersarms.com/store/Geweh...

[@marknovak8255]

When you commit to steaming a finish, bear in mind you WILL have to oil/wax as the last step. The oil will craze, and will need nourishment. Also, you CAN steam a modern finish, but the entire finish will need to be scrapered. The part where I said this didn't make the final edit, wanted to add this here. Thanks

[@yo.mama100]

What do you mean mark when you say craze , by the way your a freaking legend 👏

[@johnmcmorris1170]

I've finished assembling everything I need to start the conservation of my milsurp collection. I have gotten my hands on a few old "wall hangers" to practice on. Any advice before I dive in?

[@theshadowrunner28]

@@johnmcmorris1170 Take your time, HAVE THE CORRECT TOOLS, go all the way to the frame/barreled receiver, take photos during the dissasembly process, and use the dissasembly process to kearn hoe the firearms functions. I have done 2x Gewehr 98s and a Carcano. All came out very well.

[@dannyw.814]

Novak! Yes you Novak. You sir are a national treasure.

[@LegacySmithing]

a question sir.... should the steaming happen before or after the scraping?

[@wm12ga]

Yes, always a good day when Mark uploads. Time for a mid day cigar and a video. Cheers

[@ATony1968]

I have komission gewer 1888 and karabiner 1888 and I have not done them yet cause I have waited for this. I have learned from here about boiling and so on and have accumulated piece by piece stuff I need. And kowledge through this faboulous channel❤

[@randyadams03]

I used a damaged steam iron,wouldn't steam anymore. A soaked athletic sock ,broken iron a bit of time, and raised the dents and grain of my 1950's M1 . Very happy with results. Next project is a RFI 2A1 1967. 🤞

[@edwardmartin3069]

You make an old supply guy's heart go zing... We all have a "Unit-of-Issue" story to tell any (and every) unsuspecting listener... Note: cleaning patches should have their own special category....."Each" vs. "Bundle" vs. "Bale" vs. "Hundred" vs. "Thousand", etc...

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

I personally have a beef with disparity of 'order quantities' and 'pack quantities', I.E. The item is ordered by 'eaches' but packed 12 to a box. In other words you order the exact number you need or want but that MUST BE a number divisible by 12. I want 144 of them, so I order 144 and receive 12 boxes of 12. NOT I need 32 of these and order 32. I receive either 24, 36 or NONE! Pack quantities and units of order are two different, but very much related, figures of supply. The great ones are pack quantity of 12 and the unit of order is 'Packs'. I.E. if you need 32, you order 3 to receive 3 packs of 12, totalling 36 units. NOT: You want 144 so you order 144 and receive 144 packs of 12 and have 1728 of this item on a couple of pallets taking up way to much space and creating a shortage in supply to the extent that the next two ships at the dock have to put to sea without any! Yes, some DA ordered more than local supply even stocks because even a freaking Aircraft Carrier doesn't need 1728 of this item! I actually started writing to say Great Video! Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@aussiebloke609]

There's something about every item having "mark x, mod y" nomenclature that gets a chuckle out of me every time, especially with how fluently it rolls of Mark's tongue. Too many years in the military, I guess. 👍

[@marknovak8255]

FAR too many years....

[@NotFound-lt9jq]

Mark Novak, the Bob Ross of gunsmiths! Thanks for sharing your knowledge & craft with all of us, it’s worth much more than it cost! 😉

[@humphet]

Sometimes I just like to watch you and feel like Im in shop class again

[@miketeeveedub5779]

A gun is only new once; but going to the gun barber for a hot towel treatment can do wonders! Outstanding!

[@pdubb7591]

Wow Mark as always you deliver! Loved the explanation about WHY the iron steaming works on wood. Makes perfect sense and thank you for sharing you unique skills

[@podfuk]

It really works great, and sooner you do it, the better is result. I gouged my acoustic guitar top pretty badly with heavy macro-lense that fellt of my camera. I steamed it day after and it literally disappeared, all is left is hair-line crack in the finish.

[@marknovak8255]

@@podfuk OUTSTANDING

[@Fuerwahrhalunke]

This really grew into my favorite channel on youtube. I love gun restaurations. I collect old muzzle loaders and I'm learning as I watch these videos. My Chassepot is almost done and it looks like it's never even left the gun rack. Thank you, Mark!

[@MrMopar6976]

Outstanding result!!!! Greetings from Germany and keep up your interesting videos

[@FrednDeeDee]

I steamed a 149-year-old dented up Trapdoor Infantry stock. At the start I thought no way. At the finish wow I have a beautiful 149-year-old stock that looks close to new. Thank You Mark for the education.

[@johnjunge6989]

Followed your advice several times on this, just recently, to my grandfather's old Stevens rifle. Conserved it and gave it to my son to pass on another couple of generations.

[@PatRMG]

Latent heat of evaporation. Yup.

[@willysgodevil7891]

Having used a regular steam iron on dents for years, I finally swallowed my pride a few years ago, and bought the small iron sold by Tower Hobbies. Definitely one of those "where have you been all my life" moments, the first time I used it on a stock.

[@zackdavid9961]

Mr. Novak, Love the channel and love the videos. I have developed a love for conserving these old rifles over the last few years and I've found your videos to be extremely informative and the advice to be invaluable. Thanks!

[@81cb750fss]

As a viewer, it's always a pleasure and educational, thanks sir! Note: if you fold the wet towel, it becomes a Mod 1😁

[@johnjunge6989]

Got a gew88 I just finished, numbers matching and was brought back after the war. Many thanks to you again!

[@uncle_spanky]

Great video. Watching you steam the dent out shows a very important point. Work extremely slowly and deliberately. When you hurry, bad things happen. If it took 100+ years to destroy it, it could/should take hours to correct it.

[@KRN762]

Quality gunsmithing content from Mr. Novak...as usual!

[@ronsorrentino6207]

The stock turned out great. When I did a Romanian and Yugo SKS stock, I used Murphy’s Concentrated Wood Soap. Cleaned it up really good! The Romanian had a clear coat or I’ll guess a shallac on it and it cleaned the oil and finger schmootz off really easy and that was all I did to that one. Well, I also made sure it was thoroughly dry. The Yugo I thoroughly dried and then hit it with two coats of BLO and wiped it down. But unturned out great. But Dawn dish soap does wonders as well. Once again Mark, thank you for your knowledge and expertise!

[@WhattAreYouSaying]

I'm so happy to see that you restore surplus rifles and don't sporterize them, like some others... You are doing God's work! Have a great day.

[@LaBomba-up9dp]

In response to loose screws, I'm working on parts for a 5" naval rifle that hasn't seen the better side of an oil can since the 60s and some of the tinie tiny screws holding on a face plate came off like they were put in yesterday. Sometimes it just works.

[@Otisthelesser]

Ahhh the “Unit of issue” fandango! Are you ordering a 1000 #8 flat washers or a 1000 boxes of 1000 #8 flat washers? The pallet will tell.

[@samuelbean9928]

Meyers Arms are great people. Had a long conversation with the gentleman over there and frankly you won't find a better fellow!

[@patrickcolahan7499]

I have done a lot of wood restoration or conservation if you will on wood with steam. It is amazing to see what can actually be accomplished. As always, a real pleasure to watch a true craftsman at his trade. Thanks very much for sharing. Oh and I like the sarcasm too. Makes me feel at home, LOL.

[@kennethjohnson4280]

@ Mark Novak, I am an aspiring gunsmith (not an AR/AK parts changer), I start school just after the first of the year, and I have learned A TON from your videos. Honestly, I don't know what I am going to do when you retire. Fair wind and following seas ship, mate. IC1 USN (Ret.)

[@marknovak8255]

Much luck doing this. [e-mail] let's talk

[@nickfarrell4129]

The idea that Mark is secretly screwing up these milsurps to restore them for KZbin videos is absolutely hilarious. Like there’s TOTALLY not people all over the country lining up to have him fix up their stuff. No idea where he finds the time muck them up between running a successful Gunsmithing business and a KZbin channel. Truly a mystery😂😂😂 Mark is the real deal. Anyone who says otherwise, I really question their judgment

[@derfuchs3408]

i like the way you filming/show the dents, scratches and so on. Show details.. Its the best of your vids!

[@danbusey]

What? Mark has produced a steamy video!

[@garybatch4102]

When I was a young buck, I used the same technique on my first Garand (1941 issue) - even used my brother's then new Monokote iron! Cleaned all the cosmoline and who-knows-what off the stock wood and steamed all those dents out; worked like a charm. I wish I had known about Watco Danish Oil products then but was fixated on modern urethane finishes. Did a wipe-on finish that looked like oil but wore like iron - knowing better now I'd stick with oil. That rife still looks great and has worn well through rain and snow... Thank you Mark - these are all techniques that we can use to preserve and restore these treasures. We just need to be cognizant of when it's time to let the pros do the work...

[@tonyvancampen-noaafederal2640]

LOL, remembering the Supply PO before me on my first ship - we needed a carton, which coincidentally was 144 acid brushes. What he bought was a box 144 Cartons. The whole time I was on that ship if someone came to hunt through our bolt bucket for that odd ball bolt and nut - they got some acid brushes too.😇

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

Hello Mark, Bruno and anyone else behind the scenes, I do appreciate you including the information on the man who makes the replacement bolt heads for these rifles. I have rarely seen any of these rifles that weren't missing it. Nice video! Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@nicoh3277]

Next week i will get an 1911 swedish Mauser. The Stock has no dents or scratches it lookes really good. The finish was layered several times. And it was stored quite damp, so that traces of mold can be seen in some places. I'll try to get everything down with oven cleaner and then rebuild from scratch with linseed oil varnish. Greeting from Germany

[@johnsmith-gk4td]

LMAO, we had someone order toilet paper 🧻. He saw the CT as one of the units of issue, so he ordered it. We ended up with 10,000 rolls of government TP. CT stood for container, as in shipping container. We tried giving it away in base housing but none of the dependants wanted it after they realized wiping with sandpaper isn't fun.

[@ericfg806]

Totally agree with dish soap and warm water on wood for initial cleaning.

[@alex4alexn]

man i love these, learn so many things, including life lessons

[@stevenhoman2253]

Such peaceful entertainment/education for the holidays is simply ideal.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

Excellent. I know what to do....late 70s I did not. This video would have saved me back then.

[@deathwatch76]

Those irons are also called Chemistry Irons because it allows you to set a temp and they were pretty reliable for accuracy. Depending of course on history of use. Pretty sure you can still by them as Chemistry Irons if someone is looking for one.

[@MrWarwick15]

Thanks Mark. Always a pleasure! Rich.

[@josephcormier5974]

Thank you sir this was a very informative video six stars brother

[@hithereon]

The Mannlicher packet loading system was not a "weak point" as you state. It was state of the are IN ITS ERA, and fully serviceable to its original purpose. Take a look at the "field" of military rifles in 1888... Your trouble is you're trying to use a repro clip; all the repro Gew.88 clips I've seen over the past 30 yrs or so have been made from steel that is thicker/heavier gauge than the originals, and apparently not heat treated at all (dead soft beyond work hardening). They are a pain to use, and never work properly. The originals clips will work smoothly and reliably, repeatedly. That's why folks are willing to spend big $$ for original Gew.88 clips. BTW a 5 gal bucket of steamy hot water (use gloves!!), a good SOFT scrub brush, and spray bottle of "Simple Green" in addition to "Dawn" works wonders on attacking the grime and oil of old gunstocks as step 1 of your stock restoration.

[@ZGryphon]

My favorite thing about the paper towels story is that whoever that guy ordered them _from_ looked at that patently absurd order, knowing what it really entailed, and thought, _Sure, that seems reasonable._ :)

[@regularguy8110]

Thank you for your knowledge! I have learned a great deal watching your channel. Great work!

[@feldweible]

Watching this while side eyeing my GEW 1888 with it's mix of German and Turkish markings.

[@2009subie]

Great video Mark I may do this to mine. Mine is all unmolested from 1890 it was made at the Danzig factory it was never converted to use the Spitzer 8x57 rounds been In my family sense it came home from ww 1

[@BcFuTw9jt]

Always amazing to watch, love it Mark thank you

[@joshuamitcham1519]

Mark Novak is a national treasure.

[@joearledge1]

...Buys Gewher 88/05... already aware of 0.318 vs 0.323 bore issues (thanks to Mark and crew)... cleans rifle and slugs bore... slug measures 0.3205... constistently and repeatedly across several samples 🤦‍♂️... of course I'd get the special one... lol

[@HarborLockRoad]

The turked barrels i have are the replacement czech barrels from post ww1, the bore is stamped underneath at " 7.91" ( mm), an 8mm mauser is 7.92, so, that could be the issue.

[@alessandrogrinera-lq1sb]

Thank you for showing this technique Mark! I tried steaming my WW2 K98 today and could remove a lot of dents and flatten scars. The Scars and scratches are still visible and I will conserve them with an oil finish.

[@riffraff9000]

Monokote irons and coverings for model aircraft for the win! 😛

[@Hostilenemy]

Striking while the iron is literally hot. I like your style, Mark.

[@pmgn8444]

Doing your Gwe 1888 laundry with Mark!

[@williammills7778]

As always thanks for posting these great videos. From on grandpa to another, Cheers 🍻

[@michaelkaiser1864]

Ammo is the reason why I only shoot low pressure cast bullets in my "S" marked 1890 Amberg (Turked). I use a PC'd 323 bullet over 12gr of Unique (sadly all alliant powder is now unobtainium for pistol). Even with a fairly pitted bore, I can still get 2" at 50 yds. The old girl still likes to talk :)

[@mikebusansky8468]

Always as entertaining as informative.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

There's a WW1 German field ambulance in the Canberra War Memorial museum. It's a work of art..

[@LordEvan5]

OUCH! Mark ya got me right in the honker with the iron. It's OK the years of entertainment you've given me was worth it

[@leomarrah]

Didn’t know you were a former submariner, nice to run into a fellow bubblehead.

[@archer222238]

love your work

[@Kriss_L]

I love unit of issue. A couple years ago one of our techs ordered some LAWs, assuming the unit of issue was each. Turns out, it was box. We still haven't used them up.

[@Convoycrazy]

That came out looking pretty handsome. Thanks for the videos

[@scottcates]

Surprisingly effective

[@437cosimo]

Wonderful to watch!

[@stefanmolnapor910]

Thank you kind Sir!🇺🇲

[@colemanmoore9871]

I needed this. I have an RIA Ethiopian special Czech Mauser that has muck (human and goat) all over it. I am ready to clean it up, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to screw it up more than it is.

[@tda2806]

Sadly there is no easily available system to convey touch and smell with a moving image. I think that if the soldier who was issued with this rifle was transported forward in time, he would be able to recognise his weapon, after your work, blindfolded. You have preserved it's history and maintained it's integrity, if I may quote you, "Outstanding!"

[@RobsLounge]

Gak, smutz, I love this dude hahaha thanks for the information!

[@otterconnor942]

I got a few surplus hk g3 wood stocks that were covered in human goo. I used a paper towel and alcohol to remove the goo. I left it outside in the Arizona summer shade and it came out beautiful after a dozen danish oil coatings

[@matbhud]

I saw the Thompson in the background. I hope to see something on it soon.

[@troystaten5633]

The story about the paper towels was funny, my father did something similar in the early 70's when he started working for the USDA, his lab needed some 3/4 inch PVC pipe and some on his staff thought he was ordering a "gross" or 144 pieces but he did not read the forms correctly and ordered a "standard pack" which was a gross of a package containing a gross of packages that contained 144 pieces so they ended up with 20,736 pieces

[@christurley391]

Thanks for the video

[@stevenicholas5651]

You look just like the Weekend at Burnies guy with them glasses 🤣

[@jorgechalub8930]

Muy bueno tu vídeo saludos desde Argentina

[@captainamer71]

Awesome thanks for the great content sir

[@alexmclennan3011]

Good one dude.

[@jamesmanley9521]

Great video

[@HarborLockRoad]

I just bought used stocks off ebay... One was a 88/35, and one was an 88/05... I made another out of some old stock parts i had hanging around, it was trashed, so i painted it black, and it turned out looking like a modern hunting rifle. Id bought a few 88s from century when the barreled receivers were $75.00. but, so many people part them out for eBay and gun broker, parts arent a problem... The money for those parts, well, thats another issue! 😁

[@addytuney2028]

Thank you Mark!

[@Smallathe]

Very cool wood treatment. Lovely work, as always! p.s. All your subscribers "know" a guy who has the skills to do this sort of operations... ;)

[@zaca952]

I will mention one thing, Mark is correct that the US just dipped stocks once in Raw Linseed oil, the shinier and smoother more oiled finish came later in the soldiers hands as all the wear from use smoothed the finish and the soldier was issued raw linseed oil to be rubbed into the stock periodically, this created a much finer and slightly shinier and more complete finish than the way it came from the factory, this is why when I have to refinish a US weapon I apply sometimes up to 10 coats or more of linseed oil until it matches an original finished 1903 or M1 or other firearm you know is original and correct, now with a new stock to make it have that more original appearance you may even apply 20 coats of linseed oil and do some light buffing with 0000 steel wool until you get that smoother more handled appearance.

[@marknovak8255]

I buy your take on this ONLY in places of contact with the users hands. Under barrel bands, upper hand guards, area behind the trigger guard, no. Buffing down an entire stock to a uniform sheen with filled pores seems a little off......just sayin

[@zaca952]

@@marknovak8255 agreed, there is certainly a fine line on where it looks obviously overdone and sporteresk.

[@freedomsmith]

Always good stuff

[@bruceinoz8002]

Steel wool can leave tiny fibres snagged on the wood fibres. A serious magnet wrapped in a layer of cheesecloth will get most of them. If there is any chance of corrosion, steel wool fibres will take it. Interesting discolourations may result. Plan "B" is to seek out BRONZE wool. Harder to find and more expensive, but it tends to not "shed" as easily and if it does, it tends not to lead to staining of the wood.. Just a passing thought. ic

[@jensenwilliam5434]

Thank you.

[@cavscout888]

Thanks as always!

[@2011woodlands]

I usually use a 5 gallon bucket with hot water, laundry or dish detergent and a tablespoon of 20 mule team borax if the stock is really dark with oil & filth. You can submerge the stocks in a plastic flower planter from Lowes if your trying to get the crud out of the barrel channels and inletted areas, rinse with a hose and set out into the sun, or next to the wood stove in the winter.

[@bobrees4363]

Sometimes the US Navy unit of issue lies to you. Shocking, I know. I remember ordering three (each) #4 screws once. I got three boxes of 100 pieces.

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

I really believe you. I would be willing to bet that the next time you needed a few, you ordered qty. 1 so you would just get one box of 100... But THIS time, the guy in supply filled the order correctly and you actually received one single screw! Gotta Love the supply system! I won't even start about the relationship of standard number of units for ordering but that quantity NOT applicable through the DRMO because a standard pack quantity wasn't what was being DX'd through the DRMO! Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@kennethjohnson4280]

I once ordered 200 feet of TTSU 1 1/2 cable. I failed to check the continuous block and received eight pieces of 25 foot cable. IC1 (SW) ret.

[@rakumprojects]

I have the same 1903 book and was surprised by the lack of finishing process done to the rifles when they were first made

[@michaelmatthews2759]

all this beautifully done work and ar fanboys and tacticool boys would shout "chicken wing!"

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

What?

[@webtoedman]

The "Chicken wing" gives a much deeper shoulder pocket for dealing with nore manly calibres than 5.56.

[@michaelmatthews2759]

@@webtoedman I'm well aware, I grew up mainly shooting 30-06 and 12 gauge so my pawpaw who was a wwii vet taught me that way

[@alanincardona1879]

I sometimes will wet the wood also. Then steam out the dent. That works well on really deep dents.

[@jimmyfleebot]

18:05 Beautiful sounds

[@Z7d3nR4]

Thank You. I've got a couple old shotguns that I've thought of cleaning, but wasn't sure about the wood. They aren't valuable guns, but I still might clean them up a bit.

[@timothyruggles3031]

Thank you

[@ewicander9045]

I see you there mr. Thompson...

[@24kachina]

Mark, another great video, thanks for it. QUESTION: ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW WORK? I have a very good condition all matching Argentine Mauser, but I dropped it on its metal capped butt stock while removing it from a display rack in my garage and it cracked the stock in the semi pistol grip, wrist area. I live in Tucson, AZ and cannot find anybody locally to repair it. If you can do it, or if you can recommend someone else who may be less busy, I would appreciate it. Thanks. And Merry Xmas.

[@bishopcorva]

It might take a few sessions of steam then move and come back for the dent near the cross bolt. Moving gives the old cells time to relax and draw in the moisture as well as the old oil finish. It takes time to raise dents, in this case from start to the back third time of steaming then checking. The dent was visible shallower in places but seemed to get to a 'stall' point with the deeper cells needing to draw moisture through the top most ones and thus taking longer to swell.

[@endutubecensorship]

Hello Mark and Anvil team, would you please consider doing a video of all your past wood refinishing/repair so we can have a reference that's easy to find? Thank you

[@werre2]

time for a beer and some salami

[@k1j2f30]

Hard dry salami, with mold on the outside of the casings?.....Mmmm-ah, yummy! 2:00 am and dang, now I'm hungry for a salami sandwich, and we ain't got no salami!