M14 Forum

andyh1956 · January 2nd, 2012, 08:21 PM

traded a Italian carcano for this today. it's a dcm 5 mil s.a. it's been in a leaking car trunk for over two years. action is rusted shut. stocks were perfect but front h/g has several splits now. also a creedmoore armory sling, a little dry & stiff but serviceable. oh it gets better, it's loaded! i mean spring clip loaded & round locked! i got the pb after it but gonna have to be careful with this one. what a shame. oh yeah question: if those gas cyls are s.s., then why is this one so rusty?
andy
p.s. sorry for funky piks, i'm not a good pho-tog

Phil McGrath · January 2nd, 2012, 09:14 PM

Unlatch and remove the T/G, take rubber hammer to the op-rod and give a firm solid whack and the op-rod should spring too the rear, remove old ammo and start scrubbing.

Stainless Steal does rust, it just takes a longer time, thats why its called stains less.

Post pic's when its all scrubbed up now that we have seen the before shots.

Good luck, I would have made the same trade.

Prince Humperdink · January 2nd, 2012, 10:35 PM

I've worked with lots and lots(about 50) of gas cylinders that were covered in rust,and what I found was that the rust was usually from sight and stacking swivel,barrel,and if it was covered it was usually because it was submerged in a"rusty soup"from the other metal.Every one cleaned up with some brush work,and none were pitted.Most also still had finish under the rust.They will usually be really rusty inside from the op rod rusting as well,but they will clean up.That one looks as if it were laying on the crusty side in the water and then the rust infused mess caked to the stainless.
Ryan

brycom1 · January 2nd, 2012, 11:29 PM

Thats nothing that a sand blaster can't handle. Be careful unloading that bad boy..

Old Sarge · January 3rd, 2012, 03:25 AM

Wow, what a shame. Take some more "before pics" and we would like to see them. You have a pretty big project to try to get that M1 cleaned up, but it doesn't appear to be deeply rusted and pitted. Hopefully the action had a bit of lubrication where it won't be too bad.
As for your stainless gas cylinder, there are many grades of stainless,and the type used for the M1 gas cylinder is a type that will rust, but was used due to cost, machineability, heat treatable, etc.
Good luck, and be sure to show us follow up pics, both during and after completion.

melloman · January 3rd, 2012, 03:56 AM

Good trade - I would have jumped on that in a heartbeat. Maybe once you get it out of the stock you can hose it down with some Kroil and let it soak a bit to loosen any stuck parts. The stock looks to me that it is going to look great once it is cleaned up. Good luck and like others have said be sure to post progress pics!

cachunk · January 3rd, 2012, 04:00 AM

Diamond in the rough. Be careful unloading, good luck!

Dave P · January 3rd, 2012, 04:27 AM

Are you sure this wasn't recently dug out the mud at Frozen Chozen (hint, hint ...)??

Prolly worth a small fortune in its present condition!

f1fanatic · January 3rd, 2012, 05:48 AM

Yummm.

Tommo · January 3rd, 2012, 02:42 PM

Your pics are fine, though looking at them makes me very sad! However, you have a nice project for yourself getting it back into shape, congratulations on your find.

andyh1956 · January 3rd, 2012, 06:44 PM

thanks guys. i got it unloaded from the bottom but op rod wouldn't budge. got the gas lock & plug out & pb'd the snot outta it. had to tap the end of the op rod at the piston a little & it broke lose. i was sure to stay on the bottom of the barrel away from the muzzle with my face shield on. it has a s/a forged trigger housing, a wra hammer, a s/a op rod & a '63 s/a barrel. i didn't look at the bolt 'cept to see firing pin is stuck. i figure the rifle was muzzle up in the trunk since about an inch of bore right in front of the chamber throat is heavily rusted. op rod & gas cyl look like they will clean up. trigger group looks good with only light corrosion on the bottom outside. a barrel, a front sight & maybe some bolt parts & she may run again. the stock has a 1/2" crack at the rear sling swivel, upper h/g is good but the front will need replacement. i originally thought it would make a good display rifle for my jeep or halftrack when i get done with them but the rifle is better than that. i will post some more piks this weekend, since my daughter went back to college & daddy national bank is making the E Z monthly tuition payments it necessitated me getting a JOB so i don't have much time in the evenings like i used to.
andy