Milsurp Romanian Tokarev TTC: The Saga Continues.

[Echo40]

I'm fairly certain that by now the story needs no introduction, but here's a quick recap... Last month I ordered a MilSurp Romanian Tokarev TTC online which has given me trouble since before I even had it in my hands, starting with the delivery of the gun, and then after it arrived.

Well, after allowing it to soak in Ballistol for about 2 weeks, I finally managed to get the baseplate off the magazine, and inside it was far worse than I had ever imagined. I knew that it was going to be dirty and rusty inside considering that the gun itself was dirty inside and the baseplate was rusted in place, but once I got it off and took a look inside, it was an absolute nightmare. The entire body of the magazine was lined with caked on carbon buildup which had been turned into a thick black sludge from soaking in Ballistol, and underneath that was a lot of rust.
I cleaned it up as best as I could, but it's just so rusted out that I'm afraid that it cannot even be salvaged. The baseplate itself is so pitted that removing it will almost certainly leave a chunk of metal missing, and I don't even know if I have sufficient cleaning supplies to get the magazine completely clean at this point.

Some of you may even be wondering why I'm even bothering to keep updating this story, especially when the thread itself will most likely get one-starred by folks who are sick of hearing about it but lack the self control to simply refrain from reading it.
Well, at this point it's basically become a cautionary tale of what can happen if your order a MilSurp firearm online sight unseen, regardless of what the posted description may be. ("Meticulously reconditioned and refinished" my foot!)

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I try to look on the bright side! Things could be worse, it could have been me that bought that gun!

I have had old RUBY autos left on top of farm fertilizer bags for years, I sand blasted the rust away. You might think about one of the sonic cleaners or sacrificing a water-pic tooth brush segment (if it fits) to get some scrubbing action. Maybe a section of emery cloth around a pop-sicle stick.

Ivan

 

[Echo40]

An emery board might actually be the perfect tool to clean off the rust inside, thanks for the suggestion. It's going to take some serious work to clean up the baseplate though, it's a real mess with a raised section of rust which I have determined was the reason why I had so much trouble getting the baseplate off in the first place.

I've dealt with rust before, but it was always on things which didn't require a gentle touch to remove like the grating on a grill or the handlebars on a Bicycle.

 

[hittman77]

If you don't have someone local with a gentle sand blaster maybe a Dremel tool could help.

 

[2152hq]

For a cheap de-rusting,,I'd first completely remove the oil and any other rust busting compounds already applied.
Then simply place the magazine and base into Vinegar or a Citric Acid soak and let it do it's thing.
You can add a tbs. or so of common table salt to the Vinegar to add some more kick to it.

Another good derusting soak is Oxalic Acid.
I use this one quite a bit as I also use it for bleaching wood,,another common use.
Buy it as 'Wood Bleach' in DIY stores. or the last can I got was 'Deck Cleaner' (check the ingredients list on the can,,it'll simply say Oxalic Acid).

Weak soln's of it have been used for a very long time for the removal of rust on artifacts w/o the chance of damage to the base metal.



Removing the rust no matter how it's done will still leave any pitting behind and destroy finishes.
But they are the best ways at completely removing rust from the metal right down to the pores and in all the corners and folds. Something you can scrub and pick at forever by hand and never really get cleared out.

Phosphoric Acid as in commercial rust removers like Naval Jelly often stop working after removing the surface rust leaving the stuff down deep in pores. Then leaves a hard converted coating over that surface as protection. Something you don't always want and can't always remove easily as in this case.
It's made to be easy to use and then paint over and not see rust reappear (too quickly).

Neutralize the stripped surfaces after wards Soap&Water or BakingSoda wash and rinse well, dry and oil.

You'll have an 'In the White' magazine with all the pitting still showing. But perhaps a usable magazine just the same.

 

[REM 3200]

Careful, the rust maybe the only thing holding it together.

 

[mckenney99]

Dirty Harry Callahan,
I would be happy to either glass bead or Aluminum Oxide the magazine (just inside and/or inside & out) to get rid of the rust. Back in the day when I was building FN FAL rifles, I blasted almost 100 mags and then had them reparkerized. Obviously you will be left with no bluing but you could then apply the cold blue or other finish of your choice. No cost other than to get it to me.
PM me if interested.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

All very interesting - I don't suppose we are allowed to ask who the seller was or what "site" the gun came from. But it's sure a lesson learned! Good luck with that thing.

 

[Echo40]

Thanks for all of the support, everyone. I'm really moved by just how many folks have come along offering me all sorts of helpful advice/suggestions.

I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do just yet, but you've given me a lot of different options to consider.

@2152hq
Although I'd hate to have to strip off all the bluing, (which is actually still in very nice shape externally) I may actually end up taking your suggestion considering the extent of the oxidization of the metal internally.

@mckenney99
I really appreciate the offer, but I'd hate to trouble you before I at least try to do it myself, and I could use a little project to keep me preoccupied anyway. Besides, I've already received an extremely generous offer via PM from Old_Cop to send me a TT33 Magazine that he has no use for because it won't fit his M57 Tokarev, and while I typically don't accept such charity, I can't find any Tokarev Magazines for sale anywhere online because they're sold out everywhere, so I'm already stepping outside of my comfort zone by taking him up on his offer. I'd feel guilty if I didn't at least try to fix it on my own first.

@ISCS_Yoda
It's actually against the rules to post the names of retailers here, I learned that the hard way a few weeks ago when I received an infraction for merely dropping the name of a website in a thread in which someone asked where they could find some Brinks 3rd Gen pistols for sale, so obviously I can't say who I bought my Tokarev from without getting in trouble.