Stinky Gun?

[SuperGoat]

I have had this gun for about 8 months now. And still, every time I open it's case the smell of death creeps out. I could tell where this gun is with my eyes closed it stinks so bad.
I bought it like this and thought the smell would weaken over time and with cleanings. Nope. It smells just like a rotting animal.
It is a heavy barrel model 10-8. It is decently worn looking and the grips even more so. Figured I would see if anyone on here has suggestions on what to do about this unique problem. Gun is amazing otherwise, shoots right on and is silky smooth.

 

[Racer X]

I'd pull the grips and hose the pistol down with a can or two of carb cleaner then oil it well. Then clean the grips with dish soap and an old toothbrush and dry well.

 

[Breakaway500]

Maybe it's the case? I'd toss the case..and slather that fine revolver down in Ballistol.I love the smell of Ballistol in the morning..or any time for that matter.

 

[OLDSTER]

I'll bet those old stocks are impregnated with the stinky hand smell of the original owner ( from the looks of them, they were handled a lot). A nice Model 10 like that deserves some new stocks

 

[silversnake]

Not having smelled your revolver, could those wood grips be starting to rot?

If it were mine I'd take the whole thing apart and put every part in an ultrasonic cleaner (or more realistically have my gunsmith do that for me).

 

[vonn]

Steel shouldn't hold any smells after cleaning so take the grips off and store them somewhere separate and see how the smell is after a few days on them both.

 

[Waveski]

Discard case.
Remove and discard grips. Soak revolver in a pan of Marvel Mystery Oil for a long time ... a week perhaps , or more if you like. Remove gun from MMO bath and blast clean it with compressed air from every possible angle. (Messy ...) Install newly acquired grips.

That should do it.

OR , as suggested above , disassemble (yourself or via gunsmith) , and go ultrasonic.

My way is easier. However , doing it yourself is fun and educational. The model 10 - a worn one like yours - is a very good learning platform. If you decide to disassemble it yourself , the need for proper gunsmithing screw drivers cannot be over emphasized!

 

[steelslaver]

No way steel can stink. Something in the case or the grips. I kinda doubt its the grips. Most likely something in the case. Remove grips and side plate, blast out with carb cleaner. Clean grips with soap and water and a scrub brush. Keep case outside and open for a couple weeks and see if smell goes away. Might be something trapped in it somewhere.

 

[just plain joe]

You may want to check the person/entity from which you purchased the Model 10 for its history. If that weapon harbors body fluids that leaked from an animal or human being, that may be the cause.

In that case a thorough cleaning of all crevices is warranted as well as the possible discard of the stocks if they can't be salvaged.

You may wish to consider putting the revolver in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. This should dissolve any putrefied material. When you remove the hot weapon from the water it will "air dry". You still will need to lubricate same.

I'm no expert, but if you are smelling the odor of decaying/putrefied tissue, it can't be good for your health in the long run.

HTH

 

[old bear]

As Vonn suggested, separate the three components, gun, grips, and storage container. That way you can determine which is causing the odor problem. Once you know where the problem is coming from you can eliminate as necessary.
Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[RalphK22]

Buy a cheap bag of ground coffee and put the case and grips in a plastic bag with the coffee. Give the revolver a good detailed cleaning.

 

[montezumaz]

1 - Dump the case
2 - Remove the stocks and clean ALL surfaces with Murphy's Oil Soap
3 - When stocks are dry, polish the OUTSIDE with Johnson's Paste floor wax
4 - Clean your firearm with ORIGINAL Hoppe's #9
5 - Reassemble
6 - Go to the range and have FUN punching paper
7 - Clean your firearm and store in a silicone pistol sock

 

[Walkingwolf]

Boil the gun, and grips, toss the case. It sounds like your revolver was a crime scene gun sold at a police auction. It may have some grey matter inside the lock work. Dried blood usually does not smell for a long time.

I lay odds it is the case, once the smell of death gets into foam, or cloth it never goes away. Plastics also absorb odors, and it is difficult to remove them. Sunlight is about the only way, and that degrades the plastic. New cases are not that expensive.

 

[LEO918]

After cleaning the grips drop them in a bag of baking soda for a couple of days.
I've used this trick on stocks that reek of cigarette smoke. Works every time.

 

[Ray1970]

Like everyone else mentioned, dump the case. Just throw it away. Even if the smell was originating from the revolver or grips likely the case has soaked up the smell by now.

You shouldn't store the handgun in a case anyways.

 

[ajgunner]

I once found a hunting arrow with broad head near a pile of old weathered elk bones. I drug it back to camp thinking it was probably from someones trophy elk kill. On the way home I carefully wrapped the broad head and slid it under the truck seat and sort of forgot about it. A couple of week later I could not figure out why the truck had an awful stink. I thought maybe I had left some salmon eggs or sand shrimp in with the fishing stuff. Finally found that arrow that had been sitting in the truck for several weeks, and boy did it stink. I carefully unscrewed the broad head and almost puked!!! Turned out the threads and tiny void in the shaft had been full of blood that was slowly rotting away----nasty yuck and lesson learned.

 

[lamarw]

There are some cold bluing solutions that can leave a smell, but I see no evidence of their use on this revolver.

After using your choice of the many recommendations above, you might want to apply a coat of Renaissance wax polish over the outer steel and wood.

 

[kthom]

I agree with above suggestions. Completely separate the grips and the case (wood or some type of cloth or other materiel?) from the revolver. Clean the revolver as suggested. Sack up the wood parts (and case) in a grocery bag and tie it shut, then put the sack somewhere you don't mind stinking up. After the steel parts get aired out well, put the revolver in a similar sack and tie it up. Let both sacks sit for a time and then open them and see if the smell is the same in both.

Doubt it will be. The smell can be impregnated in the wood parts but not
"in" the steel. If you removed the smell from the surface of all the steel parts, it should be gone. Whether you can remove the smell completely from the wood parts is doubtful to me, but maybe possible? The case probably will never be tolerable, but you might salvage the wood grips by soaking them in acetone as if you were going to refinish them completely and then allowing them to completely dry out of doors in the sunlight. Of course, you will have to refinish the grips after doing so!

I'll bet you can get the revolver to the point where there is no smell attached to it, but it may take a very thorough cleaning of a completely disassembled Model 10, perhaps even a second cleaning! It will be iinteresting to hear your results.

 

[bananaman]

Toss the stocks! You can find decent used ones on ebay, or a gun show, quite reasonable. As mentioned, steel should not smell. Say bye-bye to the case! They can be found the same as the grips. Good luck! Let us know your findings! Bob

 

[SuperGoat]

As you all said, I probably will have to toss the case as the gun stunk it up. Though I know the smell is not originating from the case (I bought it brand new right after getting the gun).
Just curious, is there any way to find out if it is a police auction gun? I bought it from a guy at a local gun show.