First thing I noticed about this gun when I bought it was the odd discoloring. None of the other guns I own or have come across look like this.
Stinky Gun?
- Thread starter SuperGoat
- Start date
First thing I noticed about this gun when I bought it was the odd discoloring. None of the other guns I own or have come across look like this.
Looks like blood staining to me. I've got a 1917 in one of the safes where the frame looks similar. The barrel on mine looks like T TOTAL **** on the exterior, about 50% bluing loss with pitting in an odd flow pattern. Inside of barrel and lock work are magnificent, like it was made yesterday. If it could only talk.
Class III
Class III
Jack Flash
Member
I would like to respectfully note that no one has any idea of how the gun got into the condition it's now in, and probably no one ever will. Thus, all the comments about it being a possible suicide gun are just speculation. How is that any more likely than this: it belonged to a drug dealer who got in a shootout with a "business rival". The loser fell on his gun and bled out when his adversary departed the scene without a courtesy call to 911. Or someone splashed harsh chemicals on it one way or another. Or ... Or ... Or ...
We are two pages and 65 posts in and this gun still stinks? I think its just cursed!
I'm still voting for a proper burial!
hardcase60
Member
SuperGoat,
From your posts and the pictures in #60, I can presume it was the gunsmith that got the side plate off. If that is what transpired then what did he say about the smell? Was the odor stronger with the innards exposed? Did he do the cleaning and does the gun still stink? hardcase60
From your posts and the pictures in #60, I can presume it was the gunsmith that got the side plate off. If that is what transpired then what did he say about the smell? Was the odor stronger with the innards exposed? Did he do the cleaning and does the gun still stink? hardcase60
gman51
Member
It might have been that the gun and box were stored somewhere and possibly a dead rat or animal was on or near the box. You might take everything out of the box to see if you find the stink in the box.
A house that a person died in and wasn't noticed for weeks can stink up a house so bad they can't get the stink out of the house or anything that was in the house.
Dust and dirt or grime on the gun metal can absorb a stench.
A house that a person died in and wasn't noticed for weeks can stink up a house so bad they can't get the stink out of the house or anything that was in the house.
Dust and dirt or grime on the gun metal can absorb a stench.
I understand the blood staining is just speculation, I was just curious how long blood takes to ruin blueing on a gun.
My gunsmith did say the smell was mostly coming from the grips and inside the gun where it is closest to the grips (said there was a goo like substance coating it). Whatever stunk it up probably got in through the butt of the gun. After he cleaned it the smell is alot better but still there, now you can only smell it if you put your nose up to it. So it is a big improvement. Maybe overtime it will fade even more.
My gunsmith did say the smell was mostly coming from the grips and inside the gun where it is closest to the grips (said there was a goo like substance coating it). Whatever stunk it up probably got in through the butt of the gun. After he cleaned it the smell is alot better but still there, now you can only smell it if you put your nose up to it. So it is a big improvement. Maybe overtime it will fade even more.
hardcase60
Member
Thanks for the update. Now that you have the gun back, but not knowing how the smithy cleaned it, there are a couple of additional steps you might take to see if the remaining odor can be eliminated. Some of these may have already been suggested in earlier post but I ain't going back to look. The easiest, if you have access to one, is an ultrasonic cleaner with a solution of Simple Green and water. Run it for a few cycles and check the results. Air or blow dry. One would be amazed at the crud that comes loose from a "clean" gun. The second and possibly the least time/labor/expense is to make a batch or Ed's Red (recipe is everywhere) then soak it in a non reactive pan (stainless or pyrex) for a couple of days. Of course you do both with the stocks off and the side plate removed. I'm sure there will others that come along with differing opinions. Best of luck, hardcase60
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Luckily I remember him saying that he did just that, the ultrasonic cleaner with simple green and water. Not sure if he did anything else.
hardcase60
Member
He did a good thing. That said, then you might try the Ed's Red dunking. Not being harsh, but you got nothing to loose. As to the issue with the stocks, regardless if it body fluids (including blood) or something else, wood retains odor. You might never get all the smell out. Changing stocks on a shooter is not a sin. hardcase60
silentflyer
Member
Sell it to me for 100$, problem solved.....
A friend of mine had a M29 and his girlfriend spilled some Coca-Cola on it. Took the blue right off!
Things don't always go better with Coke!
Things don't always go better with Coke!
muddocktor
Member
Since the stocks seem to already be stripped of finish, you might try giving them a good bath in acetone or maybe even some xylene and see if they get less smelly. Both are pretty powerful solvents and might also remove organics out of the pores of the wood too. You can get both products at your local Lowes or Home Depot. And after treating them that way, they will be good to start refinishing them if you want to also.
jsfricks
Member
When something has been in contact with a rotting body, the smell can be hard if not impossible to get rid of. This may be the case with this gun. Eds Red wouldn't hurt.
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