Thanks to those who helped me with assessing the condition and value of the Model 1894 5 digit SN Short Rifle referred to and photos in the previous post with that topic. Since I have now purchased the rifle I am preparing to completely disassemble and clean and oil each part. this rifle spent over 90+ years in the extreme Southeastern corner of Arizona and is fine dust embedded in every microscopic opening. I normally clean and lube my milsurp collection items with a toothbrush dipped in mineral spirits, then a wipe with an oily cloth. The wood I normally clean in a bath of hot water with Murphy’s Soap. However I will just use a hot wet cloth on this wood to remove the worst of the dirt from being carried in sweaty, dirty hands. If I am mistaken in my cleaning regimen please clue me in. All guidance accepted. Thanks especially to Burt for his assistance in this.
Please post photographs before cleaning and the experts can determine what exactly you have and what you should do, before doing something irreversible that you might regret later.
Edit: photographs found in other post. I wouldn’t do anything to it and just oil it and leave it as it is!
January 26, 2011

mrcvs said
Please post photographs before cleaning and the experts can determine what exactly you have and what you should do, before doing something irreversible that you might regret later.
Edit: photographs found in other post. I wouldn’t do anything to it and just oil it and leave it as it is!
I agree – I think I would just clean up what you can get to with the rifle taken down and the stocks off. Leave the receiver alone…..but I admit, I don’t completely disassemble any of mine and you may be more experienced in that type of work.
Do you plan to shoot it?
~Gary~
Thanks for the advice, I will just do as I planed; take it down -by the book-clean with brush and oily soft cloth. Then wipe down stock with hot water with some Murphy’s soap in it. I will shoot it sometime in the future as I have several other Wins and other old warhorses that go to the range once in awhile for a check fire.
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