Moldy Marlin!

Exile_D

Exile_D

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So my FIL has had this Model 30A since new in '74 (Edit for correct date. "26" first two digits of serial number) and it survived many PA winter hunts and even a few in the Rockies over the decades. He hasn't used it in quite a while, but opened it up to show me the other day. Unfortunately when he opened the case, this is what we found!

Mold! Guess there was enough moisture on the rifle and/or in the case when he last closed it up to grow a nice little colony.
mold30a.jpg

Everything else looks ok on the rifle otherwise.

Is cleaning this as simple as wiping all the mold off or does it need to be cleaned and/or treated with something special to kill it off for good and prevent regrowth?
 
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It looks like it is just on the stock. Maybe a bleach solution to kill and clean.
 
I read where bleach might not get the spores. Some folks recommended vinegar or borox? Do you know if the mold killer spray from HD or Lowe's is safe for the wood?

Definitely will get him a different case and check inside that barrel more closely.
 
Frank C Lyons said:
It blows my mind that the moisture was high enough to grow mold but it didn’t rust the metal.
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Coming from a medical point of view.....its cause he had dirty hands. He didnt touch the metal, cause he's a gun guy. That was from the oils/etc on his hands on the stock.

Lil windex on a paper towel on the stock, and back over with some gun oil. All good.
 
Sneakymedic said:
Coming from a medical point of view.....its cause he had dirty hands. He didnt touch the metal, cause he's a gun guy. That was from the oils/etc on his hands on the stock.

Lil windex on a paper towel on the stock, and back over with some gun oil. All good.
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This.

I wouldn’t go super aggressive unless you have to.

Start off with something mild like windex. Wipe it all good, let it dry over night and if it’s still clean the next morning wipe it down with some oil.
 
It's ruin't... send it to me for proper disposal.

Murphy's Oil Soap for the wood... disassemble, clean, oil and reassemble the rest.

If'n it is from 1972 or later, subtract the first two numbers in the SN from 100 to get the year it was made.
 
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Exile_D said:
So my FIL has had this Model 30A since new in '73-'74 ( I think, need to check serial number to verify) and it survived many PA winter hunts and even a few in the Rockies over the decades. He hasn't used it in quite a while, but opened it up to show me the other day. Unfortunately when he opened the case, this is what we found!

Mold! Guess there was enough moisture on the rifle and/or in the case when he last closed it up to grow a nice little colony.
View attachment 430957

Everything else looks ok on the rifle otherwise.

Is cleaning this as simple as wiping all the mold off or does it need to be cleaned and/or treated with something special to kill it off for good and prevent regrowth?
Click to expand...
When my dad died 26 years ago there was a pair of black leather gloves that looked just like that on the top shelf of the coat closet. I wiped them off, and still wear them. They look like maybe they're five years old.
 
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For older mil-surp molded stocks … First wipe it down with hydrogen peroxide several times to knock down any active mold on the surface. Next a mixture of 2 part Dawn dishwashing liquid and 1 vinegar then add warm water until you get a good bubbly mixture. Wipe on with a sponge (do not soak in the solution) and let sit for a few minutes repeatedly (you can lightly brush with a soft bristle brush). Every so often rinse it with clean water and dry with soft cloth. Check it close to see your progress. If it is just on the sealed surface it won’t be to tough but if it has worked into the grain a few sessions will be needed. After you’ve beat it make sure to oil the wood lightly several times because you’ve dried it out big time with Dawn and vinegar.

I also have sat stocks in the hot summer sun for a day or two to help.

When working with mold be careful not to breathe it … this is actually a good time to wear a mask.
 
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I have a fungicide that they use for cleaning operating rooms, has a weird name that I can’t recall, but it doesn’t matter. Mold spores are kinda everywhere, kill what you can easily and let it dry out, any remaining spores won’t grow once you get the moisture content down.
 
There is a difference between a few mold spores on a gun stock and having studs and sheathing teeming with mold in a house. No need for fungicide or bleach, just give it a good wipe down with some vinegar or windex.

After that, give it good wipe with some Murphy's or other mild wood treatment, like Mac said.
 
I'm with the be gentle with me crowd. Don't really see a need for major surgical cleansing possibly affecting the wood.
Mild cleaning solution that you could use on a baby, and then go to the murphy's wood cleaner and polish. Leave it in a dry area for a decent amount of time to allow moisture avoidance and the death of spores.
I'd consider maybe removing anything that contacts the wood like the butt-pad and definitely the fore-end. Mold might have gotten under there.
Light oiling of the barrel and innerds, wipe it all down with a silicone cloth, put it in a silicone rifle sock, and store it in a safe or any area that stays temperature and humidity stable. Good to go.

PS; Keep the case for short term transport only.
 
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Exile_D said:
I read where bleach might not get the spores. Some folks recommended vinegar or borox? Do you know if the mold killer spray from HD or Lowe's is safe for the wood?

Definitely will get him a different case and check inside that barrel more closely.
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Bleach doesn’t kill the mold, just the color. You think it’s gone and boom shackalacka, it’s baaaack.
 
Frank C Lyons said:
By the way, nice rifle. I’ve got my grandpa’s. It came with the exact same scope (eta: maybe it was a fixed 4x now that I think of it) and mount as well, though I’ve removed them.

I found it in a case with a box of ammo and exactly 1 round missing.


View attachment 431168
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Yes, his came with a fixed 4 too. He put the 3-9 on it later!

Hopefully with all the helpful advice here, I can get his looking as good as your grandpa's! I will definitely start with the gentle route and take some time with it.
 
Few quick questions:

Do you think the sling can/should be saved? I see a couple small spots of mold on it. Not sure if it can be cleaned without ruining the leather.

Where can you get kind of Original Murphy's Oil Soap before they changed the formula? Sounds like it isn't what it used to be!

Can I use Palmolive instead of Dawn?
 
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Exile_D said:
Do you think the sling can/should be saved? I see a couple small spots of mold on it. Not sure if it can be cleaned without ruining the leather.
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It's worth a try. you have nothing to lose.
Saddle soap will clean it, mink oil will condition it. Bees wax will also condition and has natural anti-mold/anti-rot properties.
I wouldn't use any of these on a leather holster. But..I've used mink oil on the holster flaps that the belt slithers through to soften those, but I'm careful to keep the stuff off of the gun holding area. It'll collapse that and pretty much ruin it. Mink oil especially really makes leather flexy.
Exile_D said:
Where can you get kind of Original Murphy's Oil Soap before they changed the formula? Sounds like it isn't what it used to be!
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You can still find the older version. But use what you can find, even the pre-mixed version in a pump spray bottle works fine. It doesn't have to be the old style soap & water mix.
Avoid aerosol wood products. The propellants they use to force it out of the can (often butane or propane) are not the best stuff for wood. Spray it on a rag first before you wipe it on the wood.
Exile_D said:
Can I use Palmolive instead of Dawn?
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Sure can. Any mild dish soap & water.

PS-cool rifle. It's worth every bit of time to go over it with a loving touch.
 
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So far I have tried the hydrogen peroxide and dish soap/vinegar method that @NCFubar suggested. I have had it sitting out for a few days now, in a locked room. So far so good, no signs of regrowth yet.
Is there some way to tell if it was successful or do I just have to wait and see if it pops up again some day?

I tossed the foam from the hard case. Is there a good place to get new foam or are they all the same?

I also wiped down the that top knob/dial on the scope and inside the front lens area. You can't see it in the picture, but it had a bunch of mold growing also.
 
All this sounds like a PITA. I just tossed M-1 Garlands with mold, blood, mud, etc. straight into the dishwasher. Pots and Pans cycle, no heat, just air dry. Talk about getting put in the 🐶 house🙈
 
JimB said:
I have a fungicide that they use for cleaning operating rooms, has a weird name that I can’t recall, but it doesn’t matter. Mold spores are kinda everywhere, kill what you can easily and let it dry out, any remaining spores won’t grow once you get the moisture content down.
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sporicidin?
 
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