Removing Cosmoline From Bayonet

'88Scrat · April 18, 2018, 05:22 PM

So I recently acquired a Yugo M1924 bayonet that is in very good condition but is covered thickly in cosmoline. I've removed cosmoline from milsurp rifles before but never from a bayonet.

What's the best way to go about this? I'm thinking the best way is to disassemble it and bake it in the oven for a while but I don't recognize the screws (closest I can compare them to is a modern day snake eye security screw) and don't want to mess them up.

Help...

Doyle · April 18, 2018, 09:56 PM

Why not just use a chemical solvent like kerosine?

Sharkbite · April 18, 2018, 10:19 PM

Yep. Plain ol gas will dissolve the stuff

'88Scrat · April 19, 2018, 12:16 PM

What about Mineral Spirits?

Won't using something like gas/kerosene or mineral spirits damage the wood?

The cosmoline is packed into the hole in the grip for the cleaning rod, like to the point I can't get it on the rifle at the moment. Only way I can think to get to that is to totally submerge it.

jfruser · April 19, 2018, 02:56 PM

Disassemble to the point you are comfortable & odorless mineral spirits.

I used MS on many a cosmo-soaked milsurp stock and it does pretty well.

Best thing is probably to pack in sawdust inside a plastic box and put it in your attic for a couple of hot months. Will melt that cosmo right out of the sucker. I would be leery of putting gun or bayo parts in an oven if they have cosmo on them: odor, fire, fumes, furious wife problems come to mind.

Doyle · April 19, 2018, 07:55 PM

Srat, mineral spirits and kerosene are VERY similar chemically. Kerosene is a little more "oily". Diesel is also similar to kerosene but is even more oily.

April 18, 2018, 05:22 PM	#1
'88Scrat Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 549	Removing Cosmoline From Bayonet So I recently acquired a Yugo M1924 bayonet that is in very good condition but is covered thickly in cosmoline. I've removed cosmoline from milsurp rifles before but never from a bayonet. What's the best way to go about this? I'm thinking the best way is to disassemble it and bake it in the oven for a while but I don't recognize the screws (closest I can compare them to is a modern day snake eye security screw) and don't want to mess them up. Help... __________________ BOOM

April 19, 2018, 12:16 PM	#4
'88Scrat Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 549	What about Mineral Spirits? Won't using something like gas/kerosene or mineral spirits damage the wood? The cosmoline is packed into the hole in the grip for the cleaning rod, like to the point I can't get it on the rifle at the moment. Only way I can think to get to that is to totally submerge it. __________________ BOOM

April 19, 2018, 02:56 PM	#5
jfruser Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 350	Disassemble to the point you are comfortable & odorless mineral spirits. I used MS on many a cosmo-soaked milsurp stock and it does pretty well. Best thing is probably to pack in sawdust inside a plastic box and put it in your attic for a couple of hot months. Will melt that cosmo right out of the sucker. I would be leery of putting gun or bayo parts in an oven if they have cosmo on them: odor, fire, fumes, furious wife problems come to mind. __________________ Regards, jfruser "Books and bullets have their own destinies."----Bob Ross

April 18, 2018, 09:56 PM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Why not just use a chemical solvent like kerosine?

April 18, 2018, 10:19 PM	#3
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	Yep. Plain ol gas will dissolve the stuff

April 19, 2018, 07:55 PM	#6
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Srat, mineral spirits and kerosene are VERY similar chemically. Kerosene is a little more "oily". Diesel is also similar to kerosene but is even more oily.