cleaning hardened grease off exterior of gun

[Robert Delk]

How do you get old, hardened grease(I think) off the exterior of a gun completely covered in it? Covered so thick you can't read the lettering or open the gun,stock included.Bores appear to be full of it too.

[winplumber]

What is the gun ?

[Robert Delk]

Parker 10 bore? hammerless lower grade but can't see the engraving to tell for sure.

[Dean Romig]

I’d start with an acetone soak.





.

[Robert Delk]

I'll pass that on.He has a tank he uses to soak saws in to remove rust that the gun would fit in.Thanks.

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I’d start with an acetone soak.





.

Just the action, not the stock.

[Phil C]

My guess is the gun may have been dipped in a vat of a Cosmoline. If so you might have a nice hidden gem underneath that old hardened barrier. If someone hasn’t gone after it with a metal scrapper.
I would proceed slow. Try a test area on the barrel. Use some penetrating oil let it soak in then apply some light heat such as a hair dryer or heat gun.
Google Cosmoline removal also contact Cosmoline for advise if you determine this is what has been applied to the Parker.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Eric Eis

Just the action, not the stock.

Acetone won’t harm the wood nor the color case nor the barrel bluing. It will however remove all of the finish on the wood. But I suspect the cosmolene has done that to the wood finish already.





.

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Acetone won’t harm the wood nor the color case nor the barrel bluing. It will however remove all of the finish on the wood. But I suspect the cosmolene has done that to the wood finish already.





.

The finish is what I was talking about Dean, and I found a Parker that had a thick coat of cosmolene or something similar and it was hard, soaked the action but the stock only had the stuff up to the wrist (probably dipped) and I worked carefully with soap and don't remember what else, but the finish was perfect underneath. So that's why I said action only.

[Dean Romig]

Good point Eric - I stand corrected, thank you.





.