doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Mold odor problem

I recently bought a Winchester 21 with 2 barrels that has been stored in it's leather case for a very long time. Both the case and the wood of the gun have this smell. I read some previous posts about solutions for the case but nothing for the wood of the gun.
I now have the case filled with kitty litter and it seems to be helping(I had my freezer thaw and kitty litter was the only thing that I found to remove the spoiled meat smell so I thought I'd give that a try first). If that doesn't work I will try some of the other solutions from the prvious posts.
I have lightly wiped down stock and forearms with Murphy's and it helped, but the smell still remains. I don't want to put the gun in the safe while it still smells, so for now I'm just letting it air out.
I talked to a gunsmith who does gun restoration for guns after a fire. He thought that he would be able to get the smell out but may need refinishing. I'll take the gun to him if I have too but don't really want to do a refinish as the wood and finish are still quite nice.
Anyone have any ideas how to get the smell out of the stock?

Try wiping the stock with some high quality lemmon oil and place where air will circulate around it (a small fan on low). It is likley it will have to be refinished, but the lemmon oil may lessen the odor.

Most Lowes or Home Depots sell a product called ODO-Ban. Put it in a spray bottle and it will kill about any smell and it is safe and non rusting.

I would set the case out in sunlight.

I know what you mean. I just picked up a 1890's vintage shotgun, cased, and when I opened the case, the first thing that popped into my mind was the smell of a old antique shop. I kind of like the smell, and the gun did have a little of the same odor. The case still smells, but the gun, well the gun smells like a gun again. I will set the case out in the sunlight and see what happens. All logic says the uv in the sunlight will kill the mold and it'll probably do the case some good to get some "air" as well.

Dustin

Take a couple of coffee filters and partially fill them with fresh ground coffee. Place these in your case and close it up for about a week. I did this with a Thompson SMG case that had been stored in a basement and it worked like a charm.
Jim

I'd think about wetting a papertowel with Clorox and putting it in an open plastic bag in the closed case in the sun. The chlorine vapor should kill any imbedded mold.anyone know of any negatives to this?

What Jim said.

Fresh ground Coffee in a couple of clean socks.

italian sxs- we're talking about moldy gun cases, not smuggling cocaine past airport drug sniffing dogs, OK? And LeFusil, I kind of like that moldy smell, too. I remodeled my kitchen and put in a pie safe and a jelly cupboard, both from the late 1800s. And the one thing I like about them is going through the kitchen and smelling that old musty smell they put off. But anyway, I would try some Air Wick or some Glade air freshener. In some kind of spice or strong fruit odors. I use them in my old tennis shoes and they always worked pretty well. Is there any way you can change the padding in the case? That might help also. I would think that the smell would eventually wear off of the gun. Hope this helps. (and italian sxs, I hope you know I was just pulling your leg.):)

Thanks for all the replies. So far airing things out have really helped. Very good ideas. I'm going to wait 2 weeks and see if the smell remains and then try the coffee.
I have used ZorBex with limited success in fireplaces with creosote odors. I'll look for ODO-Ban.
Thanks again and wish me luck