>try to take buttplate off
>screw slot needed to be cut deeper on both screws from all the wear it's seen; I'd be surprised if the slots were even 1mm deep.
>try again to take buttplate off
>bottom screw comes out hard but the threads are immaculate (probably the first time it's been off since 1930-something if not the 1910s when this thing was made)
>top screw won't budge one bit
>top screw is fused to the buttplate
>unscrew buttplate very carefully
>woodchip that already had a quarter inch gap under it goes snap
Well, I had to do that anyways to Acraglas it back together I guess...
>screw is rusted and fused to the spring for the trapdoor
>yep no threads left in that wood
>wood in the screw hole falls apart like wet sand
Fuggggg :DDDDD
>throw that wood chip in a jar of acetone to degrease for refinish as the stock has the most oil of all; it is already past "well steeped tea" in color
>going to have to do the same for the stock probably
>have to use a vise grips to hold on to the tip of the screw and use the buttplate to twist the screw to get it unstuck
>still not sure if the threads are good enough to reuse; I want to keep it looking pretty good but I still have to re-blue the screw slots after I file and finish them anyways.
>can't replace the trapdoor spring as its screw is rusted in place solid, so have to hope oil will get in there over time or it won't break from all the pitting
So how are your restoration projects going in this thread, anons?

This is why you do maintenance/conservation, kids. I think the stock had a crack and years of rust and oil not only weakened the wood but also spread the crack. The screw was fused to the buttplate and once turned using the buttplate (very carefully), it acted as if there were no threads left in the wood, just like another screw on the gun. Going to have to buy a dowel, bore that hole out, glue the dowel in, predrill, screw in. That's after I not only degrease the stock but also the chip that came off. That chip, I just threw the thing in a jar of acetone. Fully degrease the damn thing. Might have to do the same to the wrist and butt of the stock as well if not the whole thing. Just so thick and so much oil. The wrist of the stock has a small ~1mm by 2" split that I can't understand (yes, I am mixing metric and imperial). It doesn't reach any endgrain, it just starts in the middle of the wrist. So between this chip, the damaged handguard, the random crack, and some other things, I think I'm going to have to get Acraglas for sure. I won't be doing that for probably a month at least, though. I may also have a source of walnut I may be able to somewhat color-match to replace some missing wood, but I'll be working with American Walnut rather than English.