Milsurp After Hours

My wood on my 1888 Chineese Kommission .318 mil surp is black but solid. The coating covers the wood grain. The end of the hand guard is chewed-up beyond the band, but the blackened wood is solid.

There is a large oval cartoouche on the butt that includes four chineese characters.

Should I clean the wood with mineral spirits, or leavewell enought alone?

Thanx Dante'

leaving it alone until you know more. I would want to know if the dark finish is correct for the rifle, either originally or at some point in it's travels, before messing with it.

MM

Thanx, MM (Mighty Mauser ?) The wood is in fine shape.. even for it's age.I 'd like to find a gental cleaner just to remove so serface dirt that will nor harm the platina (?) of the aging wood.

Fortunally, I'm in no hurry to clean/mess it up.

Thanx Dante'