Customer Spotlight - An Authentic "Battlefield Pickup" M70 Build

Here at Recreator Blanks, we love nothing more than seeing what our customers create with our parts kits. It’s the entire reason we do what we do. So, you can imagine our excitement when we received an email from a first-time builder with photos of his finished M70 build.

Not only did the rifle come out looking absolutely fantastic, but he also captured that highly sought-after, authentic "battlefield pickup" worn finish perfectly. He was kind enough to allow us to share his work and, after we asked about his process, provided an incredibly detailed account of his first build.

We're thrilled to share his story and his process with all of you. It's a testament to what patience, the right tools, and a little courage can achieve.

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A Message from the Builder

"Hello there! I apologize for not adding the process initially. It’s my first build, and it was so exciting. Mistakes were made, so I didn’t expect you guys to look at it seriously at all—so thank you!

The rifle kit from you was in good condition. Some of the parts were blued, and some parts, like the flip-up front night sight, were in the white. The most nerve-racking part of the build was populating and drilling the barrel, which had me sweating! (hee hee). Everything else was easily solved with hand files and patience.

Here’s how I put it together and achieved the finish:"

The "Battlefield" Finish Process

  Bluing: "I used Super Blue on the receiver, barrel, and the barrel extensions. Just one coat so it was easy to take off, but it leaves a nice, faded-in color. It was also easy and satisfying to blue the receiver."

  Distressing & Sanding: "The top cover was so-so; I had to sand it off with sandpaper. I could’ve done a better job at that, but those scratches add character, I guess! (hee hee). Then I ended up cutting and using pieces of Shinex sanding sheets on all of the metal parts. I use them for woodworking, and it’s an amazing product. I used grades from 200 to 1000, with a little polish at the end."

  Finishing Touches: "I kept sanded-off and applied tung oil to restore some of the wood, which did not work out too well, but it does look bad and worn for sure. (hee hee). I could’ve used fine steel wool on the metal parts, but the sheets do an amazing job without leaving too many unwanted scratches."

The Build: Precision and Patience Pay Off

"This being my first build, I was careful. I used all the tools that were advised in the guides and made sure to measure a few times before making any cut or drilling any holes. I had to redo one rivet, but in the end, it was fitting and feeling solid.

Headspace was achieved using GO/NO-GO gauges, which gave me great peace of mind."

Range Report: A Flawless Debut

The true test of any build is at the range, and this M2 passed with flying colors.

"I used a bore sight at 25 yards. It was easy to hit steel plates that were 100 yards away at my local range with several types of ammo. After 150 rounds with different magazines, the rifle runs awesome. It was incredibly satisfying to hear that ping and know I built it myself."

A Final Thank You

"I really had fun building and working on this project. I’m truly happy and thankful that I live in a place where I can restore and enjoy these pieces of history—like this rifle—even if that history is a bit messed up.

If you guys need any more photos or any information, let me know. I want to thank you guys for being amazing and helping a new guy make his dreams come true. (hee hee)."

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A huge thank you to this customer for not only choosing Recreator Blanks but also for sharing his journey with our community. Your build is an inspiration to others who are thinking about taking on their first project.

Ready to start your own history-making project? Browse our selection of premium parts kits and build supplies at (https://recreatorblanks.com) and see what you can create!

Have you built a firearm using our kits? We'd love to see it! Share your photos with us on social media or via email.