diff --git a/cs/cli/vw_base.cpp b/cs/cli/vw_base.cpp
index fa0b4f72d08..2d9e34d99f4 100644
--- a/cs/cli/vw_base.cpp
+++ b/cs/cli/vw_base.cpp
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ void VowpalWabbitBase::InternalDispose()
   try
   { if (m_vw != nullptr)
     { reset_source(*m_vw, m_vw->num_bits);
-      release_parser_datastructures(*m_vw);
 
       // make sure don't try to free m_vw twice in case VW::finish throws.
       vw* vw_tmp = m_vw;
@@ -190,8 +189,6 @@ void VowpalWabbitBase::Reload([System::Runtime::InteropServices::Optional] Strin
     VW::save_predictor(*m_vw, mem_buf);
     mem_buf.flush();
 
-    release_parser_datastructures(*m_vw);
-
     // make sure don't try to free m_vw twice in case VW::finish throws.
     vw* vw_tmp = m_vw;
     m_vw = nullptr;
diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/global_data.h b/vowpalwabbit/global_data.h
index c5705688e6f..9a0eb9f0475 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/global_data.h
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/global_data.h
@@ -15,6 +15,17 @@ license as described in the file LICENSE.
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <climits>
 
+// Thread cannot be used in managed C++, tell the compiler that this is unmanaged even if included in a managed project.
+#ifdef _M_CEE
+#pragma managed(push,off)
+#undef _M_CEE
+#include <thread>
+#define _M_CEE 001
+#pragma managed(pop)
+#else
+#include <thread>
+#endif
+
 #include "v_array.h"
 #include "array_parameters.h"
 #include "parse_primitives.h"
@@ -434,11 +445,8 @@ struct vw
 { shared_data* sd;
 
   parser* p;
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_t parse_thread;
-#else
-  HANDLE parse_thread;
-#endif
+  std::thread parse_thread;
+
   AllReduceType all_reduce_type;
   AllReduce* all_reduce;
 
diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/parse_args.cc b/vowpalwabbit/parse_args.cc
index 816ddda46ac..ea612cc7c17 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/parse_args.cc
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/parse_args.cc
@@ -1693,7 +1693,7 @@ void finish(vw& all, bool delete_all)
   finalize_source(all.p);
   all.p->parse_name.clear();
   all.p->parse_name.delete_v();
-  free(all.p);
+  delete all.p;
   bool seeded;
   if (all.weights.seeded() > 0)
     seeded = true;
diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/parse_primitives.h b/vowpalwabbit/parse_primitives.h
index 23062109a41..2859be5b2c9 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/parse_primitives.h
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/parse_primitives.h
@@ -10,14 +10,9 @@ license as described in the file LICENSE.
 #include "v_array.h"
 #include "floatbits.h"
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-#include <WinSock2.h>
-#include <Windows.h>
-typedef CRITICAL_SECTION MUTEX;
-typedef CONDITION_VARIABLE CV;
-#else
-typedef pthread_mutex_t MUTEX;
-typedef pthread_cond_t CV;
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <WinSock2.h>
+#include <Windows.h>
 #endif
 
 struct substring
diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/parser.cc b/vowpalwabbit/parser.cc
index c83c20ee5c0..2ebafb74e4b 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/parser.cc
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/parser.cc
@@ -56,78 +56,6 @@ int getpid()
 
 using namespace std;
 
-void initialize_mutex(MUTEX * pm)
-{
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_mutex_init(pm, nullptr);
-#else
-  ::InitializeCriticalSection(pm);
-#endif
-}
-
-#ifndef _WIN32
-void delete_mutex(MUTEX *) { /* no operation necessary here*/ }
-#else
-void delete_mutex(MUTEX * pm)
-{
-  ::DeleteCriticalSection(pm);
-}
-#endif
-
-void initialize_condition_variable(CV * pcv)
-{
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_cond_init(pcv, nullptr);
-#else
-  ::InitializeConditionVariable(pcv);
-#endif
-}
-
-void mutex_lock(MUTEX * pm)
-{
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_mutex_lock(pm);
-#else
-  ::EnterCriticalSection(pm);
-#endif
-}
-
-void mutex_unlock(MUTEX * pm)
-{
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(pm);
-#else
-  ::LeaveCriticalSection(pm);
-#endif
-}
-
-void condition_variable_wait(CV * pcv, MUTEX * pm)
-{
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_cond_wait(pcv, pm);
-#else
-  ::SleepConditionVariableCS(pcv, pm, INFINITE);
-#endif
-}
-
-void condition_variable_signal(CV * pcv)
-{
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_cond_signal(pcv);
-#else
-  ::WakeConditionVariable(pcv);
-#endif
-}
-
-void condition_variable_signal_all(CV * pcv)
-{
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_cond_broadcast(pcv);
-#else
-  ::WakeAllConditionVariable(pcv);
-#endif
-}
-
 //This should not? matter in a library mode.
 bool got_sigterm;
 
@@ -147,7 +75,7 @@ bool is_test_only(uint32_t counter, uint32_t period, uint32_t after, bool holdou
 
 parser* new_parser()
 {
-  parser& ret = calloc_or_throw<parser>();
+  auto& ret = *(new parser());
   ret.input = new io_buf;
   ret.output = new io_buf;
   ret.local_example_number = 0;
@@ -256,10 +184,11 @@ void reset_source(vw& all, size_t numbits)
     if (all.daemon)
     {
       // wait for all predictions to be sent back to client
-      mutex_lock(&all.p->output_lock);
-      while (all.p->local_example_number != all.p->end_parsed_examples)
-        condition_variable_wait(&all.p->output_done, &all.p->output_lock);
-      mutex_unlock(&all.p->output_lock);
+      {
+        std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(all.p->output_lock);
+        all.p->output_done.wait(lock,
+          [&] { return all.p->local_example_number == all.p->end_parsed_examples; });
+      }
 
       // close socket, erase final prediction sink and socket
       io_buf::close_file_or_socket(all.p->input->files[0]);
@@ -668,11 +597,10 @@ void enable_sources(vw& all, bool quiet, size_t passes, input_options& input_opt
 
 void lock_done(parser& p)
 {
-  mutex_lock(&p.examples_lock);
+  std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(p.examples_lock);
   p.done = true;
   //in case get_example() is waiting for a fresh example, wake so it can realize there are no more.
-  condition_variable_signal_all(&p.example_available);
-  mutex_unlock(&p.examples_lock);
+  p.example_available.notify_all();
 }
 
 void set_done(vw& all)
@@ -767,17 +695,15 @@ example& get_unused_example(vw* all)
   parser* p = all->p;
   while (true)
   {
-    mutex_lock(&p->examples_lock);
+    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(p->examples_lock);
     if (p->examples[p->begin_parsed_examples % p->ring_size].in_use == false)
     {
       example& ret = p->examples[p->begin_parsed_examples++ % p->ring_size];
       ret.in_use = true;
-      mutex_unlock(&p->examples_lock);
       return ret;
     }
     else
-      condition_variable_wait(&p->example_unused, &p->examples_lock);
-    mutex_unlock(&p->examples_lock);
+      p->example_unused.wait(lock);
   }
 }
 
@@ -983,13 +909,14 @@ void clean_example(vw& all, example& ec, bool rewind)
 
   empty_example(all, ec);
 
-  mutex_lock(&all.p->examples_lock);
-  assert(ec.in_use);
-  ec.in_use = false;
-  condition_variable_signal(&all.p->example_unused);
-  if (all.p->done)
-    condition_variable_signal_all(&all.p->example_available);
-  mutex_unlock(&all.p->examples_lock);
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(all.p->examples_lock);
+    assert(ec.in_use);
+    ec.in_use = false;
+    all.p->example_unused.notify_one();
+    if (all.p->done)
+      all.p->example_available.notify_all();
+  }
 }
 
 void finish_example(vw& all, multi_ex& ec_seq)
@@ -1005,10 +932,11 @@ void finish_example(vw& all, example& ec)
   if (!is_ring_example(all, &ec))
     return;
 
-  mutex_lock(&all.p->output_lock);
-  all.p->local_example_number++;
-  condition_variable_signal(&all.p->output_done);
-  mutex_unlock(&all.p->output_lock);
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(all.p->output_lock);
+    all.p->local_example_number++;
+    all.p->output_done.notify_one();
+  }
 
   clean_example(all, ec, false);
 }
@@ -1016,51 +944,43 @@ void finish_example(vw& all, example& ec)
 
 void thread_dispatch(vw& all, v_array<example*> examples)
 {
-  mutex_lock(&all.p->examples_lock);
+  std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(all.p->examples_lock);
   all.p->end_parsed_examples+=examples.size();
-  condition_variable_signal_all(&all.p->example_available);
-  mutex_unlock(&all.p->examples_lock);
+  all.p->example_available.notify_all();
 }
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-DWORD WINAPI main_parse_loop(LPVOID in)
-#else
-void *main_parse_loop(void *in)
-#endif
+void main_parse_loop(vw* all)
 {
-  vw* all = (vw*)in;
   parse_dispatch(*all, thread_dispatch);
-  return 0L;
 }
 
 namespace VW
 {
 example* get_example(parser* p)
 {
-  mutex_lock(&p->examples_lock);
-  if (p->end_parsed_examples != p->used_index)
-  {
-    size_t ring_index = p->used_index++ % p->ring_size;
-    if (!(p->examples+ring_index)->in_use)
-      cout << "error: example should be in_use " << p->used_index << " " << p->end_parsed_examples << " " << ring_index << endl;
-    assert((p->examples+ring_index)->in_use);
-    mutex_unlock(&p->examples_lock);
-    return p->examples + ring_index;
-  }
-  else
+  std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(p->examples_lock);
+  while (true)
   {
-    if (!p->done)
+    if (p->end_parsed_examples != p->used_index)
     {
-      condition_variable_wait(&p->example_available, &p->examples_lock);
-      mutex_unlock(&p->examples_lock);
-      return get_example(p);
+      size_t ring_index = p->used_index++ % p->ring_size;
+      if (!(p->examples + ring_index)->in_use)
+        cout << "error: example should be in_use " << p->used_index << " " << p->end_parsed_examples << " " << ring_index << endl;
+      assert((p->examples + ring_index)->in_use);
+      return p->examples + ring_index;
     }
     else
     {
-      mutex_unlock(&p->examples_lock);
-      return nullptr;
+      if (!p->done)
+      {
+        p->example_available.wait(lock);
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        return nullptr;
+      }
     }
-  }
+  } 
 }
 
 float get_topic_prediction(example* ec, size_t i)
@@ -1152,22 +1072,13 @@ void adjust_used_index(vw& all)
 void initialize_parser_datastructures(vw& all)
 {
   initialize_examples(all);
-  initialize_mutex(&all.p->examples_lock);
-  initialize_condition_variable(&all.p->example_available);
-  initialize_condition_variable(&all.p->example_unused);
-  initialize_mutex(&all.p->output_lock);
-  initialize_condition_variable(&all.p->output_done);
 }
 
 namespace VW
 {
 void start_parser(vw& all)
 {
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_create(&all.parse_thread, nullptr, main_parse_loop, &all);
-#else
-  all.parse_thread = ::CreateThread(nullptr, 0, static_cast<LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE>(main_parse_loop), &all, 0L, nullptr);
-#endif
+  all.parse_thread = std::thread(main_parse_loop, &all);
 }
 }
 void free_parser(vw& all)
@@ -1197,23 +1108,11 @@ void free_parser(vw& all)
   all.p->counts.delete_v();
 }
 
-void release_parser_datastructures(vw& all)
-{
-  delete_mutex(&all.p->examples_lock);
-  delete_mutex(&all.p->output_lock);
-}
-
 namespace VW
 {
 void end_parser(vw& all)
 {
-#ifndef _WIN32
-  pthread_join(all.parse_thread, nullptr);
-#else
-  ::WaitForSingleObject(all.parse_thread, INFINITE);
-  ::CloseHandle(all.parse_thread);
-#endif
-  release_parser_datastructures(all);
+  all.parse_thread.join();
 }
 
 bool is_ring_example(vw& all, example* ae)
diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/parser.h b/vowpalwabbit/parser.h
index 350eb360bce..d9e74d1781d 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/parser.h
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/parser.h
@@ -8,6 +8,18 @@ license as described in the file LICENSE.
 #include "parse_primitives.h"
 #include "example.h"
 
+// Mutex and CV cannot be used in managed C++, tell the compiler that this is unmanaged even if included in a managed project.
+#ifdef _M_CEE
+#pragma managed(push,off)
+#undef _M_CEE
+#include <mutex>
+#include <condition_variable>
+#define _M_CEE 001
+#pragma managed(pop)
+#else
+#include <mutex>
+#include <condition_variable>
+#endif
 
 struct vw;
 struct input_options;
@@ -34,11 +46,15 @@ struct parser
   example* examples;
   uint64_t used_index;
   bool emptylines_separate_examples; // true if you want to have holdout computed on a per-block basis rather than a per-line basis
-  MUTEX examples_lock;
-  CV example_available;
-  CV example_unused;
-  MUTEX output_lock;
-  CV output_done;
+
+  // Both example condition_variables use the same mutex.
+  // examples_lock protects: p->done, ec.in_use, p->begin_parsed_examples, p->end_parse_examples, and p->used_index.
+  std::mutex examples_lock;
+  std::condition_variable example_available;
+  std::condition_variable example_unused;
+
+  std::mutex output_lock;
+  std::condition_variable output_done;
 
   bool done;
   v_array<size_t> gram_mask;
@@ -67,7 +83,6 @@ bool examples_to_finish();
 
 //only call these from the library form:
 void initialize_parser_datastructures(vw& all);
-void release_parser_datastructures(vw& all);
 void adjust_used_index(vw& all);
 
 //parser control
diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/vwdll.cpp b/vowpalwabbit/vwdll.cpp
index 76004043178..2bb00562f86 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/vwdll.cpp
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/vwdll.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ VW_DLL_MEMBER void      VW_CALLING_CONV VW_Finish_Passes(VW_HANDLE handle)
 
 VW_DLL_MEMBER void      VW_CALLING_CONV VW_Finish(VW_HANDLE handle)
 { vw * pointer = static_cast<vw*>(handle);
-  release_parser_datastructures(*pointer);
   VW::finish(*pointer);
 }