SKS stock question

[Ky_Collector]

I picked up a Chinese SKS rifle that has been around the block a few times. I got it very cheap, so the condition doesn't bother me too much. A lot of the bluing is gone. The stock is what I have a question on. It looks like it was slathered in cosmoline at one time and was never cleaned up. I know this question is asked a lot on the internet, but what should I do to clean the stock up and what should I stay away from. most of the rifles that I have purchased have already been cleaned, so this is my first go around. Thanks for any advice.

[jimbob86]

I simply washed mine with a rag and mineral spirits, then put on some linseed oil.

There are guys that advocate heating, steaming or even boiling them to melt out the cosmoline- if you do this, make sure you use an oil type finish after, to keep the stock from drying out.

[Ky_Collector]

I think I posted this in the wrong forum with it being an SKS. Sorry about that.

[jimbob86]

The SKS is a relic, is it not?

[chiefr]

Check with SARCO. They may still have new replacement original stocks.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I'm partial to the composite monte carlo stock, that I put on my "$89.00" SKS

[tangolima]

I wrap mine with old newspaper and put in a black trash bag. The whole deal was put on the dash my car under hot summer sun. Oil just kept oozing out of the wood. Each evening I changed out the oil soaked paper. Process went on for days till the oil well dried out.

Make sure the paper makes contact with the wood everywhere. You want to wick away the oil when it comes out, or it just goes right back in the wood. Set the barrel channel downwards on the dash. You don't want the oil to pool in the channel.

-TL

[Armed_Chicagoan]

Just bake it in the oven for a few hours at 250 degrees. After your wife divorces you for making her oven and house smell like a Chinese cosmoline factory you'll have more time to shoot it.

[cheezhed]

I used orange glow on my mine and it came out very clean.

[carguychris]

Originally Posted by jimbob86

The SKS is a relic, is it not?

Chinese SKS rifles are not categorically C&R-eligible due to a total dearth of official information from the Chinese government regarding production dates. This is particularly true of commercial rifles sold under the Norinco brand name.

SKS scholars claim* to have identified certain combinations of serial numbers and features that distinguish original military-production rifles that are C&R-eligible under the 50-year rule.

http://sks-files.com/chinese-sks-mil...-as-candr/209/

Note that these ONLY include very early Sino-Soviet models built on Tula receivers, no-prefix-or-suffix "Ghost" guns, and Type 53 or Type 56 models with a triangle /26\ prefix or suffix.

*I do not pretend to be an SKS expert, and I am personally unsure about the historical veracity of this information.

[tahunua001]

well somebody has figured out with certainty otherwise they wouldn't get past the chinese import ban as C&Rs, that is the only loophole that they get through on that I am aware of.

[SteveBonning]

To address your question, on the Maryland Shooters Forum there's an article about your concern from a 'restore to original condition' expert. In a nutshell, mineral spirits to clean, then BLO (boiled linseed oil).