I'm officially Canadian.

[u/ExtremeCommercial821]

Thanks for all the help everyone, after several question posts, I got it.

I was on the hunt for cleaner examples, but certain Gunpost members were really hosing people. Did I still buy it for inflated prices? Yes. Are there better condition ones out there? Yes. But at least I got to check it out in person. And I now own an SKS.

All matching 1963 Chinese. I'll get a tickler soon if the prices don't go even more insane, but I've wanted an SKS since I shot one at a friend's house 15 years ago, and as massive as my list of wants is, I just couldn't move on until I had one.

Also, Cosmoline is no joke. I looked at it wrong and now my next 3 generations of offspring are covered in it. I'll take cleaning tips as it's far worse than expected.

[u/BrotherLefthand]

beautiful! Keep it just as it is. It will treat you well literally forever.

The best way I found to remove cosmoline was with boiling water. You pretty much have to melt it off. If you hate your landlord, melt it right into the sink. Otherwise, capture it in a bin/bucket/tote or whatever else you may have.

You can bake the cosmoline out of the stock as well.

[u/ExtremeCommercial821 → u/BrotherLefthand]

Appreciate that brother, 🤜🤛.

[u/IcySkyDream → u/ExtremeCommercial821]

Baking the stock can warp or crack it.

Just leave it; it prevents corrosion on the receiver.

The only place cosmoline shouldn’t be is the operating parts. Everywhere else, it protects the wood and steel.

This anti-cosmoline groupthink needs to die.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/IcySkyDream]

1973 passed 56 years ago. Convection ovens go below 300°C. The future is here.

Cosmoline is the least pleasant treatment for guns you actually use.

Just because you like to play in the muck, doesn't mean everyone else should.

[u/IcySkyDream → u/BrotherLefthand]

CRC sells cosmoline for rust-proofing undercarriages.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/IcySkyDream]

Cosmoline on the frame of a truck is not the same as cosmoline on wood that you handle.

[u/IcySkyDream → u/BrotherLefthand]

How are you handling the inside of the stock?

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/IcySkyDream]

The cosmoline sweats out of the stock. It gets all over your hands, case, whatever you put the gun on. Do you actually own an SKS?

[u/IcySkyDream → u/BrotherLefthand]

Sounds like your stock has been refinished or sanded?

My Russians have a shellac coat, and my Chinese rifles have a shiny varnish that are both water resistant.

The only stock I’ve had that sweated cosmoline was a Molot export that was sanded down to bare wood, so that even the original stain would come out when oily or wet.

If your stock is unfinished, any modern finish like Birchwood Casey Tru Oil (this is my go-to) will dry to a waterproof layer that seals the wood.

I believe the M1 Garand stocks are usually treated with BLO for a similar result that is easily repaired (for it’s time).