Syrah 5/14/2020 5:33:39 PM

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I picked up my Norinco SKS today. It turns out that I am barely one year older than this antique. 

What the hell is cosmoline and will I be able to clean it off the weapon by running it through the dish washer?

(I am joking, I will have it professionally cleaned and inspected before I take it to a range, if then ranges ever open up again.)

Kosh's Shadow 5/14/2020 5:49:50 PM

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In #1 Syrah said: I picked up my Norinco SKS today. It turns out that I am barely one year older than this antique. 

A while ago, my wife and I went to her gun expert's lab, formerly a gun store. She got permission for me to go. But NO PICTURES! 

"This is a Colt revolver from 1890. It's worth $25,000. Would you like to hold it?"

I did. I operated it (pointing AWAY from everyone). Single action revolver. Worked well. Lots of other stuff there, too.

Syrah 5/14/2020 5:55:11 PM

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Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 2:

about forty years ago, one of my dads friends, a black powder enthusiast, took us out into the Sierras to a remote place where he let us fire some of his old black powder revolvers.

it was fun. 

I wish I had appreciated and understood more about the weapons at the time.

they were loud and smoky.

Kosh's Shadow 5/14/2020 6:00:10 PM

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Reply to Syrah in 3:

Sounds like fun. I still haven't fired a gun.

lucius septimius 5/14/2020 6:10:41 PM

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PaladinPhil 5/14/2020 6:43:25 PM

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Reply to Syrah in 1:

The worst part for the cosmoline will be in the wood stock. Lots of youtube videos on how to take it apart and separate the metal bits from the stock. You would then bake the wood stock in your oven on a low heat with newspaper under it to absorb the cosmoline sweated out of the wood if you want. Most SKS's are pretty clean by the time they get to the dealers so there's no real point in doing it IMAO. Just be aware that if you are firing surplus ammunition that you need to pour soapy water down the barrel afterwards to neutralize the corrosive ammunition. Unless you are cleaning it right after firing.

Syrah 5/14/2020 6:51:52 PM

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Reply to PaladinPhil in 6:

thanks for that.

i was warned that this would take a bit of work to make usable.

it Looks like someone hosed this thing down with a grease gun.  The blueing on the barrel looks good, the wood stock looks like some one used it to bat gravels and small stones. 

All of the serial numbers match.

Syrah 5/14/2020 6:52:27 PM

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Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 4:

it is something to definitely put on your bucket list. It is almost nothing at all like a video game.

The smell, the sound, the kick. The full experience is something to remember.

it has been over 20 years since I have fired a weapon. I have just purchased a pistol and a rifle. (The rifle is a bit iffy, an antique of dubious value, but it has a bayonet, so there is that).

i am waiting for the local ranges to come out of the Covid19 lockdown.