A new chapter in my projects book, The '57 restore, and now the '60 letter gun

[Greatguns]

Some may recall not too long ago I posted about three barreled receivers I bought from Sarco. Well, I finally got back to my barreled receivers. Had them soaking in 10W-30 conventional oil for a week. Put the early '57 together first. Going to work on the '60 letter gun tomorrow.

Oil bath, found a 36" planter box at Lowe's out in the Garden area for $11. It works perfectly, could have used another quart of oil though.


The bayonets, I found a blade bayonet on GB I got for $100 shipped. Turns out it is from an early Russian with straight collar. I had an angled collar on hand that worked perfectly and looked more the part. Thinking I can get some of my money back on the straight one.


My 2 parts kits for the restores bought off of GB


My stock choices. top 2 are Chinese spike cut and the bottom is a Romanian with a blade cut.


Finished product. I used the parts kit that was all matching numbers on this build. Stock has a little play in front up and down since this is a Romanian stock. Going to cut a 9mm brass case up and flatten it out to wrap around the cross-bolt for a shim to tighten the stock up. Should work well. I used a wire wheel on some of the parts to work some of the bluing to give ity an aged/worn look. May need a little more work in a couple of areas though.

[echo1]

Excellent. If you have any issues on the up/down play at the fore arm, I use leather, cardboard, or plastic shims. PAX

[Justin Hell]

Nice!
Mine is 740 'newer' than yours...but doesn't look it. 

When I bought my Classics last year, I went looking for a wallpaper installation tub...essentially exactly what you have. Being the old fart that I am...the guy at the Home Despot looked at me like I had two heads, apparently nobody wallpapers anymore...the 30-something employee made me feel like I was a nutjob for asking where the wallpaper supplies were.  Now I know where to look, so I will be needing another cosmo soaked gun it seems.

I find it funny that both of our early 57s ended up getting stamped triggers with blades and stocks from completely different countries. Sarco Pound Puppies... 

[carls sks]

very cool, turned out nice. why the oil bath?

[Greatguns]

very cool, turned out nice. why the oil bath?

A detergent oil bath will get rid of surface rust. Soaked it for a week, then a light scrub with a wire brush, and voila. I was going to blast it to the white and re-blue, but had the thought to leave it more 'been there' looking so did this instead.

[Greatguns]

Nice!
Mine is 740 'newer' than yours...but doesn't look it. 

When I bought my Classics last year, I went looking for a wallpaper installation tub...essentially exactly what you have. Being the old fart that I am...the guy at the Home Despot looked at me like I had two heads, apparently nobody wallpapers anymore...the 30-something employee made me feel like I was a nutjob for asking where the wallpaper supplies were.  Now I know where to look, so I will be needing another cosmo soaked gun it seems.

I find it funny that both of our early 57s ended up getting stamped triggers with blades and stocks from completely different countries. Sarco Pound Puppies... 

That was my first search, for a wall-paper tray. I did find one at Ace Hardware for $5 and have my third barreled receiver soaking in it, but this one is going to be a bubba and I cut down the barrel on it. The tray is on 28.5" inside and a full length SKS action won't fit in it. Then I thought of getting a planter box and found the 36" one.

As for our Sarco SKSs, we can call them the SPP-SKS or SKS Type SPP if you prefer.

[Phosphorus32]

SPP: Sarco Pew-Pew, Sarco Planter Product, Sarco Precision Pushka ... Oh, “Sarco Pound Puppy” 

Good rescues from the pound 

I may be way out in left field here Alan, but I’m beginning to suspect that you like project guns 

I like the planter oil bath. That should definitely have all of the microscopic irregularities in the surface of the steel impregnated with oil.

[Greasemonkey]

SPP: Sarco Pew-Pew, Sarco Planter Product, Sarco Precision Pushka ... Oh, “Sarco Pound Puppy” 

I may be way out in left field here Alan, but I’m beginning to suspect that you like project guns 

He's running around singing a remix of OPP.... You down with SPP (Yeah you know me), you down with SPP (Yeah you know me)  You know me........

SPP, how can I explain it
I'll take you frame by frame it
To have y'all jumpin' shall we singin' it
S is for SKS, P is for People scratchin' temple
The last P... well... that's not that simple

Other P, is for the Planter

 

[Cz315]

A detergent oil bath will get rid of surface rust. Soaked it for a week, then a light scrub with a wire brush, and voila. I was going to blast it to the white and re-blue, but had the thought to leave it more 'been there' looking so did this instead.

Very cool trick    , I might have to try this on the Carcano's. Just regular 10W-30 and nothing else?

[Greatguns]

A detergent oil bath will get rid of surface rust. Soaked it for a week, then a light scrub with a wire brush, and voila. I was going to blast it to the white and re-blue, but had the thought to leave it more 'been there' looking so did this instead.

Very cool trick    , I might have to try this on the Carcano's. Just regular 10W-30 and nothing else?

Yup, I bought 3 qts of the cheapest 10W-30 at Walmart(should have just bought a gallon). Biggest issue will probably be finding a container for the bath. If the Carcano actions are under 36" then get what I got. It's a plastic 36" planter box from Lowe's. For some reason they don't show it on their site, but had plenty in stock at my store. CHoice of black, green, or terra cota, LOL.

[Greatguns]

SPP: Sarco Pew-Pew, Sarco Planter Product, Sarco Precision Pushka ... Oh, “Sarco Pound Puppy” 

Good rescues from the pound 

I may be way out in left field here Alan, but I’m beginning to suspect that you like project guns 

I like the planter oil bath. That should definitely have all of the microscopic irregularities in the surface of the steel impregnated with oil.

Now whatever gave you the idea I like project guns?

[Greatguns]

I managed to get the '60 letter gun finished today. Although not the correct stock(spike in place of the correct blade bayonet) I still like the way this one turned out. Last pic is both of them together.

[Justin Hell]

The 60 turned out pretty nice too!  I wish I had tried the oil bath rather than stripping and rebluing...although I think yours both may have more bluing left than my most recent.

I kinda realize now I was Chinese honey-potted with my /606\ from Sarco...was working on that 'puppy' a bit yesterday...it looks nicer than the 57 and 59 also from Sarco...AND both my 66 an 67 from Classic.  Considering how bad the Albanian imports have been...and then compare to the Sarco stuff...it makes you wonder if these barreled receivers are kept outside in the weather stacked on pallets.

Apparently Sarco is still in stock, a couple of guys on the FB boards have been showing off their new project fodder....I have yet to see one anywhere near the good condition /606\ I picked up a couple years back....so I think they are really getting down to the bottom of the barrel (pallet).  Folks looking to adopt might want to get on it.

[Greatguns]

I have my third one soaking in the oil now. It is the one that was really bad with the surface rust. It is also the one I am doing a custom build on, cut & crown barrel, turn down for modded FSB and MB, set in a Tapco ODG stock w/my folding adapter and 2 30rnd USA detachable mags I have laying around.
Hoping I can clean it up well enough for this set up, but if not, I'll get it blasted and re-blued.

[Cz315]

Greatguns,

Good call on that planter from Lowes. Ours had it and I'm soaking parts from the RTI Berdan II I recently got. The barreled action is too big to fit completely but I can do it in parts. There is also plenty of smaller rusted stuff that go down into the bath. It's been 2 days and it's working nicely the rust is already flaking off. Not sure if the oil that I got contains detergent or not, but so far so good. Thanks for posting your method!

[Greatguns]

Greatguns,

Good call on that planter from Lowes. Ours had it and I'm soaking parts from the RTI Berdan II I recently got. The barreled action is too big to fit completely but I can do it in parts. There is also plenty of smaller rusted stuff that go down into the bath. It's been 2 days and it's working nicely the rust is already flaking off. Not sure if the oil that I got contains detergent or not, but so far so good. Thanks for posting your method!

Motor oil is usually detergent unless marked non-detergent IIRC.

[Larry D.]

GG -
You gots some skillz, yo.

[carls sks]

i see a bigger safe in your future. very cool work.