SKS-FILES FORUM
SKS Carbines => Unaltered SKS Rifles => Romanian SKS => Topic started by: likemeasks on December 20, 2017, 03:07:57 PM
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Would anyone have an extra stock and/or bayonet they would be willing to part with? Or maybe know a vendor that has some in stock to sell? Desperately need to get this gun back into it's native furniture. It was in plastic when I got it and shot like crap (flopping around). Cut down a Yugo stock (I know, I know, don't say it) and now it shoots better than I can see. Other than the furniture, the only item not numbers matching is the receiver top cover and it is stamped DE but different 4 ser. numbers.
Mr. Moderator if you feel this should be in the Market WTB section by all means please transfer it there or just say so and I'll pull it and reissue there.
Charlie
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Romanian Stocks
Grade 1, currently $51:
http://www.clearviewinvest.com/skswoodstockwithbladecutincludeshardware-2-1.aspx
Grade 2s look a bit rough, $34:
http://www.clearviewinvest.com/skswoodstockwithbladecutincludeshardware-2.aspx
Otherwise, patient searching on eBay or GunBroker
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Dangit...disregard the PM about the Russian stocks...I totally forgot about these.
These area pretty darn good deal.Romanian Stocks
Grade 1, currently $51:
http://www.clearviewinvest.com/skswoodstockwithbladecutincludeshardware-2-1.aspx
Grade 2s look a bit rough, $34:
http://www.clearviewinvest.com/skswoodstockwithbladecutincludeshardware-2.aspx
Otherwise, patient searching on eBay or GunBroker
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Thanks Justin Hell, I sent them an email listing what I'm looking for and asked they inform me of what is available. Hope to hear from them soon.
Charlie
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Update: Dave from Clearviewinvestments emailed back that they have a few stocks and based on his description they are likely Russians. None that he had were serialed with two alpha then numeric so not likely to be Romanian. But that's cool still way better than a crappy plastic sport stock that does not stabilize the action. Unfortunately he does not have any hand guards nor the wood for the gas tube. Dave doesn't have a bayonet either. He says it has been quite a while that he has even seen a blade bayonet. Once again a big THANK YOU to Justin Hell for the lead!! Stock is on the way.
Charlie
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Glad to help...so you got one from Dave?
If so, I hope his on hand supply is as nice as he had for the two I purchased from him. Getting matching stocks and handguards can really be frustrating...and so rarely do you get them together anymore.
I thought I had it made with a blank Chinese stock for an SKS I actually have the matching...new stock for, but it has some fugly stock repairs that just bother me....Got it, and it was all set until it came time to find a handguard that was in the same ballpark as the stock...I went through two that didn't match and ultimately ended on other guns...and then I got a super cool home brewed handguard without vents made by Loose Cannon...which I like better than the stock. It of course doesn't match any other stock I can find. Hopefully I don't have to hunt down a slab of Babinga and whittle my own. I could refinish the stock and hope to find a stain to match to a wood that is naturally 'red'...but not that red.
Part of the fun in restoring I suppose.
What variety of plastic stock did it come in...just out of curiousity?
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A piece of crap one! I can't find a name or any sort of ID anywhere on it. Black plastic, has a cheezy pistol grip and monte carlo cheek well on it with a recoil pad on the hind side. The action would waddle around in it, there was no place for the trigger housing tension spring. For take down you have to depress the trigger housing latch and pull up on the housing at the same time. Bring the rifle to shoulder and try to get a sight picture and the m/c cheek rest is banging against you cheek bone. A friking broom stick would be a better stock. I borrowed a Chinese short nut stock from a brother-in-law and the rifle will shoot approx. 2 inches consistently at 50 yards. At 100 yards I have a hard time getting a good sight picture. Feels like the action is still sitting a little low in the stock and has some movement. Not my stock so I can't do mods to tighten everything up. But it does tell me I need a Romanian or Russian stock and then I can tighten everything up and expect a real shooter. SO, now waiting breathlessly for the stock Dave is sending. I'll update the progress when it gets here.
Charlie
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Your aftermarket stock sounds like an ATI/Combat Exchange Monte Carlo stock...except for the lack of the spring...or even an access hole to transfer one from your previous stock. That makes me wonder if it is a Butler Creek stock...
I had to use an ATI stock today on a project...and the damn thing fits like a glove...I hate it, but the stupid thing works. I have another that was purchased used out of a barrel using up trade credit at a shop, it is a Combat Exchange...the previous patent holders before ATI bought them out...they are a little shiny vs a matte finish on the ATI. The CE one was mishandled during fitment by the previous owners...and does have a little back and forth slip on it...with a minimum of half a dozen SKSs attempted in it.
If it is a Butler Creek...I would be interested in it...despite being messed up (maybe). I have an affection for aftermarket SKS stuff...and a Butler Creek stock isn't in the collection. Most of said collection does not get used...I dig the wood...but being from Montana I feel remiss in not having a Butler Creek stock...despite not digging the MC stock much. :)
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check out eBay, good luck.
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JH I went up to the "Tower of Dome" and closely looked over that plastic furniture again. I still don't see any logos, names, model numbers, etc. Don't know how I overlooked it but there is a hole for an action spring. It has an end cap on the hand neck that is held on by a screw but there is not a logo or crest on it. The recoil pad looks like it may be an aftermarket unit. It fits well but looks like an extra hole had to be made to line up the anchor screws. Here are a few pics, maybe you can tell the brand of the stock. If you are interested in this stock shout back and we'll see what we can arrange
Charlie
(http://preview.ibb.co/edWj4w/DSCN0219.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jvsDxG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/hKMj4w/DSCN0220.jpg) (http://ibb.co/h4voWb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/djyaBb/DSCN0221.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hUSDxG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/dhZFBb/DSCN0222.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hT4txG)
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That kinda looks like a Combat Exchange a little more than an ATI but it is certainly one of either. The one hanging on my wall right now irritates me...even more than the other one that doesn't even have an SKS living in it. It's a means to an end...I don't intend for it to end this way though. :)
I have a Scout Scopes mount on this gun, and a genuwhine Norinco long eye relief scope for it...which requires a shell deflector. The front sight was removed for a muzzle brake...I messed with this gun enough before knowing any better that it is the recipient of several bubba modifications. I would have put a Chinese five round mag into it, but this particular gun has a feature discovered right here on this forum....it is a /906\ which has a peculiar factory mag with a crease/dent on the underside known only to /906\ guns. It is going to stay...I feel guilt....but I can at least leave it with that. It will have a temporary removal as it is going to be a test platform for the new polymer Marcus mag adapter prototypes. If it ever stops snowing enough for me to shoot again. They say we should get at least three feet before Sunday....I need a flamethrower. Spring would be a nice substitute...
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Got home yesterday (Friday) and there was the wood stock from Clearview. Overall what I would call very good shape. Dark color like most pics of Romanian and Russian stocks. Quick clean up with denat. alcohol and mineral spirits took off most of the grime and revealed the actual finish. Lacquering is thin in some spots but wood is in good shape. A few gouges but very acceptable, no carving anywhere. Four digit serial number laterally along left side above the sling swivel. I'll have to look at some of the pics of Russian and other SKS types to figure its nationality . No other marks or cartouches to aid in identifying it. Will post a few pics this evening. Would original Romanian stocks always have two alpha and four digit stamping? Kind of on the fence about stripping the finish completely and then refinish or just scuffing the lacquer and then apply fresh coat or two. Years ago I stripped and refinished a Yugo and it had beautiful two tone grain under all the cosmoline. Used true oil for the finish and had a great honey color in the end. Kind of sorry I sold it later, but it had been bubbaed and didn't shoot well at all. I was upfront with the buyer about it being restored to original equipment and not shooting better than 4" groups but he fell in love with the finish and color and just had to have it.
JH it's too bad you already have plastics hanging around, if you would have been interested I would have made you one of those New Orleans kind of deals on this one. I still owe you on the lead to this wood stock.
Charlie
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Sorry, in all my joy I forgot to thank P.32 and Echo also on their referral to Clearview. It would be terribly rude and un-Cajun like not to extend a "Thank You!" to you guys also. Now I just have to find some wood for the hand guard and a damn bayonet.
Charlie
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Sounds like a Romanian stock to me. thumb1
Post up some pics.... I dunno if I would do anything other then clean it.
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I'll have some pics coming tonight. Detail of the stock as well as the rifle action parts. Just mystified by the lack of alpha characters in the serial number and other markings. Either way it at least makes the Rommy look like what is should be.
Charlie
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Refurb romy stocks often ditched the letter prefix. Not unusual in the least. Wood type, hardware, and finish will determine what you've got to a pretty good degree.
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It most likely is a true Romanian stock, since you said you used denatured alcohol to clean it up. If it was a Russian stock with a shellac finish that would've have made it tacky or removed the shellac depending on the contact time and amount of ethanol applied. Since the Romanians used beech, you may see ray fleck (fish scaling) in certain areas.
Being basically at the far end of the purist spectrum, I'd leave the finish on the Romanian stock if it were mine. I confess I did refinish a Chinese SKS stock recently but my rationalizations were that: 1. it looked like driftwood that had been left on an untidy mechanics floor and 2. it was a Norinco/commercial SKS :))
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Hopefully my camera skills will give you guys a good look, here goes:
(http://preview.ibb.co/bta5gb/DSCN0228.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gHeWMb)
free picture hosting site (http://imgbb.com/)
(http://preview.ibb.co/iuxU7G/DSCN0229.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gqV5gb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/mFjnuw/DSCN0230.jpg) (http://ibb.co/d1u97G)
(http://preview.ibb.co/emjy1b/DSCN0231.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jAoQgb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/f2j97G/DSCN0232.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nrgBMb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/i5gWnG/DSCN0233.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kParnG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/gRT0gb/DSCN0234.jpg) (http://ibb.co/na6WnG)
I'll get some clear pics of the metal and post soon. Only reason I'm thinking of refinishing is all the bare spots of wood that could be damaged by the humid and rainy weather down here. This will be a shooter not a closet queen.
Charlie
(http://preview.ibb.co/fZOSSG/DSCN0237.jpg) (http://ibb.co/e2ou7G)
(http://preview.ibb.co/mGfJZw/DSCN0243.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iJCAgb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/k3g8Zw/DSCN0244.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nMZTZw)
(http://preview.ibb.co/doRaEw/DSCN0247.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kPfP7G)
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Looks like you got a nice Romanian stock thumb1
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Now if I can find decent wood for the hand guard and a bayonet I'll pretty much have corrected the damage done by Bubba. With any luck I'll be able to post pics of the metal tomorrow night. With the two pieces above the only non-matching items will be the stock, bayonet and the receiver cover. Wish me luck.
Charlie
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That actually looks pretty darn nice! Was that one of the high grade ones or the lower? I was kind of curious just how different the two would be. I think you did pretty well.
Myself I wouldn't even consider refinishing until you find a handguard. It is often difficult enough to get them in the ball park of matching, you might as well do both at the same time to achieve closer results...although I probably would leave this one alone...it has the look. I could seen even throwing on a cheese grater handguard on until the right wood turns up.
Also, bayonets are not serialed...so you have that going for you once you find one. :)
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This was a grade 1, Dave was very helpful in selecting what I wanted. He was in no rush to get it out the door and took all the time to describe what he had and gave very accurate descriptions of what he would send. Seems his basic MO is if a stock does not have any cracks or missing hunks of wood it is a 1, all else is a 2. He was upfront on the surface and finish and took the time to describe every #1 he had that fit my general requirements. He openly stated he did not know the source country of the stocks and that he had been told by previous customers that they were likely Romanian. I got the impression that he would send a pic if I had asked, but I didn't want to risk loosing this one.
Thanks for the advise on waiting for the hand guard wood. That is what I planned, but it is nice to know you guys are that willing to share and help. The only bayonet I've found so far was at a gun show and it was a Chinese knock off. An oval with "MADE IN CHINA" was cast into it near the shank. Almost went for it but that plus it looked like the blade was a cheep casting, I'd rather do without than to use a knock off.
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I may have a romanian handguard.... But I wanna see pics. :))
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?? What pics would you want? On page 1 of this topic I posted Pics of the stock I bought from Clearview. That post was done last night 12/30/17@ about 11:41 PM. Pics include the metal installed in the stock as well as multiple areas of the stock to help determine if it is a Romanian or other wise. The last 2 (close up of serial number and the swivel) give a really good representation of the color of the stock. Phosphorus 32 posted he believes it is indeed a Romanian. Tonight I will attempt pics of the metal w/close ups of the condition and stampings. I don't have a high end digital camera so I'll get the best the macro function on my cheapy will allow. If there is something special you would like to see, either post or PM a request and I'll do my best to include it.
Charlie
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Oops.... I missed the pics at the end of page 1. :o Sorry.
Ill try and get you a pic of the HG, its ugly and cracked..... you can make the call if you want it for the cost of shipping.
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No problem LC I've been known to miss a whole damn thread at times. So that's what my wood looks like and here is the best shots I can get of the steel.
(http://preview.ibb.co/cuPusG/DSCN0286.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c27sew)
(http://preview.ibb.co/bEpimb/DSCN0287.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hdt9Rb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/fGUNew/DSCN0288.jpg) (http://ibb.co/escm6b)
(http://preview.ibb.co/cGw2ew/DSCN0289.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nvdFzw)
(http://preview.ibb.co/fwjzRb/DSCN0290.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dO8R6b)
(http://preview.ibb.co/e8yFzw/DSCN0291.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gfZoKw)
(http://preview.ibb.co/eUttmb/DSCN0292.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cJhVXG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/mpaHCG/DSCN0293.jpg) (http://ibb.co/n6kvzw)
(http://preview.ibb.co/gHDtmb/DSCN0294.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cYSxCG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/eydtmb/DSCN0295.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cAbPsG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/nPoFzw/DSCN0296.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mzweRb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/hLtb6b/DSCN0298.jpg) (http://ibb.co/geZ5zw)
(http://preview.ibb.co/naa0XG/DSCN0300.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gRwURb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/i41kzw/DSCN0301.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fEFZsG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/mhBURb/DSCN0302.jpg) (http://ibb.co/d7xfXG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/gXG7CG/DSCN0304.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dS50XG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/eYRURb/DSCN0253.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hkcsew)
(http://preview.ibb.co/gJmkzw/DSCN0267.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fcSEsG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/b623mb/DSCN0268.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gNOXew)
(http://preview.ibb.co/j6CEsG/DSCN0271.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gtJ9Rb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/edadKw/DSCN0274.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ha3nCG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/fiFvzw/DSCN0275.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gOYR6b)
(http://preview.ibb.co/fMHKRb/DSCN0276.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cWX8Kw)
(http://preview.ibb.co/b62VXG/DSCN0278.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eZNVXG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/mHO4sG/DSCN0282.jpg) (http://ibb.co/exZAXG)
So there Rommy is in all its glory. We'll see what that Hand Guard looks like and go from there.
Charlie
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Here you go... Looks like its been sanded and refinished because the 'lips' on the ends are shallow. Also looks like the crack was repaired or strengthened in Romania. They made two thin cuts and glued in some thin slivers to reinforce it.
Dunno if its worth it to you or not.
(http://preview.ibb.co/nmbKRb/IMG_20180101_142945.jpg) (http://ibb.co/k5JoKw)
(http://preview.ibb.co/fh0eRb/IMG_20180101_142951.jpg) (http://ibb.co/h1tzRb)
(http://preview.ibb.co/ipZHCG/IMG_20180101_142904.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cQVqXG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/nDgKRb/IMG_20180101_142934.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mvXhew)
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Happy New Years to you and yours. Also the same to all on the forum. LC, thank you for your kind offer. I know it seems like I'm "looking a gift horse in the mouth" but I'm worried that the crack extends the full length of that guard. I'll have to pass it up. I do plan to restore the wood on this rifle and I'm concerned that guard will split during the process.
Charlie
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No problemo. thumb1
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A question to all you guys: anybody have data on the possible stains and finish that was used on the wood by Romania? I see most say the wood is beech and mine does look like it. A while back I had a Yugo that had been soaked in cosmo so heavily the wood was red. After I sweated the cosmo out and cleaned the wood it was a beautiful blonde with nice darker steaks. A finished with 2 coats of true oil and it had a nice honey color on the light grain and those dark grains really popped. Too bad the barrel had been twisted when the dummies in Cali. took the grenade tube off with a pipe wrench without first removing the roll pin. Best it would shoot was 3 inches right with the sights set absolute left. Once I have wood for the hand guard I want to refinish with the same system used by Romania.
Charlie
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Yugos aren't supposed to have any finish on them. :o
Get some garnet shellac flakes for the Romanian and mix it with denatured alcohol.
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Like this.
https://wellermart.com/products/dewaxed-garnet-shellac-flakes
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After I sweated the cosmo out and cleaned the wood it was a beautiful blonde with nice darker steaks. A finished with 2 coats of true oil and it had a nice honey color on the light grain and those dark grains really popped. Too bad the barrel had been twisted when the dummies in Cali. took the grenade tube off with a pipe wrench without first removing the roll pin. Best it would shoot was 3 inches right with the sights set absolute left.
That's a regular Greek tragedy right there. Hate that for you Charlie! cry1
Here's a few examples of nice original Romy stocks if you wanted to try and match what's there. Like LC says, garnet shellac certainly would look the part. thumb1
(http://preview.ibb.co/hZfDMb/CD3209_stock.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fzMynG)
(http://preview.ibb.co/fyV2Ew/CD3209_stock2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gW6aZw)
(http://image.ibb.co/kHF2Ew/CD3334_stock.jpg) (http://imgbb.com/)
(http://image.ibb.co/fdWynG/CD3494_right_stock.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dEdNEw)
(http://image.ibb.co/diYpuw/GH3289_right_stock.jpg) (http://imgbb.com/)
(http://image.ibb.co/mMJdnG/GH3289_stock.jpg) (http://imgbb.com/)
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The recent freezes down here have had me quite busy and I'm just now looking at the form. Once I can find the wood for the hand guard I hoping everything cleans up to somewhat like the stocks in picture 1 or 4 above. Then a nice coat or two of shellac and I'l be grinning ear to ear.
I know Yugos don't have a "finish" on them but this one was so caked with cosmo that you had to wash your hands in mineral spirits and then in soap and water after you picked it up just to look at it. Once I "leached" all the cosmo out the grain cried for a clear protective finish.
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I found this handguard, with a 2 stamped into the top of it for some reason, I don't know of any country that does this...but it looks dark like your stock. Could it be Romanian?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SKS-RIFLE-FOREARM-TOP-WOOD-PIECE-IN-GOOD-USED-CONDITION-HAS-2-STAMPED-ON-IT/122882213274?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
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Its birch.... Russian
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Any idea about the 2 stamped on it?
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Interesting to say the least. Don't know about the 2 but my rifle has 2 stamped in various places. The left side of the barrel nut, right side of the rear sight base and the trigger guard tab near where the retainer locks the housing into the receiver body. My guess is an inspector's mark. Are you buying this unit? I don't have any dealings with ebay but it might be a good time to start.
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I found it, marked it to watch and bring up for discussion here...and forgot about it. Several relistings later, it is still there. Pretty good price if you want to take a chance on it matching....anything is better than a plain jane plastic ATI right? :)
Having zero Romanian experience, I thought perhaps the 2 was something they might have done. The only other stamped handguards I have seen are on exDDRs....which I barely dare say around these parts. rofl
Those had horizontal stampings on the side though...
If your stock already has 2s on it...why not give it a shot. I haven't purchased from this seller, but their feedback is stellar considering how many sales they have had.
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OK, I just wanted to make sure you weren't going for it. Didn't want to be biting the hand that helps so to speak. I'll create an account with ebay and hopefully nobody has scarfed it up before I can get it. Thanks for the lead. You've been a great help on this project.
Charlie
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I think the reason it has sat around for so long is that not anywhere in the auction does it say handguard, or even hand guard rofl
I almost got it just for a conversation piece, I don't need it. You do...jump on it! You can get it close to right, until you can find an honest to goodness Romanian one. For less than fifteen bucks shipped it's hard to go wrong, you could resell it if you find one that matches better for at least that.
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Yea I bought it and it should be here around Saturday. Picture looks like a pretty close match. If not there are some wood finishing tricks I learned from my Carpenter Grandfather. Like you said even a Chinese orange wood hand guard would be better that that plastic piece of crap. Once again thank you for the lead on this piece.
Charlie
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The hand guard wood arrived on Friday pm and it looks better than it did on the sale posting. Now I have got to clean and refinish the stock so it looks as good as the hand guard. Found a bayonet in an auction and placed a bid now I just have to monitor the post and hope I win. I've got some guard pins coming in so I can get the wood on the gas tube.
If any of you guys want a plastic off brand stock and hand guard give me a shout and you can have it for shipping cost.
Charlie
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Still waiting for the pin so I can install the wood hand guard. Got a break in the weather today and went out to the range. With the action locked down securely in a wood stock I couldn't ask for a better shooter. Like the Yang Child I picked up just before Christmas, this weapon shoots better than my old eyes can see. Below is a picture of my average shooting after re-zeroing the sights in a tight fitting stock.
(http://image.ibb.co/fL8FnR/0115181726_00.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cj5H1m)
This is a standard 8 inch target with a 3 inch sticky attached so I can see the center at 50 yards. Ammo is Tula 154 gr. jacketed soft points. At 100 yrd. with a little +elevation I can hit skeet clays laid against the berm back stop. So I'm happy and feel I got a better rifle than the S&W pistol I traded off for it. And just for the record the shot outside the target at approx 11 o'clock was from the first rounds fired to zero with the wood stock.
Charlie
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Looks like a keeper!
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Most assuredly, till the day I die. Then it goes to my son and if he lets go of it I'll come up out of hell and kick his ASS !!!!! Next range trip I'll try the reload I worked up for the CZ 527 bolt I have. Hornady 7.62 SST that shoot a 1" or less group at 100 yrds. If it works as well as I think....Great Hog/ Dear Rifle for the thick Louisiana underbrush. Most shots are 50yrds or less down here.
Charlie
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Ok, I'm going to ask forgiveness from all the Dedicated Purist out there, but now that I have obtained a wooden handguard for Rommy that almost perfectly matches the wood of the stock I have cleaned and stripped the old finish off of both. This is the very nice brown stained wood that was under all the dirt grim and oil.
(http://preview.ibb.co/bCLeib/DSCN0306.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iX8X3b)
picture hosting websites free (http://imgbb.com/)
So now I'm going to refinish the wood with a commercial clear shellac in hopes the the brown stain makes for a rifle with distinct color and character. Now before you Purist hit the ceiling..... here is a picture of the Yugo I refinished some years ago.
(http://preview.ibb.co/ehQFpG/SKS_59_66_01.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fF1o9G)
As I have mentioned that rifle was so loaded with cosmo. that you had to wash with alcohol and then gojo soap after touching it. The color was a dark pumpkin orange and it would stain your clothes and leave grease smudges on your cheek. Another rifle I refinished is shown below.
(http://preview.ibb.co/byowww/DSCN0323.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nPXd9G)
That's Farm Boy, my late Uncle's farm truck gun. It spent its entire life (1971 to 2012) in his truck for protection from predators and the occasional visiting deer's last day. If that rifle got cleaned five times in all those years it would be too many times.
So my hopes are that I can return Rommy to near his first deployment condition and not like some fancy pants babied brat gun. I know some of you Purist will hate the idea. But I'm going to do this as a gesture of respect for what Rommy is and do not intend for him to leave my family from here on.
Charlie
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My purist had a mild stroke... :o :)
But......why clear? go for red shellac at least its closer to what Romania would have used color wise.... if it has the wood grain like the top rifle.. maybe it would be ok
My '58(2nd down) doesn't have a stitch of finish on it.. And slings.... a Romanian has to have it's sling thumb1
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/tjjydtx8ua8zhh4/SAM_1447_zps50780c2d.jpg?dl=0)
Close up of the top rifle butt stock..
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/algy91hp73yf8ca/SAM_0280_zpse68e9a30.jpg?dl=0)
Nice.. thumb1 is that a Glenfield 30A... a Marlin generic... I have one thats from '73 and had some work done to it, new reworked trigger, a bunch of smoothing and other accurizing work. It's almost as smooth as my Henrys now, and shoots like a dream and loves the Leverevolution ammo or 170gr Winchester.
She an ugly....but a deadly one.. easliy took my deer limit this year with her and 3 noisy blackbirds in the process, this is the first year I have used a .30-30....usually I'm banging around with a .45-70.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/vwmp1jdy1o7tcxf/SAM_1566_zps2eixmxyt.jpg?dl=0)
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The shellac color is still in debate, I don't find a local source for the garnet and I'm not crazy about blending the flakes not knowing the correct mix up front. I kinda like that chocolate brown tone. That Yugo's grain was totally hidden till I actually washed with ammonia/water to bleach out the cosmo. Close up this stock has some interesting spots where the stain is thin and makes me wonder what is being hidden. It is a definite that I'll be finishing the wood with shellac of some color. Down here in S.L. the humidity and "swamp bacteria" will eat the wood worse than the jungles of Vietnam.
Yes that is a 30A '71 vintage . My Uncle was a great farmer and family guy but he had no pride for his truck gun. The finish was almost down to bare wood. You can see the grease, dirt, oil, and likely deer blood and guts stains that just would not come out of the art work on the stocks. I had to back bore to barrel 1/4 inch because of rust pits from sitting in the gunk on the floor behind his seat. It likely had never been cleaned any more then a patch down the barrel. He always said it only needed to fire one shot at a time "cause I don't miss". He had willed it to me because I was the only one that ever fussed him for neglecting his rifle. But it cleaned up well, has character and operates smoother than new Marlins. It and I can keep 150 gr. jacketed lead points in 1 inch at 100 yds. Look close at the receiver and you can see the rust pits that would not sand out. Used a hot acid dip at the radiator shop and then neutralized, buffed, and cold blued. At least it is better off than red rust it had before. Oh, did I mention I HATE RED.
Charlie
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Oh, Greasemonkey don't panic. I do things in consecutive steps first was the cleaning and operational testing. I won't spend any time or money on a gun that doesn't shoot well. Next was to find the wood and return it to some level of original issue. Surprised you didn't yell about the bayonet. I've misses out on 3 on ebay because I'm too cheap to pay $75 for one. On the sling, would a cloth or leather be issue correct for a 58 Rommy? And I have to ask, is the Greasemonkey thing referenced to past or present occupation?
Charlie
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Most any hardware store has amber shellac.. Our Lowes and even that Home De-pot place does. I got a small can of amber from the local Ace.. cause I was too lazy to drive to the Lowes.. chuckles1
But it cleaned up well, has character and operates smoother than new Marlins.
Even "new" Marlins ain't Marlins.. No where even close.. they are Remarlins or Marlingtons.. Remington owns them and pretty much has control of them since '07 or '08. I bought a 1894 in '09 in .357.......biggest rachety P.O.S. I ever bought, even worse than the S&W Sigma 9ve.. The Sigma would at least cycle and fire..
Now......... I'm torn between trading that "Marlington" 357 for a Henry in 41mag or another 357.. :)
Oh, Greasemonkey don't panic. I do things in consecutive steps first was the cleaning and operational testing. I won't spend any time or money on a gun that doesn't shoot well. Next was to find the wood and return it to some level of original issue. Surprised you didn't yell about the bayonet. I've misses out on 3 on ebay because I'm too cheap to pay $75 for one. On the sling, would a cloth or leather be issue correct for a 58 Rommy? And I have to ask, is the Greasemonkey thing referenced to past or present occupation?
Charlie
Oh.. on the bayonet issue... I ain't gonna yell... I cant see it from my backyard.. but finding one cheap....... a Chinese blade would fit and stand in just fine, a later Russian would work as well, no one would ever really know the difference, most bayonets ain't maker stamped, much less serialized anyways.. as long as it isn't all fluffed and buffed, sharpened and shined... artsy fartsy guns and parts dont thrill me, I'm a function over looks kind person, even ugly guns need love, and I have a few wonderfully pretty, ugly guns, even have some that I can't shoot... If I wanted a pretty gun... they are made everyday by Weatherby, Cz, Henry, Remington, Cooper, Dakota Arms or Winchester.
The correct sling would be the leather style you see on my Romanians... they can be hard to find and run 50 to 100 bucks.. you can get lucky and find'em cheap.. but, you have to watch, wait and no holds barred....jump and go for it when you see it. If you wait around and hem and haw over it, it will vanish, quick.
And the Greasemonkey thing... almost 30 years and counting as a heavy truck/equipment mechanic..now............... I run the shop. :)
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Now I'm confused (not altogether uncommon for me) everybody was saying Garnet Shellac for a Romanian if I'm going to do it right. If you notice in my pictures this stock is brown, just slightly lighter than milk chocolate. I did try a spot of Zinsser Amber on the bottom of this stock. After the second application I was getting an orange shading. Stopped there and "washed" it off with denatured alcohol. What did you use the Amber on? The "58 you mention (second down), is it stained with brown or is it a dark red and just looks brown due to lighting when the pic was taken? Am I correct that almost all of these Romanian stocks and most Russians are Beech wood? All Beech I have ever seen is a cream kind of color with very little running grain lines unless quatercut. What am I missing on this color thing?
Charlie
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I used the amber shellac to undick a Mosin stock someone just had to "refinish" and an Ak stock. The Romanian wood is beech, the give away is the fish scaling seen in some wood, Russian SKSs used birch/artic birch or laminate...same wood as on the Mosin. The color difference you refer to might be just a simple comparison between tree species.. like red oak and white oak, english walnut and black walnut. Beech trees in Europe could be a different species than your common North American beech tree.
If you can get the garnet color shellac.. go for it..use it. thumb1 It's bound to be better than the...
So now I'm going to refinish the wood with a commercial clear shellac in hopes the the brown stain makes for a rifle with distinct color and character.
....you mentioned..
There is little to no finish remaining on my '58.. in person, it looks like bare wood with what little grain there is filled in with shellac.
The top one a '57 according to the original owner was taken out of the box like that.. The bottom two, a '59 and '60 both are as they came out the box when imported as well.
As for your orange issue.. I can't say.. This is the same brand amber shellac your using on my Ak.. my beater Chinese Mak90 wearing Romanian WASR 10 wood, refitted and refinished in amber shellac. I did 8 coats total... steel wooling it in between every 2 coats.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/8q54auuzpb86qwy/SAM_3211.JPG?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/v0u8v590cceq051/SAM_3212.JPG?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/v9jev4hw33ers0l/SAM_3213.JPG?dl=0)
It's ugly...but who cares.. it works.. and I can't see the wood while shooting it. :)
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8 coats! :o
No wonder how/why it obtained the darker color then a standard amber.
Whats hard about ordering shellac flake, adding enough denatured alcohol to get the right thickness your looking for, and putting it on there? Mixing dif color flakes not required if you but the color you want the first time.
Garnet..... make it happen . bat1
:))
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Okay LC, the last time I worked with shellac was over 30 years ago. I know the process for applying but never had to do the mixing. Mixing was done by my Grandfather and/or his brother. As you likely have been monitoring this thread you have seen my stock is stained choc. brown. So how much flake and what blend, flake to alcohol, would I need to obtain the correct color? Will the Garnet even "show" when on top of the brown? Were the stocks you fellows refinished stained brown before the shellac was applied? I really don't want to bleach the brown out of the stock. Old wood like this would suffer excessive drying after bleaching and likely be splotchy and uneven colored. There is very little "Character" to the grain bellow the stain and I don't think bleaching and the the garnet shellac would do much other than giving a candy apple red stock. And lastly can you recommend a reliable source to order Garnet shellac flake?
Charlie
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GM I think that is one fine looking '90. What color was the wood stained, if it was stained, prior to the shellac application. I wish my stock had that kind of grain character.
Charlie
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GM I think that is one fine looking '90. What color was the wood stained, if it was stained, prior to the shellac application. I wish my stock had that kind of grain character.
Charlie
No one has stripped, refinished, restained or did a re shellac job on any of them.. like I said, the '57 is second hand, the original owner swore he didn't refinish it. What he states is plausible, due to the fact all of the Romanian stock stamps are very clear and present and the stock serial matches the receiver, if it had been sanded, very shallow faint to unreadable marks or no marks would be present. The '59 and '60, one came to me directly off the big brown truck from the importer, Century Arms. The other came from AimSurplus. And a side from some cleaning, they are pretty much in the condition I received them in. And the '58 came from an auction, again, no restaining or refinishing......because it has little if any finish remaining.
Just my take on refinishing........ :)
I'm not big fan of refinished stuff.. I have passed on refinished items and just waited for an unaltered rifle. Sure, I have some that are refinished...only cause it's a cheap alternative and a way to try before you sink some money in something or, just get a beat around shooter. But, the refinished weapons I have are subject to be purged from the safes at any time, sold or traded for any reason due to the fact, to me, they are....faked and not original.
Commercial imported weapons like the Ak above..who cares, while I have another Mak-90 that is pristine and many other commercial weapons.. none are a hunk of history, unless you call the 1994 Assault Weapon ban a worthy, classy piece of history. To me, it's a dressed up wannabe thats trying so hard to be a military weapon.
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My questions you quoted in your last post were directed to the AK you said you applied 8 coats of shellac on. I understand the SKSs you displayed in the pictures above were left as you received and I respect that. The wood on the AK has a nice grain and I am wondering if the wood was stained or in the "white" before you applied the 8 coats of amber shellac.
Charlie
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What ever wood whoever used on the WASR 10s.. I just stripped the finish off, fit the pieces to the Chinese..and I slopped the shellac on them. I've seen some people say it's beech wood, others say it's a type of maple. Some say the wood was Romanian made, while others say it's American made.
I can say....who ever made it, that wood stripped bare.... I've seen better looking 2x4s and pallet wood grain, it is really just blah. The reason as I recall for 8 coats....is the butt stock and the hand guards didn't quite match...don't know why, maybe they are different type of boring wood, or something done during manufacturing.
This is one of my favorite stocks... :) Another I have never altered the finish on..
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/20eo62mboo36gyc/SAM_1177_zpse9f0a370.jpg?dl=0)
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Thanks for the info. SHEEEIT that one looks like some of those Real Flame paint jobs that have been all the craze for the past 5 or so years. I completely cleaned the Rommy stock and there are a few spots here and there that have small fish scale as you call it. Also a nice little spiral near the bottom of the hand grip. Might get lucky that a few grain stripes will stand out. After all the dirt and grime is gone the wood is a caramel brown so I'll use the amber shellac and hope for the best. Hopefully LC doesn't ban me for not using the garnet. Likely he'll want this shoved to the Altered Forum. Weather this week end is not good for doing refinish work. Temps below 50 and humidity at 90+% when it is not poring rain.
Charlie
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That sounds like good weather... chuckles1 it was 45 a day ago, now its 9 degrees with a nice breeze and the humidity is about 50% and snow and ice on the way currently. Coldest we hit this year was -11..
What's the worst that happens.. you have a traffic cone orange stock, decide to strip it back down and get some red shellac.
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No idea why you stained a stock brown that is supposed to be garnet shellac.
https://www.google.com/search?q=garnet+shellac+flake&client=ms-android-verizon&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3y53CjIrZAhUORK0KHWxGARIQ_AUIESgB&biw=640&bih=280
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https://youtu.be/aV11siPaJ_o
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I like this way.
https://youtu.be/np_VcpuMhYA
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No idea why you stained a stock brown that is supposed to be garnet shellac.
I don't think he stained it brown.. the Romanian wood has a I guess you would call it a chocolate color once the finish is removed. My no finish naked '58 is a chocolate brown color in normal light.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6x0pc7lsul5ken1/SAM_1406_zpsb6f85cab.jpg?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/y0ime692c41o5ug/SAM_1408_zps95b7c863.jpg?dl=0)
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As you likely have been monitoring this thread you have seen my stock is stained choc. brown
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No idea why you stained a stock brown that is supposed to be garnet shellac.
I don't think he stained it brown.. the Romanian wood has a I guess you would call it a chocolate color once the finish is removed. My no finish naked '58 is a chocolate brown color in normal light.
As you likely have been monitoring this thread you have seen my stock is stained choc. brown
think1..
OK.. lets do it the easy way.. lets find out straight from the source, not rely on mystical cryptic quotes..
Charlie... did you stain the stock brown, or do any color alterations after stripping, or was the stock in question already a chocolate brown immediately after you stripped the original finish from it?
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I figured the word 'stained' to imply that he stained it.
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No I did not stain the stock. When I received it there were only spots of shellac here and there and it was that dark brown you see in the pictures I've posted. I used denat. alcohol and remove what little shellac was present. This resulted in the completely dull chocolate brown color. I have washed the stock with water and 0000 steel wool and now the wood is a caramel color. Along the sides of the stock there are the usual faint grain lines common to Beech wood. Along the crown from the hand hold back to the shoulder rest there are a few sections of small fish scale. Along the base of the stock and just behind the sling swivel relief is another area of fish scale grain. Just off center of the hand hold knob there is a grain spiral. The water and wool has removed a good portion of what is obviously a brown water based stain. The wood does not have the usual pale blushed color common to beech and I'm reluctant to use anything to bleach out the remaining stain.
LC, thanks for the threads about red shellac. I'll research some sources as well as info on how much garnet flake I would need. If nothing else I do have plenty of time and good advice from you guys.
Charlie
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Up date: Making some progress. I was able to locate a bayonet. The seller said it was kinda rough but it was the only one he had that was chrome and not blued. When it arrived I was floored. The blade is not altered or sharpened. There is a cosmoline patina that gives it that original look of a 1958 unit that saw use and storage. Now the hunt for a suitable sling. Have a lead on a Hungarian leather sling. The leather is more tan than brown and I kinda think its a reproduction not an original. Any of you guys know if the Hungarian is a match for the Romanian?
Haven't had time to work on the stock refinish but am making slow headway on bringing this old rifled back to what it should be.
Charlie
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So far..as we know Hungary had no SKS...so no, it wouldn't match, it's more than likely an Ak sling. There is a world of difference between Hungary and Romania.. while somethings are close...such as they both used Aks, there is a difference, just because it it might fit, doesn't mean one should. It's along the same lines as fitting a Mosin sling on a M1 Garand.
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Correct sling... Narrow version
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/751070403
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Correct sling... Narrow version
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/751070403
Ouch. I know they’re hard to come by, but vojsko has a high opinion of his sling :))
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Thanks Guys, your answers are the very reason I asked. With the prices being asked for replacement items I don't want to waste cash on what the seller says is correct.
Charlie
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Thanks Guys, your answers are the very reason I asked. With the prices being asked for replacement items I don't want to waste cash on what the seller says is correct.
Charlie
Its not what the seller says.... its a fact. That is what a Romanian sks sling is. I know its pricey, but I was simply giving an example. They come along here/there at better prices but remember, they are not growing on trees.