SKS stock refinish?

Question

I have a Yugoslavian 59/66 SKS. I am seriously considering refinishing the stock but want to know if it is a good idea. I do not want to deminish any collector's value. They are plentiful guns so I don't think they will ever be worth a whole lot and even if they are mine probably will break by then considering how much I shoot. The stock itself is in good condition, I just want to add some new life to it. It has minor dings all over. It is slightly worn on places that come in contact with a rack. There is an "X" and the letters "SG" etched into the butt. It appears to have rotted a slight but in the surface near the rubber recoil pad.

What should I do? The initials in the stock are the only special thing about this that may make it worth collecting since they were probably put there by the Yugoslavian soldier who originally caried it, I know it has been issued from the sand and grass I have pulled from various places in it.

Thanks,
Colt. B.

Answer 1

There are so many Yugo SKS's in the country right now, that I wouldn't worry about diminishing the collector value. You can remove the dents or at last minimize them by laying a wet towel over them and raising the dents with a steam iron. If you'd rather, you could buy a replacement stock from www.sarcoinc.com, and keep your original in the closet.

Answer 2

Refinish Sks Stock

Answer 3

As your SKS, even tho it's Yugo, instead of Chinese, does not now, nor probably ever will have, any overt collectors' value in its' military configuration, especially with the stock damage you describe.
Rather than waste time, material, and effort refinishing a third-rate piece of scrap wood that most SKS furniture is, why not invest your coin in an aftermarket composite fiberforce stock? These can be had in several forms for less than $50. Especially as you can get the folding types again, now that "Slick Willy" Clinton's ILLEGAL gun regs have expired. You'd have a LOT more attractive and better shooting weapon than the rifle in its' rotten wooden stock is now, especially with a hi-cap magazine and a couple other bells & whistles, as well.
I have a Monte Carlo comp. from Midway USA on my Russian clone, and it was a 100% improvement over the original piece of scrap.

Answer 4

The stock is probably treated (soaked with) with oils or storage grease. All of that would have to be removed first. Find a tray or pan as long as the stock. Put stock in and pour mineral oil or lacquer thinner over it and let it soak a few hours, turning it over occasionally. When you think it's clean enough, wash it with hot soapy water and rinse with clean water. Don't let it soak up water. Set it in the sun light to dry completely a few days. Then it might be ready to sand if the sun didn't draw out any oils. If it has more oil on it, dip it again until all the oil is gone. When completely dry and oil free, then sand and stain or coat with a sealer. Spray polyurethane makes a good top coat.
It should be oil free and retain no water. If your sandpaper gets clogged easily, more oil has to be removed. Have fun!

Answer 5

I'd go for it. Refinish the stock and maybe even re-blu the hardware. It would look awesome!. If you want to dress it up but not mess with the original stock, buy a new one(they don't cost much) or get one of those new black plastic jobbies.

Answer 6

You can use a very fine grade wet-or-dry automotive sandpaper and spray a satin defthane finish on(polyurethane). Between coats, scuff with 0000 fine steel wool (there's some oil in this, dry with rubbing alcohol). You can get the spray on finish at lumber yards. There's also a brush-on called Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil gun stock finish. This is a buttery brown color, not completely clear, but pretty.

Answer 7

You might want to use some sort of wood preservative (do not use oil!). You need to get with those guys that collect M-1 Garands and M-1 .30 carbines. They will tell you what to do. Your gun is more of a curio. The value will only increase a little bit.

Answer 8

Nope, the way it is is the best.