Well I got one of those SKS packages , Gun and a box of ammo, 1400 rounds… for a great price (under 375.00) (un Issued, which means even tho its from 1963 it was never used)
The SKS Type 56, 7.62 x 39, 1963 made in China. The ammo is surplus and corrosive, which means after a day at the range… there is cleaning to be done beyond what one might do for a more modern rifle. Below you see the unboxing and the cleaning took quite a few hours. I researched online the best techniques to get the cosmoline off and the one i chose was a mix of a lot of advice. What I ended up doing was boiling the metal parts that would fit in the pot and using brake cleaner on the rest. The wooden parts I used a combo of dish soap and “Simple Green”
Oh By the Way don’t put the gas tube in boiling water with the wooden piece still attached, if I made one mistake that was it, the shellac started to dissolve too. I tried to mask it with some stain but gave up and chalked it to experience. I would say the best cleaning was the boiling water and the brake cleaner they both worked well. Once I was done I oiled it all up and header to the range. It was Great 350 rounds later I was back at home smiling and cleaning.
Well this was October 2013 ish.
Oh yes and the absolute joy of getting to clean all the cosmoline off…
Soaking, scrubbing.. 
And finally … ahhhh clean…. click on the image to the right to get a close up look at the parts
I regret not taking a shot of the close up before I cleaned them but I was covered in cosmo and was not about to touch my camera.
With the bayonet extended.
