Refinish Soviet SKS Stock

[Travis Bickle]

I have a refurbished 1950 Soviet SKS.
The stock is a dark almost-black colour.
I can see on the upper handguard that there is a very nice orange coloured wood under the darkness.
My question is does anyone have any experience refinishing a Soviet SKS stock? What type of finish is on it?
I want to get it down to bare wood and BLO finish it like I did to my battered SVT-40 finish.
Is it a shellac/lacquer finish on it like any typical WWII era Soviet weapon?
If it is I would imagine the old de-natured alcohol and 0000 steel wool will remove the finish so I can get at the bare wood with mineral spirits and sand paper etc.
Any help/details would be appreciated.

 

[The Kurgan]

Yes and easy to do. See here for example(s):
http://m.flickr.com/photos/25437334@N02/5466446370/

 

[Travis Bickle]

Excellent.
I thought it looked like shellac similar to my old SVT-40.
So I'll hit it with the de-natured alcohol and 0000 steel wool to remove the shellac.
Clean it with mineral spirits to remove any oil that has gotten into the wood.
Then sand it down and begin the BLO hand rubs again lol.
Mine is 1950 and from the research I've done it should be solid arctic birch vice laminate.
I'll probably post some pictures if I find time.
Thanks for the link.