So I've just picked up my very first rifle from lever arms. It's a refurbished russian sks with tula 1954 stamped on it. I'm very happy with it... especially the price tag. Anyway, after doing some research on scary things like cosmoline, slamfiring and rust, I took my rifle apart and soaked everything metal in kerosene... except for the gas cylinder that is. That part had a wood handguard attached. Instead I just rubbed down the metal parts of it with a kerosene-soaked cloth and some q-tips. The trouble started when I inserted a q-tip into the tube. It came out electric blue. What the heck is this stuff??? Should I clean it out? Is it important?
What the heck is this blue stuff in my sks??
- Thread starter SMLE_Dingo
- Start date
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
Found the same blue residue in my SKS barrels too. Could be some kind of preservative they apply at when they refurb.
I just removed the residue, applied a very thin coat of grease on the gas piston (people say the piston/cylinder should be dry but I don't think a little high temp grease will hurt) and went shooting. No problemo.
I just removed the residue, applied a very thin coat of grease on the gas piston (people say the piston/cylinder should be dry but I don't think a little high temp grease will hurt) and went shooting. No problemo.
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Grease!
A dab of lithium or graphite grease in the piston groove is good. Just keep the piston tube clean and grease free.
The short secondary op rod and its braided return spring (in the front sight base) will benefit from a good coating of lithium grease, too.
Just be careful when releasing it or it will fly across the room; put your finger on its head while pivoting the lever up one more notch.
Good cleaning!
PP.
A dab of lithium or graphite grease in the piston groove is good. Just keep the piston tube clean and grease free.
The short secondary op rod and its braided return spring (in the front sight base) will benefit from a good coating of lithium grease, too.
Just be careful when releasing it or it will fly across the room; put your finger on its head while pivoting the lever up one more notch.
Good cleaning!
PP.
Not sure if it's the same or not, but I thought I'd mention it. I use foaming bore cleaner on my guns which reacts with any copper in the barrel, and the first few patches come out a very vivid blue until the copper's gone.
Perhaps you are getting a similar reaction?
Perhaps you are getting a similar reaction?
