Carved stock yugo

[Narcisist]

This is a Yugo 59/66 made in '69 that a buddy of mine recieved as a gift. I cleaned it up for him, (I'm a nice guy like that) and a whole bunch of rags later, it's mostly clean. But anyway, it has a few characteristics in the stock that my buddy likes, says it gives it character. Anyway, I was wondering if there's a way to clean this stock up without disturbing these carvings too much? Also, if anyone has any clue what they mean, I'd love to know.

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/2025/dsci0290bx0.jpg
http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/3310/dsci0292vi1.jpg
It's hard to see, but on this one there are four c's opposing each other in the spaces around the cross.
http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/6092/dsci0293lv9.jpg

[Teleplayer]

When you say, "I was wondering if there's a way to clean this stock up without disturbing these carvings too much", do you mean that you want to clean the cosmoline out of the fibers of the wood, or do you want to put a refinish (other than the carvings)?

Steve

[HighDesertWolf]

the second picture looks like a Cyrillic S and C likely the initials of who ever carried that rifle and the third picture is a of a Serbian Cross.

[Narcisist]

I'm trying to talk him into refinishing it, but for now, I would love to just get the tachiness out of the wood. Thanks for the info on the symbols, much appreciated.

[Teleplayer]

To get the cosmoline out, you can try several things. All of them involve getting the stock very warm (almost hot). The cheapest is to put the stock in a garbage bag (preferably a dark one), and hang it in the sun for several hours. You can do this several times to get all of it out. This is how I am going to do my next refinish of a rifle soaked in cosmo.

What I did last time was basically get as much out as I could with very hot, boiling water, then sanding with the following progression: 36->60->100->150->220->400->Tung Oil. For the most part, I still have all the unique markings on the stock, but think that I may have been too aggressive. By getting all -- or most -- of the cosmo out using heat and patience, I think you can actually get away with less sanding.

Essentially, you don't want to rush the process. I have had to learn that the hard way. I like immediate results. And sometimes I forget that the cosmoline has been on most of these rifles either since before I was born or not long after. It isn't going to come out of the wood quickly.

Steve

[Narcisist]

Thanks for the info, one more question. Is the muzzle brake on this rifle the actual grenade launcher, or is it one of these kalifornia modifications I've seen?

[Teleplayer]

On your friend's Yugo it looks like the original launcher was removed and muzzle brake was installed.

[Narcisist]

Well, that's just unfortunate.

[proudamerican831]

I put one of mine in the dish washer with cascade. The next day I sanded it being careful not to take much off. Many of the dents and dings were gone and the grease was gone. One big hint, Make sure your wife isnt home, lol.
I used birchwood casey walnut stain and then birchwood sealer and then birchwood casey tru oil. 10 coats, and then, show it off every chance I get.