A little touch up

[copycat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/copycat/S4020137.jpg[/IMG]
Had to due a little touch up, a couple of coats of shallak sure dressed the old gal up.

[RIKA]

Copy, I can't see your photo.

RIKA

[copycat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/copycat/S4020137.jpg
OK maybe that will work. Well that's not exactly what I ment to do, but you get the idea.

[copycat]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/copycat/S4020139.jpg
Let's see what this looks like. Nothing like trial and error.

[Magnum88C]

Looks pretty nice the way she is.
Looks like a late-model Ishevsk, what's the year and make?

[copycat]

It's a M38, 1942. I did a good cleaning and 4 coats of shallak.

[RIKA]

It looks beautiful Copy. Hope my AK refinish comes out that nice.

RIKA

[Terry G]

How the heck are you going to get that pin out, Rika? After studying my Poly-Tec, I would think it's going to really tough without damaging the wood. I would think you could darken the wood with it in place. On my Mausers I stripped the cosmoline with Mineral SPirits, then "sweated' the rest out by wrapping the stock in paper towels, and putting it in a plastic bag in the sun. When the cosmoline came out, I used boiled linseed oil and Olde English Polish to darken it. Removing pins bothers me, but then, I don't have the expertise of some. My SKS's were cosmoline soaked, too but you don't have that problem with your AK. You might want to try the mineral oil BLO treatment before tearing the whole rifle down. Four of my SKS's were "light: I darkened them with this process, except for the on "blond" that had dark metal, I liked the contrast. Besides, every man needs at least one Blond in their life.

[copycat]

Very impressive Terry G. I think I'm jealous.

[RIKA]

I think I'm jealous too but in a good way.

Terry, I found the answer on the AK. The lower handguard is held in place by the front band. The front band is secured - not by a plunger -- but by a tiny throw lever on the top right hand side of the band. It works just like the takedown lever for the top handguard/gas tube but the little lever is tiny. I moved it 180 degrees with a pin punch and then moved the band forward with a nylon drift. The bottom guard came right off. Thank you so very much for your help. I've included a photo for everyone to see. You can see it sticking up on the right side.

RIKA

[Terry G]

Good Job, RIKA. I took a closer look at my Norinco and it IS a lever design, not a spring loaded plunger like I first thought. I learn from you again. I want you to stop this, your making me look bad.

[RIKA]

Me make you look bad? Never! We all learn from and help each other. Thats what makes it fun.

RIKA :)

[copycat]

Very cool Rika, we'll expect to see pics of the finished results.