Archived Posts » 59,672,804
The MAK is back
11/24/2010 9:19:19 PM
Back in the mid 90's, I bought a Norinco MAK 90 at a gun show in Slidell, Louisiana. Don't recall what I paid, but I'm sure it wasn't much, as I didn't make much money at the time.
Several years later, in the middle of a money crunch, a buddy bought the MAK from me, with the agreement that I would buy it back when I could.
Well, before that could happen, hurricane katrina visited, flooding both of us out of our houses. I ended up moving to North Carolina, he moved further inland in Louisiana.
Fast forward to today, I'm back in Louisiana for the holiday, visiting my friend and shooting our ARs in his neighbor's backyard range. The subject of the old MAK came up and, long story short, I left with the rifle.
He hadn't touched it since katrina, when it sat in several feet of water for about a week. He had it wrapped in an old blanket, along with a pair of shotguns, a side-by-side and an over-under.
The action still moves freely, there's a bit of light rust here-and-there, and the stock looks a bunch darker than I remember. Got dark out before I had much chance to dig into it.
So, what do y'all think? Salvageable? Anyone else have one of these spend some time under water? I know its hard to tell anything by this crappy cell phone pic.
I really can't wait to get back to NC so I can get started on what should be an interesting restoration project.
Several years later, in the middle of a money crunch, a buddy bought the MAK from me, with the agreement that I would buy it back when I could.
Well, before that could happen, hurricane katrina visited, flooding both of us out of our houses. I ended up moving to North Carolina, he moved further inland in Louisiana.
Fast forward to today, I'm back in Louisiana for the holiday, visiting my friend and shooting our ARs in his neighbor's backyard range. The subject of the old MAK came up and, long story short, I left with the rifle.
He hadn't touched it since katrina, when it sat in several feet of water for about a week. He had it wrapped in an old blanket, along with a pair of shotguns, a side-by-side and an over-under.
The action still moves freely, there's a bit of light rust here-and-there, and the stock looks a bunch darker than I remember. Got dark out before I had much chance to dig into it.
So, what do y'all think? Salvageable? Anyone else have one of these spend some time under water? I know its hard to tell anything by this crappy cell phone pic.
I really can't wait to get back to NC so I can get started on what should be an interesting restoration project.
11/24/2010 9:59:54 PM
That should clean up fine. You could probably refinsh that stock but I'd get a nice Ironwoods stock set for it to make up for your neglect. How are the internals? My guess would be they'd be ok after a good cleaning.
11/25/2010 8:26:02 AM
It's a diamond in the rough. You've got to bring that girl back to life.
11/25/2010 9:50:41 AM
Well, I couldn't wait to get back to NC to get started, so I went out this morning and started pulling parts off. I'm surprised things look a s good as they do, no rust on the springs and such, nothing is stuck, came apart easily. I don't have any of my .30 cal. cleaning stuff with me, but I did run a patch down the bore with some CLP, and whatayaknow, it still shines. That was the part that worried me the most, but no problem there.
I'll almost certainly be getting a set of Ironwoods for it, never was a big fan of this thumbhole stock anyway.
If I had a magazine, (already have ammo) I have no doubt whatsoever this gun would work as well as it did before.
I'll almost certainly be getting a set of Ironwoods for it, never was a big fan of this thumbhole stock anyway.
If I had a magazine, (already have ammo) I have no doubt whatsoever this gun would work as well as it did before.
11/25/2010 5:55:03 PM
It looks great! I bought my first shotgun from a guy who had just recovered it from a river after it was submerged for 6 months. It was rusty and pitted and mud caked and is still functioning fine after 15 years.
11/27/2010 4:02:54 AM
Here's a thought: Maybe you could do a battlefield pick-up look to it . 
Sounds like alot of the "finish" work has been done for you! 
Just a suggestion.
Sounds like alot of the "finish" work has been done for you! Just a suggestion.11/27/2010 9:51:35 AM
Actually, I was thinking about doing just that! Saw one done that way on another forum, looked great... will be ditching that scope-mount receiver cover, though.
11/27/2010 9:55:35 AM
Should be good to go no problem. Somewhere on youtube, there is a video of a bunch of people (think in Africa) opening up a weapons hoard that has been hidden for 20+ years. One of the guys with a rusty ak pours oil on it, and in a few minutes he is able to fire it.
edit- here it is (at 2:00 mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4v9ElJgkpw&feature=player_embedded
Hit the rust up with oil and steel wool. Try to avoid scratching, and take your time.
edit- here it is (at 2:00 mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4v9ElJgkpw&feature=player_embedded
Hit the rust up with oil and steel wool. Try to avoid scratching, and take your time.
11/28/2010 9:51:07 PM
Ha! After watching that vid, I don't think I'll even bother with the cleaning, just head on out to the range. What was I worried about? 
11/29/2010 6:20:59 AM
Unless you did an FFL transfer to get the gun back..
Might want to delete that part about being an NC resident receiving a gun from a LA resident. Just sayn'
Might want to delete that part about being an NC resident receiving a gun from a LA resident. Just sayn'
