Originally Posted By AJ_Dual:


Get the barreled action out of the stock, and any other metal parts you can remove non-destructively, and holding them with a pliers at arms-length, douse them with boiling water. It'll melt right off, and be so hot it's self drying as it steams off.

They will be close to bare at this point and need re-oiling to prevent flash rust. Wait until the metal is just cool enough that you can handle it, and the warm metal will take up the oil quite well. Wipe off excess with a rag that's barely damp with oil so it doesn't remove all of it from any surface.

Slow heat and wicking like the sun/bags/car paper towels works on the wood. Solvents or water will destroy the finish.

Hot water and "purple engine degreaser" detergent from the auto aisle of Walmart works great on degreassing really badly soaked stocks. Only do this if the oil/cosmoline soaking is so bad, and the finish so beat up, you've got nothing to lose in doing this. It will strip the stock clean, and while wet, it's a good time to raise any scratches or dings in the wood with a clothes iron of soldering iron and a damp cloth to steam the wood fibers straight again.

The stock will be left looking gray and furry. Let it dry NATURALLY in a dark cool corner for 48-72 hours at least a week is better. Anything you do to try and force dry the wood, like sun, heat, a hair dryer will likely crack or warp the wood. A light sanding to knock down the fur, and the color will return 100% with a proper amber shellac/alcohol finish that is a decent match to what the original Russian/Soviet armories would have used.