I took the gun down to clean it and was surprised at the condition of things.
There was even still cosmoline under the handguard on the bottom of the wood, everywhere on the metal under the stock, the underside of the mag body and all up in the trigger assembly. Basically everywhere you couldn't reach from just rubbing the gun down.
Just one quick example:
I ran some patches down the bore, and it came out clean in 3 passes, but I went a total of 5 just for good measure. I took the piston out, and barely got a hint of fouling on my fingers and the black paint on the rear of the piston was not even scratched or worn. I really appreciate whomever owned it before me for taking such good care of that gun.
I decided that since I have an original style SKS in the collection already, I want to get the parts to change the new one over to a bubba'd conversion just for the heck of it. I thought about dusting off my airbrush and giving it a nice camo job, but the gun is too nice for that and one day may be worth my time to put all the OEM parts back on it and sale it that way, so after I get all the new U.S. made parts in, I will be storing all the original parts until then if that day ever comes.
But for the time being, I ordered enough USA made components to be in compliance and change this one over to accept detachable mags, folding stock, bayo, etc.
I really like the SGW bullpup, but in my head, I can't justify the $270 asking price for the upgraded version of the bullpup stock. Especially since that was almost what I paid for the gun itself.
So, I am bidding on one of the old style "Made in Kentucky" ATI folders that are reminiscent of the HK folders because I am not a big fan of the new AR style collapsibles on the SKS.
I know it doesn't count as a 922 part, but I also ordered one of the Murray firing pin with spring to upgrade the bolt with. It is one of the parts that I absolutely will not shoot the gun without because my first SKS had a nasty habit of popping primers when it got real dirty because the firing pin would protrude just enough to light a primer when you weren't expecting it. The Murray spring keeps the firing pin back and away from the bolt face like the original Russian design and doesn't allow the firing pin to float.