Mak finish question

[shadow_dog]

I originally posted this in the gunsmith section, got no replies, thought I'd try it here. Forgot I had the Mak stored.--





I have a EG Makarov that I have had in the safe for about 2 years stored in a "pistol sock". When I was cleaning the safe the other day I found it. When I put it in the safe the finish was deep dark blue, now it is dull and faded looking. I know humidity is not a problem in the safe, only the Mak shows this condition.

I cleaned it with cleaner, then re-oiled it. It looked good for a couple of days then the dull finish reappeared. What happened? What can I do to restore the original darkness?


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[Bushbacker]

An unissued Bulgarian that I got looked similar when I used Simple Green to clean off the cosmoline. I've read since that stuff gets out every bit of oil from the pores of the metal, or something like that. When I put CLP on it, it looked as it should and has stayed that way.

Odd yours should dry out so quickly after re-oiling. Maybe use CLP or something else?

[North Bender]

There were some EG Maks imported with dull finishes. I have one that's import marked SSME, and others have reported that Cole Distributing also imported some. If you have one of these dull-finished Maks, they will look bright only as long as oil is fresh.

I heard the German's altered the finish at the arsenal prior to selling them. My SSME does not have matching internal parts, which may (or may not?) support that theory.

[Teakwood]

Clean it.
Then oil or wax it (use car wax, not polish)

[spober]

3 month in my truch center console glove box ruined the finish on my EG Mak.it was really a nice mirror blue with white lazer engraved ruko imported buffolow n.y. ernst thalman ect...all hazed over from vibrations between the floor of the glove box and the flat of the slide ,throw in a bit of dirt and grime and a few sand granuales and wala ruiened blue.
ive been wanting to go with hard chrome threw tripps but not sure i want to fill in all the import ie date marks ect.maby it wouldnt matter.