Interestingly, this is one of the GOTW entries I'm very familiar with - because in '95 (I think), my dad, who was (and is) an avid collector of firearms, managed to score an SKS through one of his trading buddies.

I seem to recall it being an East German model, but my main memory of the thing is that, much like our example here, it came packed in enough cosmoline to preserve a small cow.

I got to "help" by handling the soaking of various parts after my dad disassembled the gun, then boiling, and then scrubbing until we ruined four toothbrushes, two pots, and the kitchen table. (Mom was about as thrilled about this as you would expect.)

I'm reasonably sure the kitchen smelled vaguely of the stuff until my parents remolded it after I went to college.

The gun itself still has pride of place in dad's collection, though, and is kept (unloaded, natch) hung in a place of honor above the fireplace unless he's taking it out for some light exercise at an outdoor gun club with some of his buddies.

Mom requires him to clean it outside, afterwards. :)