For what it’s worth, I’ve got a silca from the early 80s and an SKS (I believe) from the 90s. I can still get parts for both.

Brilliant!

Some background for those who might not know.

archive.ph link to article.

A couple more photos.

It’s been hanging around the last few months watching the chickens.

Might seem a bit out there, but color matched paint is so easy these days. Even if it’s faded, they can match that. You could just touch up the worn areas and try to leave as much original as you wanted. I’m kind of a traditionalists with old mechanical things though, so maybe this is bananas.

Yeah, the lighter areas are where it has come up and been reapplied. Linseed oil gets darker with age, but I think the really dark areas are from a mold or mildew. I’ve only seen that in places with a lot of moisture year round.

It looks to me like years of linseed oil without any sanding or prep work in between.

Oh you!

Chester is one handsome kitty.

It’s not like he has ever played the “just jokes” card before. /s

… as well. Right?

That sounds dubious.

A company once driven by engineers became driven by finance. Atlantic article by Jerry Useem

It’s seems like they are doing a great job of that by themselves.

So much floof!

wait… i had something for this…