SKS-FILES FORUM
AK and AR => AK Family: Saiga, MAK, Vepr, WASR, Zastava, etc. => Topic started by: Weldrdave on April 24, 2020, 09:23:58 AM
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Hi all, I "Never" thought I'd be posting here in this thread but I figured I'd put up a couple pics of my recent, (By pure accident) find. This is one of those deals that fall's into ones lap while not even looking. I was at a friend's place talking and having a Beer when we go talking about a couple of my SKS's. This friend is a hunter and could care less about them, he's a bolt action gun guy. He said his brother had this old Romanian gun sitting in his garage, "in the corner" for years! (He thought it was an SKS) :o So I asked him, is it junk? Is it for sale? could it be a wall hanger? So, long story short I got his phone number and called. The fella said, sure I'll sell it and it's not doing me any good so not sure what I was getting into I went over. Ok, to move on... I took these pics, "after" the thought and disassembly, I put it back together for the pics. "Remarkably" The bore and the internals are in outstanding shape!!! This rifle was 3ft from a garage window so you can imagine sitting in a corner for about 15 years, what it looked like. I had to think if the SKS files had an AK thread so thats why I'm putting it here. Also, since cleaning "again" and getting things working I have shot it and amazingly it is shooting well. I've shot 100 rounds through it and the groups are getting better, 4" at 50 yards so far... Hope you like the pics, I believe I save this from the junk pile...
(https://i.ibb.co/drh2TM8/DSCN4066.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hyqW693)
(https://i.ibb.co/Y3QV76Q/DSCN4069.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pxwkvgw)
(https://i.ibb.co/B6Q9qJ9/DSCN4072.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PWPdwyd)
(https://i.ibb.co/grqgm8m/DSCN4064.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vcyzVWV)
(https://i.ibb.co/wMj37XR/DSCN4073.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hDwhcjy)
(https://i.ibb.co/rMsjR92/DSCN4071.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Qndg30v)
(https://i.ibb.co/bdKFhGF/DSCN4070.jpg) (https://ibb.co/s3VCSXC)
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thumb1 thumb1 I love the look.. natural, like it was picked up out of the field and just wiped off.
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*NOTE* forgot to mention, I gave $300 for it. He wouldn't take less, I offered $200 and said it would just sit there. It was killing me to see that cry1 So, I broke...
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Even with the rough external finish that was well worth the three Benjamins thumb1 Good job cleaning it up and saving it from the rust bin.
Did it come with any extra magazines? They’re hard to find and a bit pricey, I hear.
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No, nothing just the way you see it. I was lucky, I found a person who had one, a 10 round as I have, on one of the "gun shopping sights" that was N.O.S. and I got it for $30.00 shipped.
I'm gonna spend "much" more time with this just to make sure I stop the future rusting. I believe as long as the wood is sound, (which it seems) and I get "all" the surface rust completely off and keep it lightly oiled, she'll be fine! It does look battle rough, but is a good shooter so far. I don't even own a .223/5.56 or AR and had no intentions of getting one, I do now I guess... whistle12
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nice save, thanks for sharing Dave.
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Congrats, on the price and pick-up.
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Good save, and good score!
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Congrats on the find and the purchase price! SAR-3's are good shooters. Many were sold with the 30rd. East German 5.45x39mm AK-74 bakelight mags that had been worked over to fit and function in the 5.56 SAR-3's. The steel Weiger mags like the one you have there are definitely harder to find and pricey. They'll compete in price with the Polytech AK mags with the chrome followers. (Talking about the 30rd steel Weiger mags here.) Yours has the two push-pin floorplate, right?
The rust pitting takes a toll on resale price for collector value. But unless there's deep pitting on the inside, in places that need a smooth surface to function correctly, you'll be able to enjoy that rifle for a long time. Hard to imagine somebody leaving a rifle like that sitting in the corner of a garage to rust away. I guess "valuable" has a different meaning to some folks. Just glad you found it and were able to get it and restore it to functional again! I'd be proud to own it any day!
I'm a bit jealous. I have the SAR-1's and SAR-2's. Always wanted to complete the set but always seem to hear about them like this. cry1 Thanks for posting it up!
firstchoice
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Yes, it does have the two pin plate! I took the mag apart and it was perfect inside. I just found another on the gun buyer site and got a N.O.S. one for $30.00, it
s being shipped as we type. I've been kinda a SKS buff since retiring and been hovering around learning! This has been a "GREAT" place for this old Chief! I have a couple old junkers, M1 Garand, 1917 Enfield, and some SKS's. When I was in the military and moving from place to place it was "hard" to haul guns around without the legalities and my position. I wasn't about to get in trouble and lose a carrer because of a few rifles so I sold 90% of what stuff I had off. I'm slowly recovering my "wants" if you will. I have to move one more time but that is to a very, very KIND gun oriented state where I own lots of land. 8)
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So, using the "high quality" targets I use, 7" paper plates chuckles1 This is where it's shooting in at 50 yrds. I believe my eyes are some of the problem here whistle12, But Take this all day! I shot 30 rounds today and this was about the best group. I had them all on the other plates, but nailed some good orange here! :). I cleaned it "again" this morning I'm very happy now with the old girl. it seems to be 99.9% rust free...
(https://i.ibb.co/ykBwb4c/DSCN4075.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vdv7KX6)
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Nothing wrong with your high dollar targets! :) Whatever gets us to the range, right? Same here on the old eyes. I'm just happy to get trigger time.
Did you get your 2nd 10rd Weiger mag? It's good to have those. Are you going to try to find some 30rd mags of whatever type for your SAR-3?
There's only been a couple of members post pics of their SAR-3's since 2015 and neither have posted since their original thread. There may be some AK enthusiasts out there that could fill in some info about exactly what mags will fit and what, if any, modifications to the mags that are needed.
firstchoice
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I "did" find a fella with a N.O.S. Weiger 10 round and it fits Perfect on Gun broker! Shoots fine, no jams. :)
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I see those mags pop up on the AK site from time to time
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I see those mags pop up on the AK site from time to time
What AK site are you referring to Larry? I'd like to check out a few things myself.
firstchoice
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This thread is just begging for this......
Why did the AK collector have to go to the hospital?
He had a case of SARS. Ba da crash
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This thread is just begging for this......
Why did the AK collector have to go to the hospital?
He had a case of SARS. Ba da crash
Ay Carrumba
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Found a link to some Weiger 30rd. mags. Not as pricey as I thought...Buy a dozen! chuckles1
https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html (https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html)
firstchoice
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Found a link to some Weiger 30rd. mags. Not as pricey as I thought...Buy a dozen! chuckles1
https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html (https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html)
firstchoice
I found a fella in Wisconsin who had 7 of them. He now has 5. :) 8)
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Found a link to some Weiger 30rd. mags. Not as pricey as I thought...Buy a dozen! chuckles1
https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html (https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html)
firstchoice
I found a fella in Wisconsin who had 7 of them. He now has 5. :) 8)
Excellent! Was the cost comparable to the ApexGunParts website? I'm looking forward to hearing how well they function in your new-to-you SAR-3. I've always heard they were made for it but all the SAR-3's I'd seen to date were bought with the 10rd Weiger mags or the bakelite "modified" mags. I may have to start buying some of the mags for that elusive SAR-3 that's out there waiting for me. chuckles1
And you know it's gonna look good! thumb1 8)
firstchoice
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Found a link to some Weiger 30rd. mags. Not as pricey as I thought...Buy a dozen! chuckles1
https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html (https://www.apexgunparts.com/ak-wasr-3-sar-3-wieger-30rd-magazine-steel-5-56-223-excellent.html)
firstchoice
I found a fella in Wisconsin who had 7 of them. He now has 5. :) 8)
Excellent! Was the cost comparable to the ApexGunParts website? I'm looking forward to hearing how well they function in your new-to-you SAR-3. I've always heard they were made for it but all the SAR-3's I'd seen to date were bought with the 10rd Weiger mags or the bakelite "modified" mags. I may have to start buying some of the mags for that elusive SAR-3 that's out there waiting for me. chuckles1
And you know it's gonna look good! thumb1 8)
firstchoice
Got them for $55.00 a piece, Delivered! N.O.S. Weigers
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Even in the shape it’s in externally, $300 for a SAR 3 is quite a deal. Congratulations
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Like.
Congratulations.
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Hello again all, well I know some of you remember that I "snow camo'd" a Californized SKS and it turned out nice. Well, After a full weeks worth of work, everything that could possibly come apart, (did). I completely stripped the barrel, receiver of all bluing, acid etched all the rust (again) and spent a week refinishing the wood. This was painstaking but all worth it.
I competely stripped and sanded the wood down to 220 grit and 4 coats of Minwax clear poly. The barrel and reciever is flat, baked enamel, same as BBQ paint and has 2 coats of that on it. I've since shot it and not a single issue. As you can see from the first post, the before pics and after pics. I sure wish I took pics of it when I first got it. It was a mess to say the least. cry1.
Enjoy the "New" looking SAR3. Dave. :)
(https://i.ibb.co/9YCzmpc/DSCN4161.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f0PBVXq)
(https://i.ibb.co/GVzCSPH/DSCN4159.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fCjrw0D)
(https://i.ibb.co/R7QpBfd/DSCN4160.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HXGDx63)
(https://i.ibb.co/6y4yP1s/DSCN4162.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qDRDsW1)
(https://i.ibb.co/QMQb4HX/DSCN4163.jpg) (https://ibb.co/89sKHxX)
(https://i.ibb.co/WDyzQ23/DSCN4164.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tZs2SJh)
(https://i.ibb.co/YXbQCBt/DSCN4165.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ypVP9F8)
(https://i.ibb.co/hH9GMNF/DSCN4166.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nfmX0yM)
(https://i.ibb.co/D7j5GqG/DSCN4167.jpg) (https://ibb.co/P5VwTST)
(https://i.ibb.co/XWLDV9s/DSCN4168.jpg) (https://ibb.co/514k2d8)
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Very nice job. thumb1
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Can't believe I didn't post about the "refurb".
Looks great.
The more I look at this thread, the sexier that rifle gets.
Go visit that guy again!
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Very nice.
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That's a thing of beauty! I love that you were able to take it from an underappreciated workhorse to like-new. Really nice job.
How did you remove all of the of the bluing? And how did you put on the new enamel so evenly?
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That's a thing of beauty! I love that you were able to take it from an underappreciated workhorse to like-new. Really nice job.
How did you remove all of the of the bluing? And how did you put on the new enamel so evenly?
Phosphoric acid in a plastic tub will remove bluing easy and "neutralize" ant rust. The bore was in "Great" shape so I plugged the muzzle and chamber hand cut rubber wedges I made and forced them in so not to get any acid in the bore. It really wouldn't have hurt it anyway but I wanted it left alone. I just used a disposable paint brush and worked at it slowly. Actually washing an hour it was completely bare metal. I then used soap and water to thoroughly clean the acid off and rinse real well. I instantly dried with towel and blowdryer to stop moisture for starting surface rusting.
I warmed up my BBQ grill at 200º and threw it in. After it got to temp in about 15 mins I pulled it out with a welding glove, hung it by the last stock tab screw hole with some wire and put on a first "light" coat, almost dusting of High heat (Rustoleum) BBQ flat black paint in about 85º ambient air and no wind. Once this acted as a primer, and sat for a few hours I then did another coat, still hanging a little heavier, checking for runs. Lucky it being outside in the sun it was staying hot and drying quickly. I let that set 24hrs. The next day I repeated the process. This is the results.
As I'm getting older, my patience is much better with stuff like this. But, I always did love making something nice from a pile of $#!T. thumb1. For the price of a small can of clear gloss min-wax and a can of enamel paint, it didn't come out to bad! :)
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Thanks for posting the tutorial, Dave.
Great job.
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Yes, "muy bueno" as they say in Canada! clap1
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Yes, "muy bueno" as they say in Canada! clap1
Si.
A mi me gusto muy mucho.
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Yes, "muy bueno" as they say in Canada! clap1
In Canada huh?I always thought it was "tres bien".
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Oops, I meant "muy bueno, eh!" rofl2
It's just a little stupid joke I say to people at work. "No es bueno" ... as they say in Canada. I just switched it up a little.