Chrome-lined Yugoslavian SKS: It Exists! (50456)

[jmaurer]

For your enjoyment and study, here are some images of a unicorn:












More to follow!

[jmaurer]

[jmaurer]

More coming!

[jmaurer]

The best are yet to come!

[jmaurer]

There it is. I hope all can benefit from and enjoy these photos!

[Greatguns]

Very Nice, looks like a double unicorn in that it is also one of the rare 24" barrel SKSs.

[Phosphorus32]

Nice! RM captured pics of that one a few years ago. I assume it’s now yours 

https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=3972.msg44448#msg44448

[jmaurer]

It is, and thanks! I followed this one for a LONG time. Maybe it's a unicorn with a diamond at the tip of the horn! And as GG pointed out, it is one of the long barrels on a serial production receiver, albeit without a letter prefix. This may essentially be a duplicate post, but as I understand a prior owner had reached out to Branko Bogdanović for more information but without success.

[BMont]

Sweet yugo ... and you seem to like yugo's... .cough cough...sniper.... cough 

[jmaurer]

Yep, guilty as charged! The odd thing is that I never intended to concentrate on Yugoslav SKS rifles, but so many interesting variants came in when I had the opportunity, I just sort of veered that direction. Hmmm....sniper...oh yeah, I'll need to work on that! Got all the bits-just a matter of time now. Been working on translating the manual that fisherl3 graciously posted so I can duplicate the correct process.

[BMont]

Yes... indeed... post that one when you get it put together!  I pulled out of that one around 900 ... a couple other heavy drops kept me light in the pockets.  Ive only seen a couple legit ones around.

[jmaurer]

It's a nice rifle for sure, and I believe it is as Mr. Kehaya stated: barely used, if used at all. He was a lot of fun to speak with, and had some great stories about the Century import days that could be a book all on their own!

[Phosphorus32]

It is, and thanks! I followed this one for a LONG time. Maybe it's a unicorn with a diamond at the tip of the horn! And as GG pointed out, it is one of the long barrels on a serial production receiver, albeit without a letter prefix. This may essentially be a duplicate post, but as I understand a prior owner had reached out to Branko Bogdanović for more information but without success.

No, not a duplicate post at all. Great find and detailed photo spread! Congratulations on an excellent acquisition! The long barrels are rare and the post 100 serial number versions are ultra rare. Add the chrome plated bore and you’ve achieved unicorn status 

[jmaurer]

P32, do you have any ideas as to how this may this rifle may have come into being? If the Yugoslavian government had decided to produce Siminov rifles without chrome-lined bores, did they test a singular example to satisfy a minimum? In the photos I posted, it's notable that the leading edge (right at the muzzle) of the chrome plating is "chipped" or otherwise abraded. I think this would indicate one of two things:
1. Extensive, heavy testing with quite a few rounds sent downrange out of this rifle, and/or
2. Thin, minimal chrome plating of the bore.
Opinions welcome from all! And again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

[Greasemonkey]

I would guess.. it was experimentation. if memory serves, Yugoslavia didn't start chrome lining barrels until the M70 AKM. So it could have been method testing the best way to apply the chrome lining. The long barrels were prototypes anyway, so why not experiment on a prototype, screw it up, oh well. I'm sure it's eaten a fair share of rounds as well. 

Geeze,, now I have to check mine at some point, I never really bothered to look.


One variant I've never seen in person was them Bosinian imported ones, they have a "new" chrome lined barrel as I remember.

[Direct Connection]

Damn Dude, Nice Camera Work !!  Nothing better then post with detailed pictures.

[jmaurer]

Thanks, DC. I figure the better the information and photos, the better input for figuring out the what and why for these. And I'm thankful for the platform and for the wealth of knowledge here!