So I have come into possession of 4 Chinese SKS rifles, and I'm not quite sure what to do with them.
3 full sized (/906\, CAI ST ALB VT, serial numbers 1617xxx, 1716xxx, 1720xxx) which, if I'm reading the data right, makes them early 70s, and one paratrooper (A13XX, /26\, CJA SFLD,MI.) which could be built from a 1959. All are now on what might be Cobray folding stocks (based on an oily page in the bag of parts) and converted to use removable Zytel Mags, of which I have only one.
The good news is that metal parts all have matching numbers, and I have matching stocks (handguards are not numbered, or are pencilled in) for all but the paratrooper.
Likewise, I have the numbered magazines for 3 rifles (the paratrooper and 2 others).
I'm a few parts short if I assume that that all 4 would be more valuable restored to their original configuration.
One will need a magazine, the para will need a stock, and I need one more original mag release from somewhere.
As I understand the 922r rules, they're ok now, but if I change back one thing back, I pretty much have to change it all.
So here are the questions:
1) Where would you recommend looking for a paratrooper stock that will fit a cut-down spike bayonet? My searches so far have failed to turn one up.
2) Of the 3 magazine releases I have, two have what I would call a "tombstone" shape, and one is more of a "bell curve." I'm going to assume the bell is from the paratrooper, unless someone knows better, so I'm looking for another tombstone to finish out the set.
3) Am I nuts to think these rifles would be worth more one way than the other?
Teach me something.
It's not too easy to tell but the rightmost mag catch is slanted, while the sides of the other 2 are parallel.