78 Albanian, what have I got here?

[22srfun]

  I recently got a 78 Albanian off GB.

   The pictures were terrible but I could tell it looked a little rough.
I decided to take a chance because from everything I have read the Albanians are harder to find.
Of course the next week a really clean one showed up . But it did sell for about 34% more.

  Anyway, I took it completely apart and removed all the left over cosmoline that a previous owner didn't get.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the metal looked beautiful under the wood. No rust at all, dark clean blueing.

   It looks like honest wear on the blueing anywhere that was exposed. And the wood finish has seen better days, although there are no cracks or severe damage. Some one with the initials "PV" did leave their mark.

  There are stamped serial numbers that match on the:
Receiver
Bolt carrier
Trigger guard
Magazine
Stock

  There are EP serial numbers that match the above on the:
Gas tube
Operating rod piston
Sight slider

  There are mismatched stamped numbers on the:
Bolt
Cover
  These numbers also have a "04" beginning but are several hundred away from the receiver number.

  There is a "5" stamped on the receiver and the barrel on either side of some alignment marks.
And what appears to be "0" on the other side of the receiver.

   It was imported by the place in Tennessee and marked with a dot matrix.

   Attached are a variety of pictures.

  So what have I got here? Clearly not arsenal refinished and force matched.
Is it "as issued"? Is it just another beater they brought in?

   I don't think I overpaid too much, $520. Given the GB analysys from a couple of years ago they were in that range back then.

  Any thoughts?

  PS- Have I got the bayonet on right? I think it was upside down when I got it.

 

 

[22srfun]

   Looks like my pictures did not upload.
I'll try again ASAP

[22srfun]

Only able to do a couple at a time.
More to come.

[22srfun]

  I think this worked. Thanks for your patience.

[Phosphorus32]

It’s as you say, a 1978 Albanian with honest use. The mismatched bolt and receiver cover are from another Albanian. That precludes it from being “as-issued” but it’s likely as-used, since soldiers could have mixed up those parts during field-stripping and cleaning.

The price is a fair one, even good, these days  My first Albanian was a mix of three guns with a much more roughly used stock, and I was very happy to have it.

[Larry D.]

I kinda want one just because they have a cool carrier handle.