As promised, I'm finally getting the pics posted of my Gunbroker purchase back in May. My new computer is still sitting in the box but I think I can get this done with my old stand by.
Per the
Auctions section OP,
https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=6001.0I was able to pick up what turned out to be a very nice BETA ARMS SKS-30, (formerly known to many as the SKS-D), for a decent sale price in this day and time. Here's what it looked like in the Gunbroker ad:
When it arrived, I took a full spread of pictures of how it looked and those pics have disappeared! No idea what happened there. I took it apart and cleaned it thoroughly. Every part inspected. I separated the aftermarket parts from the original parts and this is what I was left with:
I'm not seeing much wear on anything. I did find a little black soot on the gas piston so it
has been fired. Everything is in VG+ condition as far as I can tell.
I was dreading removing the handguard because of all the horror stories I'd heard about the job. This one was so easy! The pin was in snug but came out without any issue and I used the same pin to go back together. It went in snug and looks great. The original owner had done a perfect job in replacing the handguard with the black plastic model. No filing on the ferrule, no deformation, nothing! I couldn't have been happier!
It doesn't look like it's ever been apart!
Guys, I tried to rotate the pics so they would be correct to look at but the Photobucket
Image Editor would not work for me. I tried over and over but I couldn't get it to cooperate. So, it is what it is...
The only things missing were the cleaning rod, a magazine, and the rivet for the bayonet. If I remember correctly, I bought that new rivet from
PAX a long time ago, just because I wanted it for that "one that might need a rivet, someday". Well, someday came!
I had everything already, so nothing else had to be purchased. The magazines that came with it were obviously duckbills, and they were brand new, never inserted in any SKS. Here are the parts left over:
If anyone has any uses for the leftover parts, contact me and we can decide on prices.
I don't know who made the mags. They have the nice green followers in them and construction looks quality. Welds are much better than most duckbill aftermarket mags that I've seen.
Same with the stock, I don't know the manufacturer name. I think GG suggested it was an ATI? It's all in VG+ condition. No scratches or worn areas that I've found or noticed.
After the cleaning and gawking, all that was left to do was reassemble it to it's original glory:
I chose the Hungarian 20rd mags as my favorite, just because they look best, IMO. They work well at the range and lock in easily. Some folks call them the "Tanker" mags.
I have a variety of AK magazines to use in it:
5 and 10 round mags from China, Hungary, Bulgaria, etc...
Standard 30rd Chinese flat back mags, (upper right hand in bags) and PolyTech 30rd with the chrome followers:
Any of the AK mags will work in this but I've found what I want to use for now.
This one fits in nicely with the other two that are still NIB. Actually, it's kinda crowded. But still, three's not THAT much of a crowd!
For those with sharp eyes, yes, the top one is sitting there without the trigger group in. I took it out to make a pictoral of a NIB model but I don't want to put it back in until I finish completely. I'm very particular about my safe queens.
It's interesting how different the stock finishes are from each other even though they're not that far off in serial numbers. (03512, 03792, and 04450)
I also noticed that the new one (03512) had the Stripper Clip slot in the Bolt Carrier, the (03792) has it too, but the (04450) has the newer Bolt Carrier with no slot.
Just to clarify, All parts that were serial numbered from the factory, MATCH.
The only thing that I haven't put on the rifle to return it to it's original configuration is the sling. I'm thinking that I have one,
NOS. I just have to dig around and find those boxes to sort through. I also have a Chinese Type 63 Chest Rig that I'm hoping the Hungarian 20rd mags will fit into. That should round out the goodies for the rifle.
I took a lot of pics (80+) but I didn't want this to be a huge post. I just wanted to finally share my acquisition with the board.
I think it looks much better in it's original form. What say you guys?
firstchoice