SKS-FILES FORUM
SKS Carbines => Altered SKS Rifles => Projects => Topic started by: Dante on December 09, 2019, 05:51:19 PM
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(https://i.ibb.co/mNTVnMK/IMG-1271.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Vw9cFPG)
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.
(https://i.ibb.co/gF05jS0/IMG-1274.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tP07mq0)
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Try your paratrooper in one of the regular stocks since MOST of the stocks are standard (not all I found out). If it fits, I have a few here since the paratrooper used a standard length stock (blade was cut down to fit the channel). Also, I think all of your bayonets are upside down. The "rib" is supposed to fit in the channel when folded and the "flat" topmost when in fighting position. In addition, I have several spare Chinese mags. I don't have the mag release, but someone here, Gunbroker or Gunparts Corp should have one. Cheers, Bruce.
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Yes, they are better and more valuable in wood and changing them back to wood has no bearing on 922r. It's the other way around.
If you're fortunate enough to find a Para stock for your barrel lug, great. If it's unnumbered better still. Blade and spike paratrooper stocks are unique. The blade ones will just cut the reinforcing pin in the forearm, the spikers will have a uniform width the entire length, not tapered.
The mag releases are not stock, and if you're missing a numbered mag, or numbered stock (Para) then those rifles are not matching. although, in the case of the Para, it could have come scrubbed or with a different number on the wood.
Regardless, nice git. PAX
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If you're fortunate enough to find a Para stock for your barrel lug, great. If it's unnumbered better still. Blade and spike paratrooper stocks are unique. The blade ones will just cut the reinforcing pin in the forearm, the spikers will have a uniform width the entire length, not tapered.
The mag releases are not stock, and if you're missing a numbered mag, or numbered stock (Para) then those rifles are not matching. although, in the case of the Para, it could have come scrubbed or with a different number on the wood.
Thanks, guys. That's good info. So then I've got:
2 that are full matches with numbered stock, mag, receiver, trigger guard, etc.,
1 paratrooper with a number matched magazine but missing a stock, and
1 number matched barreled receiver and stock missing an original magazine.
I've been told there was one more stock to be had from the set which is unnumbered and in minty condition, but haven't found it yet.
If we do find it, and it's got an untapered bayonet groove, I'll assume it originally came on the para.
Echo1, regarding mag releases, I know the big plastic ones currently installed aren't original, but I assumed the metal ones in the closeup shot are. They came in the same bag of parts as the numbered mags (3) and the instructions for converting to removable magazines (4). Is there something in the second photo that tells you those metal releases aren't stock parts, either? I can post sideways pics of them if that helps.
Good tip on the bayonets, Bruce. I hadn't even noticed they're supposed to snug into the notch on the front end. Sure enough, each one has a polished spot on the rib opposite the notch where they must have rubbed originally. I'll flip them around when I swap the stocks back. I'll test fit the para as well and shoot you a note if the fourth stock doesn't turn up soon.
Thanks!
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I was talking about the releases on the rifles. They look too long. Cool score anyhoo. PAX
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I was talking about the releases on the rifles. They look too long. Cool score anyhoo. PAX
I think those are the Cobray, or similar, extended mag releases that have been added on. The metal ones pictured are 3 of the 4 original mag releases. Not sure which one is for the '59 Para, Dante. It would be easier to average if you had the 4th one.
The Para would have been manufactured originally with a blade bayo, of course. Does it have a "U"-shaped cut on the stock ferrule or a "V"-shaped cut? ("V"-shaped for the blade bayo, "U"-shaped for the spike bayo.) There's a possibiltiy that it may have been altered to fit either. The Para's rarely made it to the consumer with a SN'd stock. They almost always came with a non-numbered stock. I think I've seen one that came with the original numbered stock, or heard about it. RM would have more info on any, or how many, Para's that came with SN'd stocks.
Anyway, you could use a non-numbered stock that was made for a long-lug barrel, w/blade bayonet cut. But the blade bayo would have to be a Para-length bayo, as well. A bit harder to find and a bit more costly, if you find one. thumb1 But if you have all-matching metal, including the magazine, with a Para-length blade bayonet, woohoo! I'd love to have one! thumb1 thumb1 The monetary value isn't that big of a major difference because of the non-matching stock, but that's the way the majority got to the USA consumer. I just like the way they're set up and look. My own opinion.
I guess the previous owner REALLY liked those Cobray folders, eh? At least they had the foresight to keep almost all the original parts!
Are you getting ready to sell these or keep them?
firstchoice
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I suppose if a guy had a beat up bubbafied SKS, one of those stocks and mag catch might be good for a truck gun/range toy.
Hmmm.....might be an excuse to look for a neutered bubba......
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The Para would have been manufactured originally with a blade bayo, of course. Does it have a "U"-shaped cut on the stock ferrule or a "V"-shaped cut? ("V"-shaped for the blade bayo, "U"-shaped for the spike bayo.) There's a possibiltiy that it may have been altered to fit either. The Para's rarely made it to the consumer with a SN'd stock. They almost always came with a non-numbered stock. I think I've seen one that came with the original numbered stock, or heard about it. RM would have more info on any, or how many, Para's that came with SN'd stocks.
Anyway, you could use a non-numbered stock that was made for a long-lug barrel, w/blade bayonet cut. But the blade bayo would have to be a Para-length bayo, as well. A bit harder to find and a bit more costly, if you find one. thumb1 But if you have all-matching metal, including the magazine, with a Para-length blade bayonet, woohoo! I'd love to have one! thumb1 thumb1 The monetary value isn't that big of a major difference because of the non-matching stock, but that's the way the majority got to the USA consumer. I just like the way they're set up and look. My own opinion.
firstchoice[/size]
The Para wouldn't necessarily have had a blade based on the serial number/year. At one time they could be ordered with either and would have been assembled as requested. I have a couple pinned barreled Paras with blades, and one long lug Para with a blade AND matching numbered stock. I've also got a Kengs Sport Para with a T89 mounted to the "nowhere rail" with a matching stock, and another Kengs without a rail, neutered FSB, and the blade channel inletted with a sliver of wood, but no numbers :(. Appears factory, as the original finish is evenly crappy.
That long shank Para is the cream of the crop, and if you had a blade bayo on it in wood, that's the top of the Paratrooper food chain.
Those side folders are very crappy to use, but there was an adapter to swap out to a T6 style that made them more robust. The adapter could be had fixed or left side folder(?). I'm in Kali so I got a fixed one, but never installed it. PAX
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^ Right. I have a Para made from a 1958 action that has the short spike bayonet even though a "3 million" should have a blade.
(https://preview.ibb.co/e73W6L/05-SN-rec.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mK9Sff)
(https://preview.ibb.co/c6qND0/03-right-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hVvpt0)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jtAiLf/01-left-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bJvuRL)
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The Para would have been manufactured originally with a blade bayo, of course. Does it have a "U"-shaped cut on the stock ferrule or a "V"-shaped cut? ("V"-shaped for the blade bayo, "U"-shaped for the spike bayo.) There's a possibility that it may have been altered to fit either. The Para's rarely made it to the consumer with a SN'd stock. They almost always came with a non-numbered stock. I think I've seen one that came with the original numbered stock, or heard about it. RM would have more info on any, or how many, Para's that came with SN'd stocks.
Anyway, you could use a non-numbered stock that was made for a long-lug barrel, w/blade bayonet cut. But the blade bayo would have to be a Para-length bayo, as well. A bit harder to find and a bit more costly, if you find one. thumb1 But if you have all-matching metal, including the magazine, with a Para-length blade bayonet, woohoo! I'd love to have one! thumb1 thumb1 The monetary value isn't that big of a major difference because of the non-matching stock, but that's the way the majority got to the USA consumer. I just like the way they're set up and look. My own opinion.
firstchoice[/size]
The Para wouldn't necessarily have had a blade based on the serial number/year. At one time they could be ordered with either and would have been assembled as requested. I have a couple pinned barreled Paras with blades, and one long lug Para with a blade AND matching numbered stock. I've also got a Kengs Sport Para with a T89 mounted to the "nowhere rail" with a matching stock, and another Kengs without a rail, neutered FSB, and the blade channel inletted with a sliver of wood, but no numbers :(. Appears factory, as the original finish is evenly crappy.
That long shank Para is the cream of the crop, and if you had a blade bayo on it in wood, that's the top of the Paratrooper food chain.
Those side folders are very crappy to use, but there was an adapter to swap out to a T6 style that made them more robust. The adapter could be had fixed or left side folder(?). I'm in Kali so I got a fixed one, but never installed it. PAX
Yes, pretty sure those extended mag releases are part of the Cobray package. They seem to be the same material as the one removable mag. The fourth original mag release would certainly help. What I can find online advertised as Norinco OEM is the tombstone shape. I think I'll get one of those and declare tombstones for the 3 pinned barrels and bell curve for the para.
The front ferrule on the para is V cut, so if I COULD find a short blade bayonet and a stock with the cut pin to fit it, that would be pretty cool.
As Bacarnal pointed out, the bayonets are all upside down, so I flipped them. They may be the only metal part that isn't electropenciled or stamped with the serial number. I've completed the survey on one gun so far (turned out to be a /406\ once I got the stock off), and even the firing pin is numbered. If I do find the fourth stock, we'll see whether it's cut for spike or blade.
I certainly don't need 4 of these, firstchoice. 7.62 is a new caliber for me, so in the hopes of not having to stock up on yet another caliber, my intention was to tidy them up and find them new owners.
I'm not looking forward to drilling out the rivet to replace the upper handguards, but on the other hand, I'm having a pretty good time learning from you all, so I might have to keep just one...
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Dante, the gas tube rivets are just little aluminum deals and easy to replace. You can get them on Ebay or etsy. I have a couple of numbered spike bayonet stocks, one of which needs finish work. The only blade stock I have is a rust red Chinese fiberglass (an actual replacement stock) stock with handguard. I also have some spare 10 rnd mags. Cheers, Bruce.
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The Para would have been manufactured originally with a blade bayo, of course. Does it have a "U"-shaped cut on the stock ferrule or a "V"-shaped cut? ("V"-shaped for the blade bayo, "U"-shaped for the spike bayo.) There's a possibiltiy that it may have been altered to fit either. The Para's rarely made it to the consumer with a SN'd stock. They almost always came with a non-numbered stock. I think I've seen one that came with the original numbered stock, or heard about it. RM would have more info on any, or how many, Para's that came with SN'd stocks.
Anyway, you could use a non-numbered stock that was made for a long-lug barrel, w/blade bayonet cut. But the blade bayo would have to be a Para-length bayo, as well. A bit harder to find and a bit more costly, if you find one. thumb1 But if you have all-matching metal, including the magazine, with a Para-length blade bayonet, woohoo! I'd love to have one! thumb1 thumb1 The monetary value isn't that big of a major difference because of the non-matching stock, but that's the way the majority got to the USA consumer. I just like the way they're set up and look. My own opinion.
firstchoice[/size]
The Para wouldn't necessarily have had a blade based on the serial number/year. At one time they could be ordered with either and would have been assembled as requested. I have a couple pinned barreled Paras with blades, and one long lug Para with a blade AND matching numbered stock. I've also got a Kengs Sport Para with a T89 mounted to the "nowhere rail" with a matching stock, and another Kengs without a rail, neutered FSB, and the blade channel inletted with a sliver of wood, but no numbers :(. Appears factory, as the original finish is evenly crappy.
That long shank Para is the cream of the crop, and if you had a blade bayo on it in wood, that's the top of the Paratrooper food chain.
Those side folders are very crappy to use, but there was an adapter to swap out to a T6 style that made them more robust. The adapter could be had fixed or left side folder(?). I'm in Kali so I got a fixed one, but never installed it. PAX
I was stating more about the way they came from Chinese factories in 1958, PAX. Yeah, they could be in any type of configuration once they got to the exporter/importer side of things. Orders for resale did vary, I realize that. I do feel pretty confident that all 1958 Type 56's were issued originally with the blade bayonet, though. His stock ferrule has the "V"-notch, which is for the blade. There are so many variables for post-USA sales that I only know to base "original configuration" on how they were released from the factory at date of manufacture.
firstchoice
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Yes indeed, Paratroopers as a "made up" commercial abomination, could have come in all kinds of different forms, matching, scrubbed, or mismatched numbers & bayo wise. The ones most sought after or coveted, are matching blade.
Dante, you can make your own Para blade bayo, and work over a blade stock slot. All Para bayos where just cut down full length ones. Hook up with someone who has one for comparison. A scrubbed or unnumbered stock would be coolest to do it to, but it still could have come from the importer with a misnumbered stock. It'd be "fake", kinda, sorta. Your Para has the wrong bayo for the ferrule already. PAX
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Dante, I just have to ask where or how did you come up with this collection?
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Just gonna toss this out there......
Wanna sell me a stock and mag catch and anything else?
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bbush44, I was on the receiving end of a safe clean-out.
Larry D, I'd be happy to. Give me a few days to drill the rivets out and see what other parts trickle in and I'll send you some close-up pics of what all I've got.
In other news, the missing stock turned up. It's unnumbered, and looks all but unused. The spike bayonet groove looks to have been widened and refinished, but I can't tell whether it's a factory rush job or an inexpert former owner. It looks more like someone just shaved the edges than the nice parallel router job in the reference photo (http://chinesesks.weebly.com/paratrooper.html)
Here's a pic. What do y'all think?
(https://i.ibb.co/CKVSdxW/IMG-1325.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HTG9vmX)
(https://i.ibb.co/BKBDFKK/IMG-1319.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1JTVjJJ)
(https://i.ibb.co/dDn0n4w/IMG-1323.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XtmZmxr)
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Dante, if you are wanting to "unload" those side folding stocks, I suggest you putting them up on ebay since they bring some pretty good money there from those who are wanting them. Just an idea!
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Good tip. Thanks, astronut.
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bbush44
In other news, the missing stock turned up. It's unnumbered, and looks all but unused. The spike bayonet groove looks to have been widened and refinished, but I can't tell whether it's a factory rush job or an inexpert former owner. It looks more like someone just shaved the edges than the nice parallel router job in the reference photo (http://chinesesks.weebly.com/paratrooper.html)
Here's a pic. What do y'all think?
Could have come like that as the Para build quality is all over the map. Most Bubbafizers wouldn't have known the difference or cared, plus isn't the ferrule cut for a blade? If so that would help to explain why it's not evenly wider. The spiker will only sit so low. PAX
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Yessir, the ferrule is V-cut, but the stock is spike-cut. It does sit about flush when assembled. On test fitting, the receiver just squeaks into place. It's tight enough that I needed a plastic upholstery lever to pry it back out again. As far as I can tell, everything seems to fit in place and sit just where it's supposed to. I'm taking that as evidence that this is the right stock. (That, and there aren't any others)
Now I'm waiting for some rivets to be delivered.
One sad note: On disassembly for the Chinese SKS survey, it turns out that the gas tube and piston are replacements from different donor rifles somewhere. They're electropenciled with 2 different 4-digit numbers. Also, the trigger group is unnumbered. Everything else (Receiver, cover, bolt, bolt carrier, magazine) has the full 5-digit serial number stamped on, not penciled. So, less number-matchy that I thought. The barrel and lug do share a scribe mark and matching index numbers, so I'm guessing that's original, too.
Am I right to think this was probably cobbled together from an incomplete 1959 original with whatever extra parts were on hand, and paratroopered up to ship out to the US market?
The gas block and bayonet lug are touching, so it's not that it's been changed out for a short gas system. (I am learning so much from this board. Thanks again!)
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Yes, it's very likely that the mismatching parts were put on that paratrooper in China when it was cut down to 16". They may have had pretty bad rust & pitting issues or perhaps the handguard was trashed and swapping out the whole gas tube was much easier than pulling rivets like you are about to do. I wouldn't sweat it, this is not at all uncommon for a letter gun from the early imports. Being that it's already been 'modified' when converted to a paratrooper, matching #'s are nice but not really the draw of this gun.
New unnumbered stocks are not unusual at all on paratroopers either. Nor are spike stocks existing on blade guns, they could match the new stock and crossbolt location to the old gun for good fitment w/o dealing with the issues we have when we want to put a spike stock onto a blade gun. Blank paratrooper stocks IMHO don't detract from the value at all. I suspect the bayo groove widening was done in China; they cut just enough to get it to fit and then were on to the next one.
The only standard (i.e non AK mag variant) type 56 paratrooper with a short gas system that I'm aware of is an SKSS.
Sounds like you might have caught the bug. I'll be interested to hear about your first range trip and what you think of them! thumb1
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Sounds like you might have caught the bug.
You might be right about that. Just what I needed. ;)
Seriously though, thanks for the input, RM. I appreciate all of the expertise you guys have been so willing to share. Just the detail I got by filling out the surveys makes me feel like half an expert now.
Today the fourth magazine catch turned up, along with some ammo belts and a sling that looks like it's never been installed. The new mag catch is tombstone shaped, so there's a nice 3-1 match. I didn't see anything in the reference material about the shape of the magazine catch changing between generations, so I'm guessing it's not a critical difference anyway, but having 3 and one makes them line up nicely.
I also turned up some 30-round Zytel magazines, also from Cobray, to go with the aftermarket stocks. Now it's a complete package except for one missing original magazine.
The Zytel magazines that were still in their wrappers each came with two of these little round knobs. Anyone know what they are?
(https://i.ibb.co/VNMJsWg/IMG-1330.jpg) (https://ibb.co/n0Q6Fs7)
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Not sure about the knobs but do they fit in the groove in the magazine body, such that you can pull the follower spring down for assisting in loading cartridges.
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Not sure about the knobs but do they fit in the groove in the magazine body, such that you can pull the follower spring down for assisting in loading cartridges.
P32 has it right on. Cobray supplied those to aid in loading the magazines. One on each side and you can compress the spring fairly easy. The problem was losing them, of course. If I remember correctly, the Cobray mags were pretty reliable in feeding. I think there was an issue in long term use with the feed lips wearing down eventually. But that would be after a lot of rounds, I suppose.
If the OP keeps up with the missing items showing up like they have been, pretty soon the Chinese workers that put them together will pop up and explain it all to us! chuckles1 That's some good fortune, for sure!
firstchoice
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Not sure about the knobs but do they fit in the groove in the magazine body, such that you can pull the follower spring down for assisting in loading cartridges.
P32 has it right on. Cobray supplied those to aid in loading the magazines. One on each side and you can compress the spring fairly easy. The problem was losing them, of course. If I remember correctly, the Cobray mags were pretty reliable in feeding. I think there was an issue in long term use with the feed lips wearing down eventually. But that would be after a lot of rounds, I suppose.
If the OP keeps up with the missing items showing up like they have been, pretty soon the Chinese workers that put them together will pop up and explain it all to us! chuckles1 That's some good fortune, for sure!
firstchoice
In these particular mags, there's only a groove in one side to get to the spring, but it does fit in there pretty well and compress it easily. Maybe the second is just a spare, or perhaps there's an elite two-button technique that's lost to history...
If the Chinese do show up, I'll ask them. :)
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If I remember correctly, the Cobray mags were pretty reliable in feeding. I think there was an issue in long term use with the feed lips wearing down eventually.
firstchoice
Do you think it would make a wear difference with the "shaved bolt" mod? PAX
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http://www.the 'other' boards/smf/index.php?topic=63836.0
That Cobray mag will only run if you have the Cobray mag adapter. It won't latch up w/o their adapter in place. There is nothing on the front of the mag to latch under the rear sight tab.
If you want to run aftermarket mags, you need our G3. You buy and modify Tapco or ProMags yourself to run in your SKS's. Our buy modified mags from us.
Marcus
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That Cobray mag will only run if you have the Cobray mag adapter. It won't latch up w/o their adapter in place.
Marcus
Right. All 4 of these rifles had this little block in place. They had to come out to get the original mags back on.
The tooth on right side of the block hooks into the front of the magazine, then an oversized zytel mag catch clicks onto the back.
As I'm piecing it together, these rifles all had:
a Cobray folding stock, replacing the original wood,
a Cobray Mag kit, consisting of this adaptor block screwed into the bottom of the barrel lug, a magazine, and an oversized magazine catch.
a "Combat Exchange Custom Cushion," slid over the end of the folding stock and held in place with what looks like a bunch of clear silicone sealant.
(https://i.ibb.co/vhDnZXm/IMG-1332.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2S54gZP)
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Quite the little trove of aftermarket stuff you've stumbled into.
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No kidding Larry, I can only imagine what it would take to sort this all out on my own.
My plan right now is to get the three rifles with original mags back into original condition, then either put the Cobray magazine adapter back on the one with no magazine and call that a converted rifle plus a bunch of mags, or get an extra original magazine (can I get one that's unmarked without being in 922r trouble?) and see if anyone else is interested in the Cobray bits.
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OK. Thanks to everyone for sharing your extensive knowledge. Here are the results. Technically, I still need one magazine and 4 cleaning kits (oddly, I have the caps for the cleaning kits, but not the tubes and contents). But these are now mostly complete. I think they look quite a bit nicer than they did on the folding stocks.
D
(https://i.ibb.co/72NBbfW/IMG-1360.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SR7HJjn)
(https://i.ibb.co/JdDgkcN/IMG-1364.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1nFj203)
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Looking very nice! thumb1 Oddly I have 2 cleaning kits without the caps that I am willing to part with. Will send you a message on them.
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I've got some AK type cleaning kits if that will do it for you.
Also, Tickbite supply has some accessories: https://www.tickbitesupply.com/sks.html
I've dealt with Tickbite before, and they're good to go.
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Forgive my ignorance Larry, but what's the difference between the AK and SKS kits?
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Those are looking pretty sweet D. Nice save. PAX
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Dante, in my honest opinion, they look MUCH better. Let me know if you need a magazine. Cheers, Bruce.
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out of curiosity...are the mags on the 906s kind of dented on the floorplate? Kind of a triangular indentation towards the narrow hinge end. Those are something we noticed about 906s a few years back...I am wondering if yours maintain the trend. I haven't seen so many at once before. I wonder is the original owner bought a crate? Its a fairly uncommon arsenal to find at all, much less three. thumb1
I kinda bubba'd the heck out of my 906...and I feel shame.
I also have one of those cobray mag adapters, and wondered what the heck those button things were for...I got them in a lot with a bolt a few years back. I learnt somethin today. :)
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Well done! They look very good, like proper Chinese SKSs!
P.S. What sound does a Communist Chinese cat make?
“Mao!”
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Forgive my ignorance Larry, but what's the difference between the AK and SKS kits?
To be honest, I don't know about all of them, but the caps are different on some.
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Well done! They look very good, like proper Chinese SKSs!
P.S. What sound does a Communist Chinese cat make?
“Mao!”
Good one, P32. What's the sound of a Chinese ricochet? Xing....Ping!
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out of curiosity...are the mags on the 906s kind of dented on the floorplate? Kind of a triangular indentation towards the narrow hinge end. Those are something we noticed about 906s a few years back...I am wondering if yours maintain the trend.
That is a fascinating question, Justin. I was going to say no, but now I think it's . . . maybe?
As it turns out, there are only 2 906s in the batch. The para is a 26 and the other is a 416. I must have checked one 906 twice instead of the 416. One 906 is without a magazine, so no luck there.
On the other, on closer examination, there IS just a slight indentation that isn't present on the 26 and 416 magazines. Dent is the right word to describe it. I can feel the difference with a finger, and I had to get a pen light to catch the light just right in order to get a picture.
The photo shows the three mags I do have side by side. The 906 is on the right. I can't get the same shadow on either of the other mags. They look and feel ruler-straight across the "waist" where the dent is on the 906.
Is this where you were seeing dents on the other 906s? If so, you deserve a medal for observation. I never would have noticed this if you hadn't said something.
Bruce, I do need a magazine for the other 906. Have you got one with a dent? :)
I'll send you a PM.
(https://i.ibb.co/Y8k5qNq/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW-thumb-3e89.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FJwQjhj)
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Had I not removed my 906 mag and had it sitting by another couple to see the difference, it probably would have gone unnoticed. It took a bit of poking around various folks collections to notice that all 906s have that trait.
It makes you wonder what the heck it is all about...I wonder if it was something in the tooling that was either wrong, or accidental. It does lend some insight into manufacturing processes....that chances are, the mags were indeed made at the same factory as the receiver at a minimum....rather than various parts made elsewhere and assembled at the stamping factory.
I just wish I hadn't determined it to be the candidate for my uneducated minstrations...the poor thing has a drop free bolt mod, and a Capco muzzle brake, no front sight...and is wearing an ATI StrikeForce stock...it has a Scout Scopes mount with a Norinco long eye relief scope....a bipod, a fore grip....and even a friggin laser. I bought it NIB slathered in cosmo....I kinda hate myself over it. Granted, I have all the original parts...but that bolt isn't gonna grow back metal. My dented mag sits in a drawer awaiting me to come to my senses. I just kind of disliked it due to a stock repair I found to be tacky...at the time. Fortunately, my eyes kind of need a LER scope anymore...so I haven't reverted back. Having a Norinco scope on it is kinda neat anyway...
We (I) did start to refer to the dented mag as a /906\ism.... chuckles1
It's neat to see another for further confirmation of that oddity.
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This keeps getting funnier. I'm looking at the 4 plastic stocks to see which is the best, since someone expressed an interest, and it turns out that they have a sliding compartment in the grip just big enough for. . . the cleaning kits without the top. So now I know why I got four lids without kits in the bag of extra parts. The topless cleaning kits were shoved into the plastic grip compartment of each collapsible stock.
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This keeps getting funnier. I'm looking at the 4 plastic stocks to see which is the best, since someone expressed an interest, and it turns out that they have a sliding compartment in the grip just big enough for. . . the cleaning kits without the top. So now I know why I got four lids without kits in the bag of extra parts. The topless cleaning kits were shoved into the plastic grip compartment of each collapsible stock.
The purchase that keeps on giving, eh? You lucked into quite the find with those rifles! Congrats on the find, Dante! That's pretty cool.
firstchoice
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Yes indeed. The original owner looks to have squeezed these a but with a bench vise to make them just skinny enough to fit without the tops. I say that because they're all a little out of round and have a faint impression of vise teeth. Fortunately, a soft cloth and my own vise squeezed them back into shape pretty easily. Now all of the tops fit, and since there's a slight color difference on one, I can guess that it goes with the para.
Thanks to a vid I found elsewhere in the SKS files forums, I know how kits go into the stock with the cap facing out. You guys really have created an excellent source of information here. Once more, you have my sincere thanks for putting all of this information together in one place where I could find it and put it to use.
Unless 3 more original slings turn up, I'm going to say these are as restored as they're going to get. I'm pretty pleased with how it all came out. Here's the final "After" picture.
D
(https://i.ibb.co/LPMV46c/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW-thumb-3e8c.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b3xcpLC)
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Excellent results Dante! You not only maximized the $$ of those four should you decide to flip them, but you also saved them from forever being bubba’s mistake. Once the parts are separated from the guns, they usually scatter to the four winds. That you were able to get most everything back to ‘original’ is either quite the stroke of good luck or perhaps it speaks more to your determination to set things right. Either way, well done! thumb1 OK1 locomotive1 banana time
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Check your pm I am interested in the para.