SKS-FILES FORUM

SKS Carbines => Unaltered SKS Rifles => Albanian SKS => Topic started by: Phosphorus32 on May 13, 2020, 09:08:33 AM

Title: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 13, 2020, 09:08:33 AM
I picked this up off of GunBroker about 16 months ago from a Gunboards member. I just got around to photographing it yesterday. Presumably it's a 1966, most likely in my opinion, or an early 1967 before they decided to add the year. It was apparently the 5th unit off of the line. It'd be nice to have 001 but as far as I know this is the earliest Albanian in the US. It's certainly seen some use, as you can see in the stock that is full of character and worn bluing, but it is otherwise in very good condition. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

(https://i.ibb.co/vHdwVXY/01-left-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7XpYjk4)

(https://i.ibb.co/wwHbHwC/02-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Nmhkhmp)

(https://i.ibb.co/WnhnXmv/03-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5T0T3bh)

(https://i.ibb.co/3vDGqNm/04-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2SDmQt3)

(https://i.ibb.co/PjVQCqs/05-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C8S20Rp)

(https://i.ibb.co/TYjFmmr/06-right-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rF8144v)

(https://i.ibb.co/RYjM22t/07-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8NYRMMG)

(https://i.ibb.co/cYSdt9t/08-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xFtQGbG)

(https://i.ibb.co/x55WhJn/09-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pXXc2JH)

(https://i.ibb.co/3rbrTpY/10-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f1W1XkG)

(https://i.ibb.co/FgR2D7B/11-SN-receiver.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QryLKm6)

(https://i.ibb.co/tLww1ym/12-SN-bolt-carrier.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rdKKXn7)

(https://i.ibb.co/vZg5zNp/13-SN-bolt.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MMWTNzr)

(https://i.ibb.co/dLJn6mq/14-SN-tg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CMsxvPZ)

(https://i.ibb.co/W03fvPK/15-SN-mag.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9hvWHVY)

(https://i.ibb.co/WWWp1WC/16-SN-rec-cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zhhHwhd)

(https://i.ibb.co/Hp4yDSG/17-SN-stock.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Fq31br8)

(https://i.ibb.co/P5G3nsH/18-SN-gas-tube.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kh2kfVC)

(https://i.ibb.co/qnmL0BZ/19-SN-rear-sight.jpg) (https://ibb.co/thYwZBd)

(https://i.ibb.co/mzBgG8g/20-butt-plate.jpg) (https://ibb.co/x5sdDHd)

(https://i.ibb.co/R3hxr65/21-SK-stock.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0CBg49w)

(https://i.ibb.co/Xj7nYDk/22-indexing-numbers.jpg) (https://ibb.co/n67XPB8)

(https://i.ibb.co/wRYc2T9/23-barrel-lot-number.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rmvdXgC)

(https://i.ibb.co/v39Sgxc/24-receiver-bottom.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HtZj1DK)

(https://i.ibb.co/DVZ731M/25-receiver-left-rail.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qyvRbDg)

(https://i.ibb.co/Jxwc6km/26-L-in-tg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SQ46Yv5)

(https://i.ibb.co/NsBH9LK/27-TG-import-mark.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pxF9f3d)

(https://i.ibb.co/XbN9SfR/28-TG-hang-tag.jpg) (https://ibb.co/g3HGzbK)

(https://i.ibb.co/jH99ssx/29-rear-sight-leaf.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DLPPTT6)
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: astronut on May 13, 2020, 09:57:18 AM
Interesting and nice!   thumb1
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Larry D. on May 13, 2020, 12:05:13 PM
Whoa.
That's really cool.
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Justin Hell on May 13, 2020, 12:19:06 PM
 bouncecool1

very very cool...I just hope to see one in person someday....
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 13, 2020, 12:48:48 PM
Thanks guys! I agree it's a rather cool one to have in the collection  8)
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Bacarnal on May 13, 2020, 02:48:55 PM
Sweet. thumb1
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: carls sks on May 13, 2020, 03:34:18 PM
amazing to get 005, you lucky dog.  thumb1
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: running-man on May 13, 2020, 04:12:16 PM
Definite cool factor with the S/N.  Not many (###) three digit Albys out there at all as it's the first I've ever seen.  According to my records & the database, they went to 4 digits (####) by no date 0187 and the lowest dated 1968 gun I have is 01068-1968.  I'd always surmised that the no-dates were all 1967, but '66 is not implausible.  There can't be too many of them out there (it's likely they added the 4th digit at 0100 I'd think)  Very nice!  thumb1
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 13, 2020, 06:15:13 PM
Thanks Carl and Bruce!
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 13, 2020, 06:18:18 PM
Definite cool factor with the S/N.  Not many (###) three digit Albys out there at all as it's the first I've ever seen.  According to my records & the database, they went to 4 digits (####) by no date 0187 and the lowest dated 1968 gun I have is 01068-1968.  I'd always surmised that the no-dates were all 1967, but '66 is not implausible.  There can't be too many of them out there (it's likely they added the 4th digit at 0100 I'd think)  Very nice!  thumb1

Thanks Joe! Yeah, I was looking at the annual production range during the early years in the Serial Data and 1966 seemed likely given those figures...but of course there isn't a year, so who knows for sure  rofl
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Larry D. on May 13, 2020, 07:38:22 PM
007 would have been pretty cool......
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Ghost51xxx on May 13, 2020, 09:22:49 PM
Wow, what a score!! Number 5?  clap1 Congratulations!!! The coloring is beautiful! Can't get much better than that. Hope you enjoy.
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Bob_The_Student on May 14, 2020, 05:47:28 AM
P32, did you get this from someone in Ohio? Curious if I seen this or not for sale.
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 14, 2020, 06:05:13 AM
007 would have been pretty cool......

 ;) Indeed. Bond, Enver Hoxha Bond  ???

Still, 001 would have been even cooler
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 14, 2020, 06:06:29 AM
Wow, what a score!! Number 5?  clap1 Congratulations!!! The coloring is beautiful! Can't get much better than that. Hope you enjoy.

Thanks very much!
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 14, 2020, 06:07:49 AM
P32, did you get this from someone in Ohio? Curious if I seen this or not for sale.

Yes. He’s a Gunboards member with an impressive collection  thumb1
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Larry D. on May 14, 2020, 12:14:44 PM
007 would have been pretty cool......

 ;) Indeed. Bond, Enver Hoxha Bond  ???

Still, 001 would have been even cooler

001 would be THE rifle to get.
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Direct Connection on May 16, 2020, 12:53:12 AM
007 would have been pretty cool......

 ;) Indeed. Bond, Enver Hoxha Bond  ???

Still, 001 would have been even cooler

Didnt the 70's show Grizzly Adams have an old guy on there that had a mule he called ol number 007 ? I think it was Grizzly Adams.

Non the less, This "Founding Albanian Father" find is probably one of a kind in America. I mean come on man !! You just don't see these low number markings and no stamped year on Albanians. Whats next ? Maybe you can find the original box it came in ? Was the original oiler and cleaning kit in the trap door ? Unbelievable. Your lucky that Swinging Grease Monkey is sleeping these days. he'd be trying to trade you a bottle of essential shine for it  rofl chuckles1 chuckles1 Oooooh Boy ! thumb1 clap1 clap1
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Bacarnal on May 16, 2020, 12:18:02 PM
Pithy and sardonic comments were just on the bursting point from these fingers, but the jealousy would have shown immediately through, hench just the "Sweet" comment.  I'm still drooling every time I see it drool2.   Once GM catches up on his reading (God Bless him and keep him safe), he's gonna have an aneurism :o.
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Greatguns on May 16, 2020, 12:42:43 PM
NOICE!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: firstchoice on May 19, 2020, 04:26:54 AM
That's really cool, P32! I didn't know that serial range even existed for the Alby's. Thanks for posting it up with all the great pics, too!

Do you put anything on your Alby stocks to help "preserve", or at least maintain the finish (varnish) that's left? They seem so dry, but I don't want to put anything on there that could alter the finish, either. I'm in the purist camp on most of my collection but I want to preserve what I have, too. I'm not sure much of anything can be done to help these Alby stocks in the way the finish was originally applied, though.

Pretty cool to have the only known 3-digit Alby in the States, for sure!

firstchoice
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 20, 2020, 12:16:13 PM
Pithy and sardonic comments were just on the bursting point from these fingers, but the jealousy would have shown immediately through, hench just the "Sweet" comment.  I'm still drooling every time I see it drool2.   Once GM catches up on his reading (God Bless him and keep him safe), he's gonna have an aneurism :o.

 rofl Good stuff Bruce  chuckles1
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 20, 2020, 12:16:35 PM
NOICE!!!!!!!

Thanks!
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 20, 2020, 12:26:48 PM
That's really cool, P32! I didn't know that serial range even existed for the Alby's. Thanks for posting it up with all the great pics, too!

Thanks and you're welcome!



Do you put anything on your Alby stocks to help "preserve", or at least maintain the finish (varnish) that's left? They seem so dry, but I don't want to put anything on there that could alter the finish, either. I'm in the purist camp on most of my collection but I want to preserve what I have, too. I'm not sure much of anything can be done to help these Alby stocks in the way the finish was originally applied, though.

I won't add anything and it's definitely not "dry", as I'm sure a little heat would have some Albanian ersatz cosmoline oozing from the surface. It's a shellac finish, so Ballistol would be bad because of the isobutanol that could dissolve the shellac. I guess neat mineral oil (the main ingredient of Ballistol) would be okay since that's just a light fraction of the petroleum-based cosmoline and it could clean up some oily dirt without changing the composition of the petroleum oils that are already on the bare wood due to the cosmoline. In any case, I'm not planning to add anything.



Pretty cool to have the only known 3-digit Alby in the States, for sure!

firstchoice[/size]

There is a report on Gunboards of # 001 that is held by another collector in the US...but no pictures were forthcoming :(
Title: Re: Early Albanian SKS Number 005
Post by: Bob_The_Student on May 20, 2020, 09:36:23 PM
P32, when you sour on this 005. You PM me... dial a friend-esque. Me likey a lot!