Author Topic: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**  (Read 4811 times)

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Offline jjjxlr8

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1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« on: June 10, 2018, 12:19:38 PM »
Finally found an Albanian SKS for my collection!  This spot has been empty for a long time.  I got this one from a local collector who had many Albanian SKS rifles.  Many years ago when these Albanian rifles were first imported to the US, he was working in the warehouse at AIM Surplus and was able to personally hand select all that he wanted.  He ended up with a BUNCH of them.  He has consecutive serial serial numbered '67 and '68 examples, as well as a no date rifle which is thought to be of the very first production in 1966.  He said that when they arrived at AIM from TGI, they were on pallets, cross-stacked like cord wood with nothing in between the rifles!  He said that there was a bin of accessories that had plastic cleaning bottles, slings, etc., but that the oil bottles that were in the rifle buttstocks were all of the steel variety. 

Anyway, here's a 1971 all matching example just as it would have come from AIM Surplus many years ago - minus some of the nasty preservative!  This one still has the plain brown shipping box with rifle's serial number and hang tag indicating that this was one of the "matching" examples.  Enjoy!





























Offline Boris Badinov

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2018, 01:19:43 PM »
Nice get. Super clean.

Just curious, did you get this from a collector in Iowa?

Is that the original import sales tag? I recently got an all matching 1969 from a private collector in Iowa. It has the same (or similar) import tag still attached to the trigger guard.

Offline Phosphorus32

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2018, 01:50:12 PM »
That’s a beauty! Great to have an Albanian sling too. Congratulations!

Offline jjjxlr8

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2018, 02:57:38 PM »
Nice get. Super clean.

Just curious, did you get this from a collector in Iowa?

Is that the original import sales tag? I recently got an all matching 1969 from a private collector in Iowa. It has the same (or similar) import tag still attached to the trigger guard.

No this came from Ohio, not far from AIM Surplus, but maybe this is a TGI tag not an AIM Surplus tag?  It's also possible that AIM Surplus bought all of the Albanian SKS rifles from TGI when they came in.  It was a big deal when they arrived at AIM Surplus as at the time, no one there knew that Albania made their own version of the SKS.  It would have been great fun to get to have first pick of the lot!

Offline carls sks

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2018, 03:21:02 PM »
that is a beauty. you did good.  thumb1 -------> I'm jealous!  pullhair1
ARMY NAM VET, SO PROUD!

Offline jjjxlr8

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2018, 05:52:43 PM »
That’s a beauty! Great to have an Albanian sling too. Congratulations!

Have you ever seen a sling like this one?




Offline Phosphorus32

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2018, 06:09:05 PM »
That’s a beauty! Great to have an Albanian sling too. Congratulations!

Have you ever seen a sling like this one?



I actually haven’t, that’s cool. That hook reminds me of an AK or Russian SKS sling style but with Albania, anything goes  :))

Offline Justin Hell

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2018, 09:47:45 PM »
Heck...I was born in 71.

Does your buddy have anymore of these sexy beasts laying around?

Offline jjjxlr8

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2018, 10:20:59 PM »
I don't know if he has anymore that he is willing to part with.  I was buying something else from him and the Albanians came up in conversation.  I asked if he had any nice '71 rifles that he could spare and he did!  He was even nice enough to clean most of the preservative off for me.  The rifles were lathered with a smelly preservative when they came into the US.

Offline Boris Badinov

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2018, 09:54:40 AM »
The rifles were lathered with a smelly preservative when they came into the US.

FYI, it's just old Chapstick.

Offline Boris Badinov

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2018, 09:57:28 AM »
That sling is really cool.

I have an Alby DIY sling that came with a 2mil Sino-Banian that I might put on my '69.

Not nearly as cool yours-- mulit-color stained and covered in the same greasy chapstick.

Offline oldcarjunkie

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Re: 1971 Albanian time capsule **PICS**
« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2018, 10:44:14 PM »
Very nice and a great looking sling with it too, its legit Albanian sling. I have two, but neither of mine have that end. Its very cool. If i found that sling somewhere for sale i would be after it.
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