I've been wanting an Albanian for a while to round out the 5 easier countries. I came across this "Flat -bladed '78 Rumanian" and went ahead and bid. It's not matching but looks to be in good shape for an Albanian. He had another one listed correctly that sold right after this one so I don't know why he thought it was a Romy. He said he'd ship it out Monday and it's not very far away so hopefully it will be here Wed-Thurs.
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/alby5_zpsym62fku5.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/albanian_zps35zxcqcg.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/alby7_zpsrpwo4jqy.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/alby3_zpsaxlyiflo.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/alby2_zps8avkueum.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/alby8_zpsyybp3qgq.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/alby6_zpsxac4ugot.jpg)
I think you hit a home run on this one MEB! Looks like you're going to have a very nice gun in your hands soon. The stock looks better than 90% of the Albys I've ever seen on GB. Is it the mismatching part, or are there other replacements?
I wouldn't sweat the mismatch on this gun too much, there are so few of them that I personally don't think it's a huge value ding. The current condition of any given Alby (many are in simply rotten condition) really makes up the bulk of the value from what I've been seeing when I generate the GB reports. I'll get the yearly 2105 report out before the end of the month and you'll be able to see how you did compared to the averages. thumb1
That's a beauty thumb1 Nice pick up clap1 :)
Thanks guys. He said the magazine was also non matching but for the price I didn't mind. His other one was matching but it went for $100 more. I'll be interested to see how it stacks up in the report. The monthly GB reports have been really helpful in getting an idea of what things are selling for.
What other parts dont match? Stock?
Welp... It anreally nice looking Alby regardless. Nice score!
Whoa....she is a gorgeous beast isn't she?!
Some day, I hope to have one half as nice. Congrats! thumb1
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on January 10, 2016, 08:40:26 AM
What other parts dont match? Stock?
Welp... It anreally nice looking Alby regardless. Nice score!
Thanks guys, he was sure the stock and magazine didn't match but thought the rest did. He wasn't in his shop when I spoke with him. For a gun store owner he didn't seem on top of things. Now I have to figure out how to slide this oddball past the wife. :o
Good luck on the home front, I fear I may babble too much for the wife to not notice an Alby suddenly showing up. She likes wood furniture and gives me the riot act anytime I switch one of them into plastic...even temporarily. Even if I sold one off (as if) I would be busted... bat1
She knows the differences now between SKSs...at least enough to catch me. Even a missing 91/30 couldn't hide those long hand guards. chuckles1
They do pay attention more than you realize. When she saw my CC she immediately asked why it was so short. Luckily she trusts me not to go too crazy, to a point bat1 and knows they're basically liquid assets if we got in some kind of pinch.
Fed ex dropped it off yesterday and I wasn't disappointed. The non matching parts were the receiver cover and carrier. Everything else is 02137 right down to the sight leaf. There weren't much for marks except the barrel/receiver # and something that almost looks like a heart on the lug. There was also a G (Gramsh?)in the rear of the receiver. It had the TG import mark under the barrel. The machining is pretty rough, it almost feels gritty when you pull the carrier back. I can just imagine the trigger. The barrel and gas tube look new. The magazine had a little pitting on one side and a few small spots on the receiver that have been blued. The bluing is worn on the edges but overall it's not in bad shape and I'm pretty happy. Hopefully we'll get some good weather next week so I can try it out. Now I need to find a sling and oiler. Are the cleaning kits any different than other countries?
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4701_zpsgdeq0hti.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4713_zpscc9e2jkw.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4638_zpsgmjmcdxf.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4639_zps7ce11lw0.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4620_zps6lkvlbln.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4615_zpskdeyt1fz.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4649_zpsnwxxksaa.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4646_zpsitupaybr.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4725_zpsf9s5higd.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4754a_zpsir0hss1i.jpg)
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(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4720_zpsw8dturvo.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4706_zpshxdutvxw.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4761_zpssquiiinp.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4708_zpsvglsarbp.jpg)
Very nice! thumb1 The wood and the bluing look to be in beautiful condition. 8) :)
Matching or not... Thats a looker for certain! thumb1
It has been my observation that the mill work quality was slightly reduced towards the last years of production. Similar to war time mosins, it wont effect the performance and in my opinion has no effect on value.
Beautiful! So happy it arrived OK.
Wifey caught me reading this post. I think I piqued her interest enough to never be able to sneak one in, but maybe enough to get one someday. :)
Quote from: Phosphorus32 on January 14, 2016, 10:22:00 PM
Very nice! thumb1 The wood and the bluing look to be in beautiful condition. 8) :)
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on January 14, 2016, 11:03:48 PM
Matching or not... Thats a looker for certain! thumb1
It has been my observation that the mill work quality was slightly reduced towards the last years of production. Similar to war time mosins, it wont effect the performance and in my opinion has no effect on value.
Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it. I was hoping to take it out Monday but it looks like winter has finally arrived.
Quote from: Justin Hell on January 15, 2016, 09:49:28 AM
Beautiful! So happy it arrived OK.
Wifey caught me reading this post. I think I piqued her interest enough to never be able to sneak one in, but maybe enough to get one someday. :)
When it got here the wife said "Good now that you have each country (I'll be divorced before I get one of the big ones) You don't have to buy anymore". rofl Boy is she gonna be disappointed!
Quote from: MEBears on January 16, 2016, 11:38:21 AM
When it got here the wife said "Good now that you have each country (I'll be divorced before I get one of the big ones) You don't have to buy anymore".
That's just crazy talk! :o stop1 crazyp1
Quote from: MEBears on January 16, 2016, 11:38:21 AM
When it got here the wife said "Good now that you have each country (I'll be divorced before I get one of the big ones) You don't have to buy anymore". rofl Boy is she gonna be disappointed!
rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl lol So innocent and so funny. I think all of us at 1 time or another has said or thought the same thing. Just like Lay's chips or oreo's....Ya can't have just 1...even if ya have 1 of each country. It's most certainly a goal of mine and will happen, given time and cash.
That is 1 down right gorgeous Alby and I would be proud to have it as my Alby spot filler. Congrats man thumb1
Nice thumb1 Hurry up..........shoot it already :)
Quote from: armedhippie on January 16, 2016, 12:54:37 PM
Just like oreo's....Ya can't have just 1...
MMMmmmmmmmmmm..........Oreos drool2 drool2 senil1 Just 1....Oreo, what, you outta your fricken head.. 1 package maybe, a case.... thumb1
Quote"Good now that you have each country (I'll be divorced before I get one of the big ones) You don't have to buy anymore".
If'en I had a dollar for everytime I heard that, I'd have I don't know, 20 more :o rofl2
I am beginning to believe wifey is almost as much of an addict as I am...she pretends she doesn't smoke too.
I think she got a little miffed when her mother called recently and accusingly asked how many AK-47s we have....when she was able to respond zero I think she felt a little justified, and it may have gotten her bitten by the SKS bug as a result. I just thought it was cute she knew to say zero. Any time my mother in law is forced to back pedal it is good. This came as a result of me actually talking to my father in law about his VN vet friends and potential bring back data...I will remember to not bring that up again.
She likes the wood, and there is so much more on an Albanian SKS...I am just hoping she doesn't meet a real Albanian and think the same...her appreciation of black bayonets is worrying enough. rofl
Here she is with a correct sling. I thought it was canvas in the pictures but it is one of the cloth ones. I have a chest rig and oilers on the way. Now I just have to talk LC into selling me that ammo pouch rofl
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4830_zpseoxsx68b.jpg)
Excellent MEB!! thumb1
When the rig and the oiler comes in make sure to take a nice group photo. Because of the extreme niceness of this one, it's a wonderful candidate to be featured on the Albanian SKSGuide pages (if you want that is). clap1
Cant see much detail of the sling... Is it a true alby or an alby used chicom?
Yeah not my best picture for sure. It is Albanian, it's more of a cotton cloth than canvas and has the stitching on the edges.
Strange... I dont remember the ones I seen having the chinese type leather ends and metal loops.
Def get us some good shots of it...
The leather tabs are longer than the few Chinese slings I have and the buttons are brass. Here are a few closer pics and I found a picture of what it must have looked like new. This one is pretty grimy but at least it doesn't smell I guess.
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4833_zps4i1zkwfz.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4832_zpshn01dhai.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4840_zpsjgqqabom.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4836_zpsd6wgxqxx.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4834_zpsrjxjl08h.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4841_zpsifdufbx3.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/12552504_978890812178419_6023614434293420646_n_zpsh4elsg1y.jpg)
Quote from: running-man on January 27, 2016, 08:35:16 AM
When the rig and the oiler comes in make sure to take a nice group photo. Because of the extreme niceness of this one, it's a wonderful candidate to be featured on the Albanian SKSGuide pages (if you want that is). clap1
Will do! Hopefully it will be nice enough to get an outdoor pic.
Kool! Cannon want!!!
Whew! I didn't want the most expensive Chicom sling ever.
Tracked down the accessories to go with it and I swapped out the mis-matched parts for unnumbered ones thanks to some help from board members. I think the ammo pouch is Chinese but it's probably as close as I'll get.
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN5162_zpsxdq2oli6.jpg)
Chest rig is Albanian. Chinese used wooden loop thingys.
Cool that it's Albanian thumb1
Does it have any marking on it Jim?
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on March 03, 2016, 12:11:02 PM
Chest rig is Albanian. Chinese used wooden loop thingys.
thumb1 I was hoping the leather pouch was Albanian too but you can just barely see Chinese characters. I noticed one other difference is that the Albanian rig doesn't have a lined pocket for an oiler like a Chinese does.
No, the Albanian didn't have any markings. That would have been nice.