Hey Sal, did you see this one on the 'other' boards?
http://www.SKSboards.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=4e8aekd077pq9gdn4pdbicbcn5&topic=147816.msg1739352#msg1739352
No true import stamp and an odd ball SKS and caliber designator. The S/N indicates an '08 build. Look at the spot welded portion of the receiver where the tang for the trigger group is. I've never seen one like that... thumb1
Quote from: running-man on April 20, 2018, 08:13:21 PM
Hey Sal, did you see this one on the 'other' boards?
http://www.SKSboards.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=4e8aekd077pq9gdn4pdbicbcn5&topic=147816.msg1739352#msg1739352
No true import stamp and an odd ball SKS and caliber designator. The S/N indicates an '08 build. Look at the spot welded portion of the receiver where the tang for the trigger group is. I've never seen one like that... thumb1
That is definitely a new one to me. There ARE Canadian SKS-Ds (they are legitimately called "D"s in Canada). But this one does not look like any of the three versions I have on file. I've never seen one with that kind of font, nor with that kind of receiver modification. I do not believe the Commercial rifles with only 5 digit serials signify date. I honestly have no idea what that rifle is ???
So I guess this is where everyone ran off to since I noticed the other board seems far less active.
I'm sure most of you have seen pictures of it in the auction, but for those that might have missed it below is a picture of the full assembled rifle. You can see that the serial and the caliber designation is mostly under the stock wood line. Hopefully, you can also see how I thought the mount might be separate from the receiver cover, and that the rifle has the original receiver cover, since the mount is different than the typical 4 screw Leapers mount. Unfortunately, that is not the case and the mount and cover are one piece. I'll probably try to find an unmarked cover since I highly doubt I'll have enough luck to find one with a matching serial number. The bayonet was also missing.
(https://i.imgur.com/aM646FK.jpg)
My other "D" is also an oddball with a dual magazine release (original plus the one for AK mags.)
I wonder if it's a "clandestine" rifle.. maybe a newer one. :o :)
See this...
http://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2143.0
Hey jpeppers, awesome that you dropped in! These boards and those boards don't get along for the most part.
Your carbine is a really neat specimen. Looks like none of the SKS-30's from the 80's & 90's, the Midwest Ordinance true SKS D's, or as PS says the 3 examples of Canadian SKS Ds he's seen. Do you have a link to the auction? Would love to see if the seller is near the Canadian border or if there is something that ties it to brand new production.
Are there any other unusual features on this guy? Does the cut in the receiver to allow AK mags look like it was done during the initial build or perhaps was it a secondary operation done to an existing gun?
Welcome to the boards! thumb1
Quote from: jpeppers on April 21, 2018, 12:14:42 AM
So I guess this is where everyone ran off to since I noticed the other board seems far less active.
I'm sure most of you have seen pictures of it in the auction, but for those that might have missed it below is a picture of the full assembled rifle. You can see that the serial and the caliber designation is mostly under the stock wood line. Hopefully, you can also see how I thought the mount might be separate from the receiver cover, and that the rifle has the original receiver cover, since the mount is different than the typical 4 screw Leapers mount. Unfortunately, that is not the case and the mount and cover are one piece. I'll probably try to find an unmarked cover since I highly doubt I'll have enough luck to find one with a matching serial number. The bayonet was also missing.
(https://i.imgur.com/aM646FK.jpg)
My other "D" is also an oddball with a dual magazine release (original plus the one for AK mags.)
Welcome to The Files, jpeppers.
I'm pretty certain this rifle is a re-arsenaled version Commercial. During the commercial production years, there were arsenals that "copied" commercial models other arsenals were making, and made their own versions. A prime example is the MC-5D version of the SKS-M. I'm pretty certain that's the case with this rifle.
Your other D must be a Delta Investment Group import. Those were common for having the dual mag release.
Thanks for the welcome. Here is a link to the auction: https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/759115476
I haven't seen a large enough sample size to comment on the modifications, but below are three pics of the magwell area. The sun wasn't cooperating today so I had to take them with flash on. Nothing else about the rifle stands out. There's no markings other than those that I already posted. The only thing that did stand out was the scope mount. I'm not overly familiar with the aftermarket dust covers since I never cared much for them, but I haven't seen one like this before.
(https://i.imgur.com/YIIY3sV.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/QcjtgO4.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/X20g4dH.jpg?1)
Another welcome jpeppers!
That is one nifty gun. I would really like to see that mount in more detail.
I dig that it is full length and can have a proper bayonet eventually.
It's kind of surprising the crickets being the only response...over....there.
Hey jpeppers, is the stock number matched to the gun? What about components. Do they match the receiver S/N exactly or did they drop the 08?
The stock is unnumbered. The bolt carrier, bolt, and the trigger assembly all have the full five digit serial number.
Attached are a few pics of the receiver cover/mount. Like I said, I never cared for these, but I never saw one like this. All the ones that use screws to further secure the mount that I've seen were the Leapers mounts. It is stamped "POLY TECH CHINA" on the left side.
(https://i.imgur.com/uEWIJX4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DJ4yNdL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CLw1vB2.jpg?1)
hi JP and welcome. good to have you here. nice, thanks for sharing. thumb1
As I'm sure you've gathered, it's a Polytech made SKS scope mount. They are quite uncommon. I haven't seen one in years.
I would speculate that was probably added when the rifle was new. However we don't even know when that was, lol.
Yeah, as rare as it may be I still would have preferred that the rifle came with the original cover. At least the screws don't seem to have been tightened much so the receiver doesn't have those circular wear marks.
Also, it looks like when it rains it pours. I'm not sure about the etiquette here about posting ongoing auctions, but there is an ongoing auction on GB for what looks like an identically marked rifle.
Post away, we have an auctions section precisely for those.
The boards that have unwritten rules about posting an ongoing auction make me go think1. You punish a member for breaking a rule that isn't explicitly written down?? How does that work? ???
I can't help but think of my gut feeling about these being Canuck guns. The lack of the very important portion of <importer + importer city, state abbreviation> really bothers me. Unless it was a CAI gun with an etched receiver cover, but even those have the "Norinco, caliber, China" info in the cover, so why would it be redundantly put on the receiver too?. Just a real head scratcher. It's neat to see something new like this though. thumb1
QuoteI can't help but think of my gut feeling about these being Canuck guns.
Yeah, the thing about these is you wont have a pinned 5 round factory mag to set off a red flag.
This one appears to be related maybe??? https://www.gunbroker.com/item/764816409. Sorry about posting it here...but it would lose the context if i put it in the auction section.
Yeah, Looks like the exact identical import stamp. There are apparently 9938 of them around. I'm shocked that they haven't turned up 'til now....
Yup, that's the one I mentioned. The markings are identical except on mine the serial number on the receiver is almost entirely covered up by the stock.
I doubt it means anything, but mine has similar wear in front of the magazine well on the stock. That seller mentions that he bought it from an acquaintance that did not shoot it much, so it seems strange that the stock would be that worn.
I've cataloged both these rifles into the Commercial database, in the Canadian D folder. Maybe we will see more pop that can shed some more light into them.
How well does that PolyTech mount fit? It looks like the tangs have been ground off completely.
I don't recall seeing that one on the XXXSKS list of yore. It appears to be made by adhering a plate and rail over what likely was an original cover.
The mount fits well, and the latch slides in fine. Locking the latch or unlocking it requires a bit of force. I had the same experience with a Russian SKS that came with an aftermarket cover, but the original one was also included in the sale. The latch locked and unlocked much easier on the original cover.
I agree about the construction. It's also why I originally thought (and hoped) the mount might be separate from the cover and that the rifle retained its original serialized cover. For the price, I can't really complain. I'll grab an unserialized cover to replace the aftermarket one at some point.
In the absence of a plentiful supply of blank covers, a Yugo cover might suffice, they are lightly stamped, sometimes only electropenciled...and are easy to scrub and reblue into blanks. :)
I think I may give that a go. Could you recommend a method and/or product for rebluing at home? I have never tried it before.
I am a big fan of Casey's Super Blue...it gives me great results. Especially if you don't follow the instructions and do the final rinse with water to stop the reaction...I usually do two passes, the first you rinse with water, then a second dose for a little extra darkening for uniformity, then to stop the reaction I use Rem Oil. Having an air compressor is very helpful...but with a receiver cover, it should be pretty easy to get dry even without one.
Also, it helps if you heat the part up with a hair dryer before starting.
You don't want it too hot. Too hot and it will just vaporize right off the metal. Running hot water over the part gets it warm enough. Also I cannot stress this enough...... degrease degrease degrease...... don't even touch it with bare hands after degreasing.
Thank you for the advice. I'm going to have a Yugo cover coming my way, so I'll definitely give this a shot as time allows.
Also, I hope this won't be considered sacrilegious, but has anyone tried force matching covers? This isn't for the sake of increasing the resale value, and should I ever decide to sell the rifle I would reveal that the cover isn't original. I'm just anal about trying to keep things as close to original as possible. I figure getting the cover engraved would be the easiest approach, but I believe they were stamped with the serial numbers originally?
Quote from: jpeppers on April 30, 2018, 10:36:23 PM
Also, I hope this won't be considered sacrilegious, but has anyone tried force matching covers? This isn't for the sake of increasing the resale value, and should I ever decide to sell the rifle I would reveal that the cover isn't original. I'm just anal about trying to keep things as close to original as possible. I figure getting the cover engraved would be the easiest approach, but I believe they were stamped with the serial numbers originally?
Sacrilegious and then some, this is where anal ranks up there with faking and even lying to some. Like people having to have the all perfect correct Garand, M1 Carbine or another at one time mix master, because when it came from re-arsenal, it was mismatched.
Just my opinion..... I have numerous mismatched arsenal refurbed, rebuilt, even unbubba'ed weapons, numbers don't make it shoot any better, just find an original cover or an un-numbered and enjoy it for what it is. thumb1
Quote from: jpeppers on April 30, 2018, 10:36:23 PM
Thank you for the advice. I'm going to have a Yugo cover coming my way, so I'll definitely give this a shot as time allows.
Also, I hope this won't be considered sacrilegious, but has anyone tried force matching covers? This isn't for the sake of increasing the resale value, and should I ever decide to sell the rifle I would reveal that the cover isn't original. I'm just anal about trying to keep things as close to original as possible. I figure getting the cover engraved would be the easiest approach, but I believe they were stamped with the serial numbers originally?
Yes, the bolt cover was stamped with the serial number. The Beta Arms imports were stamped with the last 5 digits of the SN. (On the bolt, bolt carrier, bolt cover, and the trigger group.) Power Surge may be able to list how exactly the SN's are stamped on the China Sports and DIG imported SKS-30's. (And, which parts are stamped. They should be the same parts, but I cannot give you an absolute answer because I don't own those imports.) The stock is not stamped.
Welome to the Files, jpeppers! Interesting specimen that you have posted here!
What is the member answering your post over on SKSboards referring to by saying that all the early "D"s were screwed barrels? I've seen only pinned barrels for all the "D"/SKS-30 rifles. Have there been any threaded barrel SKS-30's found?
firstchoice
Quote from: Greasemonkey on April 30, 2018, 11:00:31 PM
Quote from: jpeppers on April 30, 2018, 10:36:23 PM
Also, I hope this won't be considered sacrilegious, but has anyone tried force matching covers? This isn't for the sake of increasing the resale value, and should I ever decide to sell the rifle I would reveal that the cover isn't original. I'm just anal about trying to keep things as close to original as possible. I figure getting the cover engraved would be the easiest approach, but I believe they were stamped with the serial numbers originally?
Sacrilegious and then some, this is where anal ranks up there with faking and even lying to some. Like people having to have the all perfect correct Garand, M1 Carbine or another at one time mix master, because when it came from re-arsenal, it was mismatched.
Just my opinion..... I have numerous mismatched arsenal refurbed, rebuilt, even unbubba'ed weapons, numbers don't make it shoot any better, just find an original cover or an un-numbered and enjoy it for what it is. thumb1
+100. I would be very wary of recreating authenticity for whatever reason; that's a slippery slope that most collectors simply will not knowingly touch with a 10' pole...
Quote from: firstchoice on May 01, 2018, 01:24:25 AM
What is the member answering your post over on SKSboards referring to by saying that all the early "D"s were screwed barrels? I've seen only pinned barrels for all the "D"/SKS-30 rifles. Have there been any threaded barrel SKS-30's found?
firstchoice
You know as well as I do that LG is spouting off to show his superior 30 years of insider knowledge because he was there back in the day...They are, after all, all D's or M's only and Norinco is not a manufacturer! ireful1
I wonder if he realizes that the "Norinco" text is found only in the later (like post '88) stamps, so calling this gun an early "D" just because of the import stamp appears pretty ignorant on his part.
QuoteI wonder if he realizes that the "Norinco" text is found only in the later (like post '88) stamps, so calling this gun an early "D" just because of the import stamp appears pretty ignorant on his part.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Another one surfaced, but this one has an importer marking.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/771737588
Mine has a serial number that's below this, and the other one that was posted in this thread had a serial number higher than this and neither one has importer markings.