I ran across the copy of this letter on a Gunbroker auction here:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/895627761 (https://www.gunbroker.com/item/895627761)
Seller's Gunbroker name: jsim5548
Auction Item#: 895627761
Date of auction: (ending date/time) 3/28/2021 3:00 PM
The letter:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-2.jpg)
I realize the auction will only be up for 90 days so I snatched a few pics from the auction and the letter itself. I wish there had been a letterhead or more info on the owner of GSAD. But it may be enough to piece together some unknowns about importers during that time and his willingness to give even more info upon request. It is an interesting piece of history, nonetheless.
The ad:
GSAD Pre Ban Chinese AK-47 7.62x39mm Semi-Auto Rifle
Pics of the rifle:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-3.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-4.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-10.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-5.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-6.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-9.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-11.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-7.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b436/firstchoice14/GSAD_importer_letter_from_GSAD_Owner_AK47S-8.jpg)
RM, if there's no practical use for the info in this letter, feel free to scrap this post. I've always felt there would be a wealth of information with the records of the importers, if they were inclined to give them up for collector and historical reference. At least this one seemed willing.
firstchoice
This is great stuff FC. I wonder if the letter is simply traveling with the gun or if the seller is the Erik or Dave mentioned in the letter? The seller has quite a few firearms and lots of feedback, looks like he may be a current FFL that liquidates estates.
We don't have a GSAD importer on the list for SKSs. I wonder if he imported them? The Jing An info is interesting. I'll have to pull a few Jing An SKS references and see if it makes sense or no. A post by GM in the importer thread mentions Jing An as being "Chinese People's Armed police": https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2111.msg27280#msg27280
Quote from: running-man on March 23, 2021, 10:34:20 AM
This is great stuff FC. I wonder if the letter is simply traveling with the gun or if the seller is the Erik or Dave mentioned in the letter? The seller has quite a few firearms and lots of feedback, looks like he may be a current FFL that liquidates estates.
We don't have a GSAD importer on the list for SKSs. I wonder if he imported them? The Jing An info is interesting. I'll have to pull a few Jing An SKS references and see if it makes sense or no. A post by GM in the importer thread mentions Jing An as being "Chinese People's Armed police": https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2111.msg27280#msg27280
I've got some links and stuff still saved about the "other Chinese military" the Armed Police force... I might have to see if I can't dig it out. Defiantly some interesting stuff.
Goof stuff
FC thumb1
Very interesting information, thanks FC! thumb1 That Type 56 AK is gorgeous drool2
I wrote to the Seller about the letter and this is what he sent back to me:
jsim5548 <members@members.gunbroker.com>
Tue 3/23/2021 8:40 AM
The letter will go with the gun. The letter was found on the internet by Mr. Simmons, which explains about the gun.
Julian Lightfoot
Office Manager
Jeffrey Simmons
Franklin Exchange
4220 College St.
Beaumont, Texas 77707
409-554-8186
409-924-0184 (FAX)
beammeer@yahoo.com
www.franklinex.com
M-F 9am-6pm Sat 10am-5pm CST
Not much info to go on but I'm going to try to contact the Mr. Simmons he refers to and gave the name and contact info for. The letter may be old, so not sure how it will end up. We'll see. Just a little more info to the mystery.
firstchoice
Nice FC! Keri up the great work!!!! thumb1
Very interesting.
For someone interested in SKS and AK rifles, the 80's and 90's here in California were a pretty fascinating time.
All the different importers, and every gun show you went to had a lot of Chinese people with their tables piled high with Chinese rifles and related items.
Cool letter, but a SCHWEET! spiker.
Don't see those much at all.
Cool. Back in the Free Kali days. PAX