Questions about my 1st SKS

[FightingSide]

****Edited shortly after posting and realizing I likely posted this to the wrong subforum....

Looks to be one of the "missing link" 1970 1.5M serial rifles. What's throwing me for a bit of a loop is the "7.62x39 Sporter" stamp, and the welded scope mount.  The compensator/flash suppressor was added by the previous owner, who also removed the spike bayonet to install a bipod.

Is there any significance to the Sporter stamping?

[Justin Hell]

The sporter stamp is used with no real meaning on many SKSs, and has no relation to models later called Sporters. 
The factory /416\ welded scope mount was a haphazardly assembled attempt at making a cheap scope mount for export markets. I have heard they are terrible, but have no personal experience with that particular one.

You have a Choate muzzle device, and it appears that you have all that you need for putting your bayonet back on...pretty much as easily as you can put the bipod on. The muzzle device would have to come off though.

Nice rifle...you could find a replacement standard receiver cover, possibly an unnumbered one if you are patient and restore back to original pretty easily.

edit: Oh, and a cleaning rod.

[FightingSide]

The sporter stamp is used with no real meaning on many SKSs, and has no relation to models later called Sporters. 
The factory /416\ welded scope mount was a haphazardly assembled attempt at making a cheap scope mount for export markets. I have heard they are terrible, but have no personal experience with that particular one.

You have a Choate muzzle device, and it appears that you have all that you need for putting your bayonet back on...pretty much as easily as you can put the bipod on. The muzzle device would have to come off though.

Nice rifle...you could find a replacement standard receiver cover, possibly an unnumbered one if you are patient and restore back to original pretty easily.

edit: Oh, and a cleaning rod.

I'm on the lookout for a cleaning rod. I've also considered grinding the welds off of the receiver cover, filling and re-bluing to keep the matched numbers, as everything else is matching on the rifle.  I've also considered unscrewing the 13mm dovetail plate and attaching a piece of picatinny type rail so that I can see if a scope will actually hold zero on it. It would involve a little drilling on the picatinny, as the screw hole spacing is not the same.

The other option is to stash the current cover and find another and shoot iron sights. I think the idea of the mount was to leave enough open space to still use the iron sights, but the spacing is so tight that it creates a very dark sight picture when looking through the hole under the scope mount.

I'm sending my trigger group out Kivaari today to address my negative engagement issue. (turns out he's only about 50 miles away from me)

All in all, I think I got a smoking deal when I bought it. I purchased it from a work associate- he bought it about 10 years ago from a friend who had sat on it for years without even firing it. From what I'm told, the first owner never fired it, he just stockpiled a bunch of them. The guy who sold it to me has put about 200 rounds through it. 

[Loose}{Cannon]

Nice....   Another 1970 /26\ for the list.  Still all sub 20k serials. 

[FightingSide]

Nice....   Another 1970 /26\ for the list.  Still all sub 20k serials.

What's the highest serial logged for the 1970? Obviously under 20k... :-)

[FightingSide]

I did a more thorough teardown this morning and located the rest of the Import stamp.

7.62x39 Sporter Made in China by Norinco B-West TUC AZ

Seems to match B-West Stamp #11 listed on this thread: http://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2111.0

[Loose}{Cannon]

1519102

[Justin Hell]

Wait, are you saying the receiver cover/scope mount is serialed to this gun?
Pics please!

I heard these mounts were made from blank covers, and you could grind them off to get blanks...but if this is serialed to the gun...don't do anything yet.

[FightingSide]

Wait, are you saying the receiver cover/scope mount is serialed to this gun?
Pics please!

I heard these mounts were made from blank covers, and you could grind them off to get blanks...but if this is serialed to the gun...don't do anything yet.

No serial on the cover. On further inspection, It is a /46\ stamp on the cover, a mismatch from the /26\ on the receiver.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Cover is 416

[FightingSide]

Cover is 416

Typo there- a disconnect somewhere between eyes, brain, and fingers. I blame the respiratory infection that has me home from work today. :-)

[running-man]

I'd guess you have a B-West #4 import stamp from the import list (http://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2111.0)

The sporter designation in this instance was used exclusively by B-West on their SKSs. Common thought is that they wanted to emphasize the 'sporting purposes' capability of their SKSs (perhaps for ease of import?), but I have yet to see definitive proof of the real reasoning behind it. 

[FightingSide]

I'd guess you have a B-West #4 import stamp from the import list (http://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2111.0)

The sporter designation in this instance was used exclusively by B-West on their SKSs. Common thought is that they wanted to emphasize the 'sporting purposes' capability of their SKSs (perhaps for ease of import?), but I have yet to see definitive proof of the real reasoning behind it.

That's the one. You can't see most of it until the end cover is removed. The legs of the scope mount obscure everything except "7.62x39 Sporter"

I enjoyed completing your "SKS Survey" the other day. Actually a great way for new owners like myself to become much more familiar with their rifles. I learned fun things like I have an early style cover release, a late rear sight, late bayonet lug, a short threaded matched barrel, and matching numbers with the exception of my gas tube and piston. 

[FightingSide]

A few changes to the rifle so far: I've decided to save the bubba-ing for the AK. (which recently got the ATI Strikforce Elite furniture kit)







Doing some re-bluing on this one. Unfortunately it is serialed, so it won't be a matched part.





Still waiting (somewhat patiently) for my trigger group to come back from Kivaari.

[FightingSide]

I've noticed the finish on the stock is a bit poorly done by modern rifle standards. There are a few areas with finish flaws and large amounts of orange peel. Would it hurt the value to clean this up with some sandpaper and reapplying lacquer?

[running-man]

Value-wise you might not take too big a hit, but a stock refinish is passing the point of no return in many purists' minds.  Of course this isn't a pristine rifle to start out with, so it may not be that big a deal anyhow.  Things like swapping out the stock for a composite one, adding a neon plastic front sight post, or replacing the rear sight leaf with a peep sight are all pretty easily reversible. 

I'd say, do what makes you appreciate the rifle more.  If the furniture is downright ugly, the shellac is peeling badly, or it's been abused to the point that the gouges and other blemishes making it undesirable to handle & use, then by all means have at it with the knowledge that what you do can never be undone.  You could always go the route of getting a replacement stock while storing the original stock away for safekeeping.  If you do decide to refinish, it will forever always have a matching stock that's been sanded and refinished.  If you're ok with that, you're golden.