Romanian GB pick up

Phosphorus32 · February 07, 2016, 08:04:19 PM

I've been wanting to fill the Romanian hole in my SKS collection. This one was a fun pursuit and I'm happy with how it worked out. I was watching a poorly presented auction in early January and was intrigued enough to ask the seller a few questions (nice guy, but a bit slow on the response timeline). The auction ended with no bids before I got answers to my follow up questions. He finally got back to me with the answers to my second set of questions and an offer to sell it to me for $25 less before he relisted it. He said it had a sling but it wasn't shown in any of the pics. He said the original receiver cover was included and all the external SNs matched. Anyhow, I decided I couldn't go wrong for the price so I bit...

AUCTION PICS

Here's my worn, moderately refurbished Romanian M56 with a mismatched gas tube (from the very first block of 1957s) and a Romanian sling. Took her out to the range and she shoots very well. Only made minor adjustments to the front sight. I'm a happy camper. Got the five common countries filled. Given the prices on DDR, NK and the NVA marked SKSs, I anticipate a long wait until I check off another country

LEFT

RIGHT

SERIAL NUMBERS

THE OFFENDING GAS TUBE SN

armedhippie · February 07, 2016, 08:25:20 PM

You lucky dog! I'd be thrilled with it and a sling to boot. Congrats man! Happy for ya.

Loose}{Cannon · February 07, 2016, 08:27:21 PM

Very nice... Good price?

running-man · February 07, 2016, 08:46:52 PM

Horse trading in the back alley even!!

She's a beaut Jon! I have a Romy with a horiz S/N on the stock too. I wouldn't sweat the mismatched gas tube either. It's not even a regularly serialized part on the Romys.

Loose}{Cannon · February 07, 2016, 10:19:40 PM

Dee dee argh matey!

Phosphorus32 · February 07, 2016, 10:30:18 PM

Quote from: armedhippie on February 07, 2016, 08:25:20 PM
You lucky dog! I'd be thrilled with it and a sling to boot. Congrats man! Happy for ya.

Thanks man!

Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on February 07, 2016, 08:27:21 PM
Very nice... Good price?

Thanks! $375. Not a steal but I certainly won't complain, especially with the sling as a kicker

Quote from: running-man on February 07, 2016, 08:46:52 PM
Horse trading in the back alley even!!

She's a beaut Jon! I have a Romy with a horiz S/N on the stock too. I wouldn't sweat the mismatched gas tube either. It's not even a regularly serialized part on the Romys.

Thanks. Always fun to do a little back alley dealing.

Yeah, I'm not too put off by the gas tube number. It's a nice carbine.

Loose}{Cannon · February 07, 2016, 11:18:01 PM

Well worth the price. Well done

MEBears · February 08, 2016, 06:43:57 AM

Nice pick-up! Goes to show that crappy pictures cost people money. With the sling that's a good deal.

carls sks · February 08, 2016, 08:25:41 AM

congrats, nice . thanks for sharing.

Loose}{Cannon · February 08, 2016, 10:52:22 AM

I don't like it...

Because its not mine!!!

Phosphorus32 · February 08, 2016, 11:12:34 AM

Thanks LC, carls sks, and MEBears

Indeed, bad pics are bad business. Helps to know what pics collectors would be interested in as well.

Phosphorus32 · February 08, 2016, 11:49:08 AM

Now looking for Romanian M56, SN AA820, matching except gas tube

Blicero · February 09, 2016, 02:43:17 AM

Funny how a rifle goes from a dog to a steal just by way of you opening a dialogue with the seller, asking the right questions. Beauty!

Phosphorus32 · February 09, 2016, 10:30:56 AM

Thanks Kevin! Yes, it's fun to run across auctions that have an inkling of something better hidden from view.

Of course the opposite -- something worse hidden from view -- isn't true

Power Surge · February 09, 2016, 11:54:01 AM

Wow, awesome buy! That's a freakin nice rifle!

Greasemonkey · February 09, 2016, 03:56:27 PM

Nice....

If'en ya like, I can hold it for you

, I mean that tube, that non matching horrible terrible thing attached to channel gases to the piston, you know, those numbers don't match, so I'm offering you an opportunity, it's hard to refuse...........

I'll simply hold it for you,

while you search for a matching rifle, once you find it, I can declare this one a consolidation prize for me cause you get the pristine uber real nice sexy matching one and you don't have to worry about those disgusting, nasty, trashy, belong in a dumpster, missy matchy thingys anymore..

I promise it will be among many a Romanian family member and be treated, real, real well

Besides, you already used it...so that value is kinda gone

whatcha say

Phosphorus32 · February 09, 2016, 04:53:26 PM

Quote from: Power Surge on February 09, 2016, 11:54:01 AM
Wow, awesome buy! That's a freakin nice rifle!

Thanks PS!

Quote from: Greasemonkey on February 09, 2016, 03:56:27 PM
Nice....

If'en ya like, I can hold it for you , I mean that tube, that non matching horrible terrible thing attached to channel gases to the piston, you know, those numbers don't match, so I'm offering you an opportunity, it's hard to refuse........... I'll simply hold it for you, while you search for a matching rifle, once you find it, I can declare this one a consolidation prize for me cause you get the pristine uber real nice sexy matching one and you don't have to worry about those disgusting, nasty, trashy, belong in a dumpster, missy matchy thingys anymore..

I promise it will be among many a Romanian family member and be treated, real, real well Besides, you already used it...so that value is kinda gone

whatcha say

Dang GM, that's a really generous offer

I mean, especially since she's my only Romanian SKS and she might get lonely

...but I think I'll pass. After all, she does have my Mosin carbine, TTC, Romanian contract VZ24 and WASR, with which to exchange Romanian greetings

Greasemonkey · February 09, 2016, 06:16:27 PM

So........guess that kinda sorta means.....NO, Jimmy.

. back off

Figured I'd try

I mean,

I would at least offer to cover the shipping

it's the least I could do

Phosphorus32 · February 09, 2016, 06:54:08 PM

Yup, that'd be: "No, Jimmy No! Put that down, right now! You don't know where that's been Jimmy!"

The part of me that tends towards the OCD end of the spectrum would, of course, like an unnumbered or correctly numbered gas tube (thingy)...but I'm very, very happy with this M56

The part of me that simply likes a well-used functional battle loves my Romanian...and my beat up Albanian. My 56-1 looks like it tangled with some rough characters on the shady side of Skopje, spent the night on the wet and dirty floor of one of Hoxha's bunkers sleeping off a binge on com-bloc ammo, and it's a complete mismatch, but it runs great. I had it out with the Romanian last weekend and it shoots very well, after I got it zeroed

Direct Connection · February 09, 2016, 11:17:20 PM

What ? You mean you bought a matching 57 with no cleaning rod ! ! ! That would have been a deal breaker lol ..

Nice score P32. Someone would be moving over in my safe so he could fill that hole..

News:

Romanian GB pick up