Yugoslavian stocks and bayonet grooves

[Phosphorus32]

I had all of the Yugoslavian SKSs laid out today and took some pics and measurements.

Yugoslavian SKS Model    Bayonet groove  Bayonet
M59                                 4"                       12.25"
M59 long barrel               2.5"                    12.25"
M59/66(A1)                     6"                        14.25"

Okay, it's all logical with the extra barrel length for the LBs or the extra bayonet length for the M59/66(A1)s.

Here are the SKSs, or stocks, from left to right
1.  M59 B block
2.  M59 C block
3.  M59 LB SN 040
4.  M59 LB SN 012, stock only, temporary guest
5.  M59 LB SN 021
6.  M59/66A1 J block
7.  M59/66, stock only







Here's the fun part. The M59 B block doesn't show any signs of force matching, even though it's clearly an M59/66 stock with a 6" bayonet groove (without the butt pad). A fresh stock put on at refurbishment and numbered to match. 

The M59 C block has an actual M59 stock but it was from another rifle and the SN was force matched after partially scrubbing the original SN during refurb.

M59 B    &   M59 C



The M59 LB, SN 040 shows no signs of force matching and IS in an original LB stock.

M59 LB, SN 012 (stock only) is a force-matched standard M59 stock.

M59 LB SN 040     M59 LB SN 012, STOCK ONLY



M59 LB, SN 021 is in a standard M59 stock, force matched to another M59.

M59/66A1 J block is in a force-matched M59/66 stock.

M59 LB SN 021     M59/66 J BLOCK

[Loose}{Cannon]

What is this 'temporary guest' crap?   

[Phosphorus32]

What is this 'temporary guest' crap?   

That stock is on its way to be reunited with LB 012

[Loose}{Cannon]

What is this 'temporary guest' crap?   

That stock is on its way to be reunited with LB 012

I can't remember...  Did you find your correct stock and swap?

[Phosphorus32]

No, I didn't find my stock but I found another member with the rifle for my stock.

It's cool, especially since I've got LB 040 that's all matching 

[running-man]

Nice spread and nice reference Jon!  This is going to be valuable info for many members. 

What S/N stock did you wind up with for LB S/N 21?  My LB has a force matched stock off a C block from ~ S/N 35k with the 4" bayo groove. 

[Phosphorus32]

Thanks Joe!

It's "37431" over a partially scrubbed 43K number, shown above.

[running-man]

Duh, if I'd have read the text off the last photo I'd have known that. 

Sorry man, I'm gettin old! 

[Phosphorus32]

  no problem 

[armedhippie]

Very nice Jon  As my old man would say..." learned a lil smoke today".

[Phosphorus32]

Very nice Jon  As my old man would say..." learned a lil smoke today".

Thanks Greg!  Glad I could blow some smoke your way  I mean add a lil tidbit of knowledge 

[Phosphorus32]

Forgot to add my Slovenian Protokol to the family picture yesterday....rectified:

[Phosphorus32]

More on stock numbers:

The M59 LB, SN 040 appears original; original LB bayonet groove stock, no overstamp (but does have a 1.TRZ mark on the right side of the buttstock). The M59 stock on M59 LB SN 021 has a stock SN of 46048 (now), but the old SN was scrubbed and the new one added, also 1.TRZ stamped. Regardless of having been through refurb, the 040 appears to have the original stamped SN on the stock and the font of the 4 is distinctly different from the 4's on the other stocks, e.g., 46048, so the font of the 4 may be a good feature for distinguishing early original numbers vs. later and/or refurbishment numbers.

[Phosphorus32]

It's still cold outside so I'm not on my bicycle as much as I want or need to be, i.e., not at all, so I've got cabin fever and that means you are my victims of idleness   

Alright then, more fun with the micrometer and bore length measuring dowel.

The front sight base/bayonet lug is identical between the M59s and M59 LBs, the length difference is between the front of the gas block and the rear of the fsb, exactly 40.0 mm (1.57"). The taper of this region is the same, 16.1 to 15.0 mm diameter (just before the step down to 14.0mm for the fsb), but the length is different, 98 vs. 138 mm, so the taper is more pronounced in the standard M59.

Interesting side note: the rifled bore of the M59/66 is about 22.25" (or 565mm). 24.125" to the end of the GL but subtracting the 1.875" distance from the end of the GL spigot to the step down in diameter to the actual rifle bore yields 22.25".  Very close to the M59 LB barrel length of 22.125" +/- .0625" (accursed English and their measurement systems  ); 560mm.  Of course the standard M59 (and all other country's SKSs) barrel length is 520mm (20.5").

[running-man]

Interesting. 

Is the taper the same for a LB as it is for an M59/66?  Those numbers are too similar to not have an association.

[Phosphorus32]

Interesting. 

Is the taper the same for a LB as it is for an M59/66?  Those numbers are too similar to not have an association.

Yes and no. The starting and ending o.d.'s are the same, but it's over a longer distance for the LB. With regard to overall bore length the M59 LB and M59/66 are very similar. However, with regard to outside diameter barrel dimensions, the M59 and M59/66 are more similar, up to the fsb. The taper from 16.1 to 15.0 starts at the same distance from the breach on the M59/66, except it occurs in 1.6mm less overall length than on the M59, i.e., a very slight difference. The last section of barrel from the front of the fsb to the beginning of the GL spigot is just 13.8mm, so the M59/66, overall, has a very unique barrel profile. Not surprising considering that everything is different from the shape and length of the gas block (0.5cm longer), to the length of the fsb (0.5cm longer), to the change in the o.d. of the barrel for the GL spigot.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Sounds to me like the LB and 59/66 barrels have nothing in common.

[Phosphorus32]

Sounds to me like the LB and 59/66 barrels have nothing in common.

On the outside dimensions that's correct. Only the length is similar. I've never seen a GL spigot removed. Does it have a lip that contacts the crown of the barrel?

[running-man]

Sounds to me like the LB and 59/66 barrels have nothing in common.

Yup, I think so too.  If P32 had said the outer profiles of the LB and M59/66 were similar I'd have thought there was a stronger association.  Now it just looks like maybe  they wanted a similar rifled length for each one.

I'll try and scrounge up a photo of a removed GL with the threads exposed Jon. Not sure I have one, but it'll be interesting to see if I do.

[Loose}{Cannon]

I have one of those new in the white 59/66 barrels somewheres.