Sheet metal receiver sks

[sdn1]

Anyone know how many of these were made ?

[Phosphorus32]

Not many. Probably 6-7K per year, or less, in 1970-71 at Factory [0138]

[running-man]

As P32 said, the S/Ns we've collected show at least 5390 in '70 and at least 6970 in '71. One other arsenal has stamped guns as well (I'm not on my computer so I can't look it up), but seeing as we only have the single example from it, I'd guess those are pretty negligible. 

[Loose}{Cannon]

Stamped sheet-metal variations have been observed factory stamped [0138], [0139], [0145] & [0158].

[santaroga]

I'd love to find one of those. I had some questions on another forum and I contacted Ian - about the "everyman rifle" concept that floats around builder/designer hobbyist forums. Ian shares my opinion that an SKS-like rifle would be the best bet for a home machine shop semiatuo intermediate caliber "scratch" built firearm.

I've puzzled over it a bit, and have hear do the sheet metal ones, but haven't ever gotten one.

[firstchoice]

I'd love to find one of those. I had some questions on another forum and I contacted Ian - about the "everyman rifle" concept that floats around builder/designer hobbyist forums. Ian shares my opinion that an SKS-like rifle would be the best bet for a home machine shop semiatuo intermediate caliber "scratch" built firearm.

I've puzzled over it a bit, and have heard do the sheet metal ones, but haven't ever gotten one.

santaroga, are you suggesting doing a stamped receiver SKS as a home-build project, as an "easy" project rifle? I've always wondered about the Chinese doing this out of cost-cutting measures, but I can't imagine trying it out of any home build shop. The overall lack of durabilty shown on the stamped SKS receivers would make me shy away of buying one to shoot on a regular basis. There's always a niche for them with collectors because of the relative scarcity of them here. You may be talking about a different route here altogether than what I'm thinking here. Just curious.

firstchoice

[Phosphorus32]

I don't know the gauge on the stamped receivers, since I've never held one in my hands to measure. As firstchoice says, they aren't considered to be durable shooters, but rather collectible due to rarity. I'm fairly certain that the Type 56 stamped receivers are much thicker than the 1.0mm (AKM) or 1.5mm (RPK). If so, it would probably take a higher pressure press than AK builders use, to make them from scratch, not to mention all the jigs.

It seems to me it'd be better to get a CNC machine and make a modern milled receiver if you're really (really!) into home building and have deep pockets. Either way, it'd be a money pit.

If you're committed to it I'd search for all of the Yugo barrels you can find because those are the only ones I know of that are still about in some numbers...still a search though. Of course all of the ancillary parts have become scarce and pricey as well.

[santaroga]

santaroga, are you suggesting doing a stamped receiver SKS as a home-build project, as an "easy" project rifle? I've always wondered about the Chinese doing this out of cost-cutting measures, but I can't imagine trying it out of any home build shop. The overall lack of durabilty shown on the stamped SKS receivers would make me shy away of buying one to shoot on a regular basis. There's always a niche for them with collectors because of the relative scarcity of them here. You may be talking about a different route here altogether than what I'm thinking here. Just curious.

firstchoice

Not really. Hands on, owning a sheet metal receiver, would give me some better ideas of how to go about doing a welded receiver, or a part milled/part welded receiver (much more likely)

Phosphorus32 - Oh, I could do it. I have 2 forges and a heat treat oven that's big enough. I'm not assuming I'd press a 2.5 mm receiver on my 20 ton press, but I could do it on a mandrel at heat, no problem.

[Bob_The_Student]

Does anyone have a photo of the sheet metal variant? Just curious, thanks!

[running-man]

Here you go Bob,

They are unique and interesting and ugly and finicky and the stocks tended to crack badly due to point pressure from the individual rivets. 

They certainly helped to troubleshoot the T63 design when it was upgraded in 1968. 

[Bob_The_Student]

Thanks RM! What's the market price going for these days?

[running-man]

No idea.  They were never tracked back in my tracking thread days.  It depends on condition, and whether the seller and buyer both know what they have.  Some can be had for pennies on the dollar, while others can't be touched at $1000. 

If I was forced to guess, I'd say avg. price on Gunbroker these days is ~$750 when at least both parties knows what's for sale, but I've been out of the game for almost three eyars now so the times have passed me by.  Prices are much higher than they were in '16 for certain!

[firstchoice]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but that stamped receiver looks like it uses a cast "trunnion" of sorts with the receiver shell wrapped around it? Why in bo-diddly would they go through all that to circumvent using a one piece receiver? That makes zero sense to me.

Okay, there's got to be a simple, "duh" explanation here.

firstchoice

[Loose}{Cannon]

Firstchoice...  your right, there is a large trunion that goes from the barrel clear back to the mid-tang and just has sheet metal wrapped around it.  Makes no sense to me.

[firstchoice]

Hmmm...wonder if the "engineer" that came up with this design got a special "award" in the back of his head for this? 

firstchoice

[sdn1]

Here's a few pictures of mine. It was in a tapco stock when I got it so I modified a wood stock for it, still need a better matching handguard. You can see where the previous owner had ground down the front rivets some.












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[Bob_The_Student]

Were they all made at the same arsenal (0138)?

[Loose}{Cannon]

Stamped sheet-metal variations have been observed factory stamped [0138], [0139], [0145] & [0158].

[Bob_The_Student]

Oh boy! In about 10 years I'm going to need a sign to remind me to breathe!!! 

Thanks LC

[Phosphorus32]

Thanks for the pictures sdn1 and RM, as that is really an interesting "experimental" variant. I guess they didn't have RobSki and the AK47OU to do their torture testing back in the early 70's before deciding to produce thousands of them