Saw a letter 1955 Friday... and took some pics today!

[CARBINE]

You guys are really not helping, I was going to show the guy this thread to get the price down! 

I will try to get it, to protect it from Tapco-intercoursement...
How do we feel about the missing bayonet? 

Ataboy!!! I think you will be glad you did!
I would just cut the bayo lug off who needs it anyway!

[Loose}{Cannon]

I can delete all the posts after your op and we can start over?   

[Worm]

Awesome!! Keep us updated!!

[running-man]

RM,

Russia was aiding Egypt from the get-go. And actually, the only reason Syria got Chinese aid in the first place was to make Russia jealous, and push them to send aid, which they ended up doing.

Ahh I forgot about the %$%$# Egyptians!  I see direct USSR involvement with the War of Attrition from '67-'70, very interesting.

You guys are really not helping, I was going to show the guy this thread to get the price down! 

I will try to get it, to protect it from Tapco-intercoursement...
How do we feel about the missing bayonet? 

Missing bayonet should bring the price down $100 minimum!

We joke about pristine cave dwelling Izhevsks and whatnot...but seriously as a specimen in xyz condition, what's this gun actually worth?  It's got a dicked up stock for certain, metal may have some issues (light rust on the bolt carrier?), and it is obviously missing the original bayo.  If there was no Israeli connection, what would this thing sell on GB for?  I'd say $450 max in that condition.  Maybe $500 at absolute most if someone *really* fell in love with it.   The recent ridiculous $1000+ prices notwithstanding, trying to get $550 out of it is a stretch in my opinion.  Despite not being imported anymore, Russian SKSs aren't really all that rare, they just get put up on that high pedestal, the demand is there, and prices move accordingly.  I'd say if they were still allowed in like Mosin Nagants are, they'd be in the $300-$400 range and the Sino-Banians would be lucky to be pushing $200-$250.

P.S. Dammit, I'm actually arguing Blicero's position here…wth!?

[Worm]

For Travis's 12 mill Israel Cap that I originally purchased I paid $495-shipped. If we're going by middle east provenance I would easily add $200> to the price of the gun itself. But that's just me, a middle east cap fanboy.

[Loose}{Cannon]

I have a pretty good idea of what it is etc, but is doesn't exactly have arab rack numbers either. With out a bayo, I would say the RM price is about right.

Russian...  Chinese....  Pft..  If russians were still imported, there would bee 10 million more here than there already is, and the Sinobanian would be worth double.   Just look at the polytech AK and others.   

[Stoned_Oli]

It's on layaway at $450! 
Early CAI import stamp on barrel as predicted, but no other stamps other than normal Russian. All metal parts match.
Will post better pics when I pick it up.

[Worm]

AWESOME 

[Loose}{Cannon]

Noice...  we need more pics.        like...  any parts such as the buttplate being painted etc. 

[running-man]

Good deal Oli!

These guys are the worst people to ask about a gun like this!  They are like friggin' crack dealers, OMG!  I'd be thankful you got out with only 1 new Russian! 

[Worm]

yup, check the plate for black paint, you already know it has the correct shellac. check the metal for any odd marks also. Check the bolt to see if it is mismatched, and if it is check for a reweld. They did this to correct headspace issues in the mid east.

Also, check for a recrown, another thing common with these.

Most pf these aren't very common but are seen with israel cap's here n there.

[Stoned_Oli]

Yes the butt plate was painted black, IIRC. The bolt is matching though, as are the mag and trigger group. I didn't check the EP parts... The only stamps I saw that didn't look like inspection stamps were a pair of 2s about a foot apart on the left side of the barrel, but they look like the font used for the matching stamps at the front of the receiver and on the barrel.
Yes, you guys are enablers for sure! I may have to sell a Mosin now... :/

[Loose}{Cannon]

Yes the butt plate was painted black, IIRC. The bolt is matching though, as are the mag and trigger group. I didn't check the EP parts... The only stamps I saw that didn't look like inspection stamps were a pair of 2s about a foot apart on the left side of the barrel, but they look like the font used for the matching stamps at the front of the receiver and on the barrel.
Yes, you guys are enablers for sure! I may have to sell a Mosin now... :/

Thats just what they did on (some) parts during their hasty rehab process.  This is not bbq and IS a characteristic of an Israeli capture.

If you ever decide to let this one go from your collection....  Keep it in the sksfiles family, The only place that can identify such a critter.   

[Worm]

Very cool! If it is painted black that helps its case even moreso. 1 out of the 3 I own(ed) has it too.

An obvious Middle East refurb stock.

Even if it doesnt have a black painted buttplate, the resand/reshellac is obvious in itself. It would just like LC's 12 mill's stock. Resand/reshalleced red & his buttplate isnt painted either, but is still an obvious israeli cap.

[Stoned_Oli]

Yes the butt plate was painted black, IIRC. The bolt is matching though, as are the mag and trigger group. I didn't check the EP parts... The only stamps I saw that didn't look like inspection stamps were a pair of 2s about a foot apart on the left side of the barrel, but they look like the font used for the matching stamps at the front of the receiver and on the barrel.
Yes, you guys are enablers for sure! I may have to sell a Mosin now... :/

Thats just what they did on (some) parts during their hasty rehab process.  This is not bbq and IS a characteristic of an Israeli capture.

If you ever decide to let this one go from your collection....  Keep it in the sksfiles family, The only place that can identify such a critter.   

Will do! If not for you guys, I wouldn't have recognized its significance... Thanks!

[Worm]

Heres the black paint on mine.

[Loose}{Cannon]

Non IC Russians were imported in the same timeframe and with the same cai stamp, but they were not IC guns. Yours has zero indications it was in the IC batch while Stoneds does.  They came from dif locations, yours likely the Ukraine

[Stoned_Oli]

Stoned. I have a 55 dated letter D on the way as well . Same importer and KPas yours . Might be ISIS captured......  , 
I'll ask around.......

Compare your serial number to the one on Yooper's page 21 New Page 1 ... "Mine" is 3900 or so before it, and the one in the pics on that page has no date... is yours between them by chance?

I can't believe I bought the Mosin instead of making a payment on it... 

[running-man]

Definitely a pattern with those early KP prefixed guns being w/o the Tula star. Interesting stuff!