Chinese type 56 imports at Classic

[ffjoey]

Cleaned up my brother’s new one today. He bought the basic choice. No handpick, no matching. It is all matching except for the bolt. The bolt is a mismatch but strangely ends in the same three numbers. Overall, well used with thin bluing, nice stock that has what appear to be tick marks. One tiny spot of rust on the magazine right at the lip. Pretty nice example.

[ffjoey]

I think from my sample size of 4. 2 best of 10 and 2 not, there is a definite difference in metal condition between them. If you want mostly solid bluing it’s probably worth the extra $25. If you just want a decent sks it really does not matter.

[carls sks]

maybe they are just getting to the end.  still, yours and brothers look good to me. thanks for sharing.

[ffjoey]

Could be. Either way, I’m happy each of us got one mostly pristine example and one well used example. No complaints on my end at all.

[Justin Hell]

I'm thinking it's fairly easy to tell if there is bluing loss vs anything about the stock with all the cosmoline.  If you want bluing, it costs extra...if you want a decent stock too...well, roll the dice! 

I think both this time between you and your brother's would leave me satisfied.

That's a riot about the carrier's numbers....what are the chances?  I have kinda hoped for something like that when I find a nice stock, hasn't happened yet.

Yesterday I went to a LGS looking for some 8x56R, and came across a couple of stocks he had for sale, and asked if he happened to have the handguards.  He was like, yeah! I have one around here somewhere.....a few seconds later he produced a French Tickler, with a fresh $5 price tag on it.... I jumped, as I don't have a handguard for my second backup inverted takedown stock....so I am covered should the worst happen again. Best thing is the new handguard matched better to the stock on my 78, and the swap matched better on the spare stock too.  It will be 11 years out of kilter, but heck...that might be the new setup when I shoot my first Classic.  We shall see, someday....they still haven't shipped my new one, so that likely won't happen until at least Monday.   Heck, I am going to be able to complete the entire series of rabies shots before it gets here now, I started the day I ordered. 

[Larry D.]

I like it.

[Justin Hell]

Taking a fresh air break before donning my gloves again and get ready to huff some mineral spirits for the rest of the afternoon....BUT.  I got my new one in.

This one looks much much better...and, it is an 11m....milled trigger...and the PW Arms serial number is in the 17K range.  This must have been a bigger batch than we may have thought.

The gas tube and piston are the only things that don't match...although I cannot see any serial on the sight leaf.  I am hoping for a close match on the wood, it seems closer than a lot I have seen. The stock has retained it's /2\ stamping....nearly destroyed by a big ol' NEW carrier handle ding. Thanks Ben.
Zero trench art....and I am totally cool with that.  And the dings and gouges are mostly on the left...so It will hide that on display....oh, and there is shellac this time.

Some things I haven't seen before, the magazine has a 7 stamped on the right side of the spine.  The barrel and receiver are 22 stamped, although the font is much smaller on the barrel. IIRC they are the same size on others I have.  There is also a N or W 43 stamped on the barrel sideways, just past the lug.  Rebarrel?

Bayonet remains staked. Bluing is better than last time, but not by a lot.  Cleaning rod present, kit AWOL. The replacement gas tube is a one piece...ugh, but no biggie.

Had I paid for upgrades, this is nicer than several hand selects I have seen....and if I went for matching, this would have been considered that, glad I saved the twenty bucks.

Back to the slime.

[ffjoey]

I’m glad to hear this one is better. Enjoy the cleaning and take some pics please.

[Justin Hell]

She is actually MUCH better...after cleaning I am quite impressed. The bluing was better than expected...and the stock is quite nice, although the recent damage is kind of annoying.   

I just got back from shooting her actually, and she is certainly well within minute of ponderosa pine stump.  It's a bit dusky....and our shooting spot isn't exactly good. Perfect function....fantastic trigger.   Nice way to celebrate the Fourth...cleaning a commie gun, and firing it publicly. 

It has been a little crummy around here, so I did another coat of BLO on the first one, and a teeeeeny bit of sanding on the furry butt it had, and put it back into the original furniture, so I can get some pics of both. The contrast is striking.  The first one is still the most beat up gun I have...the new one is the second, yet...dang. I am satisfied, this time around I got what I kind of expected.

I only have done the mummy pack of paper towels/garbage bag/dash of black van treatment to the stock, I didn't even take off the buttplate or swivel...I kinda wanted to shoot it once it was capable.  A bit more cleanup is still coming for the stock.

What's kinda cool though is I didn't need a second 12m, getting the 11m was kind of a bonus, I now have a 64,65,66 and 67...leaving gaping holes betwixt my 59 and 78...thankfully they didn't make 'em all those years...but miles to go before I sleep.

[Larry D.]

Nice write up, Justin.

[Bacarnal]

What's kinda cool though is I didn't need a second 12m, getting the 11m was kind of a bonus, I now have a 64,65,66 and 67...leaving gaping holes betwixt my 59 and 78...thankfully they didn't make 'em all those years...but miles to go before I sleep.

Kinda sounds like a song about a Cadillac  .

[auskip07]

Ordered July 4th   + hand select.     wont ever pick hand select again.    factory 26   12million

[Justin Hell]

Wow, that is a totally refundable upcharge IMO, unless best counts for creativity.  That is a seriously wonky 'repair'. It looks like someone got caught at the bandsaw, messed up and had to put it back together and live with it.  That is a cut, not a crack.

I am going to stop complaining about the bunk one I got.

Curious, what was the PW Arms import serial? The last one I got was a big jump from others seen, mine was in the 17k range vs 12k being seen towards the end of this batch as the higher range.  I am hoping more may be seen later.

I received my last Classic on the 3rd, and it was a much nicer 11 m without upgrades, and I seriously doubt the credit I received for the bad one granted special attention. I think they just pick em and ship em without a second glance.   I would send a complaint, at the very least for the $25....but they were selling cracked stocks from this batch for $249, which is what I got them to credit us down to vs. the $319 paid.  Their service department is kinda ridiculous slow.  Send pics in advance, as they will request them....or just send them the link here! 

[auskip07]

I contacted Classic and they said they would refund me $30  but that was 9 days ago so chances are improving that it was just lip service.  Im not a complainer by nature  im actually too quiet but when i went on their facebook buyers group and people were posting pictures of better looking sks's  in the same delivery date range  and they had not picked the hand select option i had to speak up and say something. Its a scam "service"

I also saw pictures of their cracked stock models and saw one with the exact same arsenal fix that mine had..... it should have been a 279-299 dollar gun.


Importer serial was early 9k range.   gun was  matching serial from all the parts ive seen

ill post up pics of the PSA  SKS  (grade 2) when i get it cleaned up  (this from what ive checked is also matching serial) 

[Bubbazinetti]

They should advertise and sell them as gunsmith specials because that's exactly what they are.Battlefield turn-ins.

[Justin Hell]

It took nearly a month for Classic to issue the credit they offered me.
It 'coincidentally' arrived simultaneous to a price jump.  I wonder if they have had some Covid shutdowns because there are some pretty big lapses that occur in their service dept....and folks were waiting for three weeks after ordering before getting their guns according to reviews, whereas when I ordered my second, it arrived in a week, just like the first time.

[Shoot The Refurbs]

Ordered July 4th   + hand select.     wont ever pick hand select again.    factory 26   12million

That is just wrong... I am genuinely sorry, project guns are fun when they're picked up on the cheap and it makes sense if you're willing to put in the work, but to upcharge the price on these clearly gunsmith specials, and then receive one of the most messed up (if not the most messed up) stocks of the whole batch i think ive seen thus far would have me pretty upset NGL.
Hope they credit you back, and i'd definitely submit that picture to the reviews so people can see what could happen to them as well.
Best of luck brother.

[Justin Hell]

It seems that Classic may be holding onto any SKSs they have currently. Likely awaiting enough time for a price increase to seem more reasonable. 

BUT in the meantime you can buy a very overpriced SKS T-shirt.  Hurry though, it's limited edition!

https://www.classicfirearms.com/limited-edition-chinese-sks-rifle-shirt/

I am gonna pass though, because the skinny model used reveals how badly they show moobs...and I know my man cans are bigger than his. 

[auskip07]

It seems that Classic may be holding onto any SKSs they have currently. Likely awaiting enough time for a price increase to seem more reasonable. 

BUT in the meantime you can buy a very overpriced SKS T-shirt.  Hurry though, it's limited edition!

https://www.classicfirearms.com/limited-edition-chinese-sks-rifle-shirt/

I am gonna pass though, because the skinny model used reveals how badly they show moobs...and I know my man cans are bigger than his. 

they should give those for free with the purchase of hand select 

[owenj492]

It seems that Classic may be holding onto any SKSs they have currently. Likely awaiting enough time for a price increase to seem more reasonable. 

BUT in the meantime you can buy a very overpriced SKS T-shirt.  Hurry though, it's limited edition!

https://www.classicfirearms.com/limited-edition-chinese-sks-rifle-shirt/

I am gonna pass though, because the skinny model used reveals how badly they show moobs...and I know my man cans are bigger than his. 

Typical Classic, trying to make money on anything they can come up with, but a SKS rifle t-shirt? Give me a break!