Chinese type 56 imports at Classic

[Bubbazinetti]

Yup,just a way to make more money.
Hand select ain't what it used to be many years ago where they'd go through the crate just about and you'd get one as new just about.Now,I think it's just not worth it unless you know someone who works there or are a dealer calling in a favor.

[Bob_The_Student]

Doesn't Classic say they pick the best out of 10 rifles for "hand select"? I don't recall exactly but I thought that's what they do.

[Ghost51xxx]

Doesn't Classic say they pick the best out of 10 rifles for "hand select"? I don't recall exactly but I thought that's what they do.

That's correct Bob. The reason I didn't choose hand select is because I wanted one that showed character. Their hand select shows more bluing on metal parts and less battle scars on the stock. I wanted one with less bluing and more battle scars.

[Phosphorus32]

Doesn't Classic say they pick the best out of 10 rifles for "hand select"? I don't recall exactly but I thought that's what they do.

“Hand select best of 10 for cosmetic condition” Which means whatever subjective criteria the minimum wage warehouse guy considers good cosmetic condition 

I wouldn’t pay the $25 up charge for that but would pay the $20 for matching visible serial numbers excluding the stock, even though I think it’s lame that they exclude the stock. You also don’t know if the bolt, gas tube, gas piston or rear sight serial numbers will match. It’s a crap shoot.

[Larry D.]

There's way too much cosmoline for them to do a real "hand select". I figure it's the "not worst" of the layer they're looking at, at any given time.
When it gets to the bottom of the barrel, you'll get the shiniest turd....

[Phosphorus32]

...When it gets to the bottom of the barrel, you'll get the shiniest turd....

True story! 

[Bacarnal]

So, if it's the last rifle in the case, it's naturally the best one and eligible for "hand select" .

[Ghost51xxx]

Does the best out of ten start counting before or after Ben drops it? Jk, I like ole Ben

[Phosphorus32]

Does the best out of ten start counting before or after Ben drops it? Jk, I like ole Ben

Lackey: "Hey boss, this is the purtiest of ten from this row"
Ben: "Okay, toss it in the "hand-select" gaylord across the aisle, and move to the next row"

[High Noon]

I'd love the opportunity to go through the crate, like Scootch00 did, and really hand select a few for myself.  That would really be worth an extra $25 for each one! 

[Larry D.]

Does the best out of ten start counting before or after Ben drops it? Jk, I like ole Ben

Lackey: "Hey boss, this is the purtiest of ten from this row"
Ben: "Okay, toss it in the "hand-select" gaylord across the aisle, and move to the next row"

Nope.
They don't sort. You'll get the "best" of the ten in Whatever they'e looking at right that minute. The next layer could be stone mint, and you'll get the "best" of whatever ten they were looking at
If they started sorting them, they'd call it grading, and you'd pay even more. They've graded guns in the past, and are happy to charge you more for that as well.

[High Noon]

Classic is going to raise the price again....site says $320 price ends 5-31-20.  Appears it will be $364.99 after that because I put a bunch more of the SKSs in my cart and it showed $364.99.

[Matchka]

Classic's "hand select" - pure snake oil.

[Matchka]

[Bubbazinetti]

Salt water quenched for 20yrs?

[High Noon]

Classic's "hand select" - pure snake oil. 

I think they should downgrade the way they discuss it or not offer it all.  Just say, "We'll glance at the next 10 and grab the one that appears to look the best - but we don't spend much time on it."  It's probably no more than that.

[Justin Hell]

I just added one to my cart for the $319, but the last time it jumped from $299 it updated my cart after a few attempts didn't process...several days before they said the price was going to go up. I had forgotten to turn off my VPN so they thought I was ordering from Switzerland... 

By the time the CC and bank dropped the pending orders, they updated my already existing cart to the higher price, some 4-5 days earlier than was stated by them as the end of the $299 sale.

I was about to try write to them and ask for a new gun at the cracked stock price....since I ordered a $319 upped to matching numbers....

The gun was likely used to beat someone with, as the bayonet was bent over the stock ferrule, the stock is cracked to within a thread all the way through the bayo channel, and there is a crack at the wrist behind the action...which is minor.  but this thing whacked someone/something hard enough to break out the front two vents on both sides of the handguard.  The stock can be squeezed inwardly around the receiver. The firing pin is quite damaged at the tip....and unlike a lot of folks, mine seems to have been fired A LOT, no harm to the barrel, but the hammer...I have never seen a hammer show so much use...  I will get some pics up as soon as the BLO dries, it's a pretty rad wall hangar.  I have everything I need to restore it onhand, but considering it's the second most I have paid for an SKS ever, I kind hoped it wouldn't require my spare parts to be functional safe. 

[High Noon]

Interesting it now says out of stock.  Surprised as it seemed that they had gotten in so many crates.

Here is the cart I had...some are still $319 and the new ones were $365.

[ffjoey]

Wow, sure does. I guess I will only get the one. Oh well.

[Bubbazinetti]

$349 @ Palmetto currently in-stock,no hand select.No mention of numbers matching but give honest description of what to expect.
https://palmettostatearmory.com/chinese-type-56-sks-7-62x39-military-surplus-rifle-w-spiker-bayonet.html

Also,$379@ Atlantic in-stock currently.