Here's a *really* interesting one

[Bob_The_Student]

I heard RM was banned to post on this thread by the new admins 105,000th executive order since taking office. So we likely won't know for maybe 4 yrs until the "fair elections" are back. I heard this on MSM so it has to be true. 

Don't let that stop the speculations though. I can't wait to find out this is a...

[Phosphorus32]

I heard RM was banned to post on this thread by the new admins 105,000th executive order since taking office. So we likely won't know for maybe 4 yrs until the "fair elections" are back. I heard this on MSM so it has to be true. 

Don't let that stop the speculations though. I can't wait to find out this is a...

He sure is drawing out the suspense on this one 

[Matchka]

Staying tuned!

[Bubbazinetti]

He's letting out the drag on his fishing reel...

[Boris Badinov]

Should we be worried?

When RM posted on the 23rd, he said he would be posting the rest of the photos "tomorrow" or the 24th. That was three days ago.

[Greasemonkey]

Should we be worried?

When RM posted on the 23rd, he said he would be posting the rest of the photos "tomorrow" or the 24th. That was three days ago.

Naw.... it's his flair for the dramatic. 

[running-man]

Laff Sorry guys, life got busy.  Was out of town w/o net access for a couple days.

So back to the specimen under observation, this one should help quite a bit:

[Greasemonkey]

Well slap me on the a$$ and call me Sadie.. a multi national SKS

[Boris Badinov]

Im not sure this new photo helps much. But it sure is interesting. What it does do however is raise a lot more questions.

Looks like a 1957-1960/61 production

Serial number range?  Long lug or short?

Will we have to wait a bit longer for more fotos?


Also, welcome back!

[Shoot The Refurbs]

Is there a 4 digit number to the left of that /26\? 
If so, it all makes sense and would appear that the early Chinese rifles with the star on the side were refurbished into later production and can produce some results like this.
This one appearing to have spent some time in Albania post refurb as well.

Thoughts?

[running-man]

Unfortunately this next one is the last photo I have but it does give some insight into this one.  As I said, this is from an entry into the survey and while he uploaded some great photos and asked good questions, he left no email so I can't contact him to ask my questions or get additional info.



Wish I had more for you guys, but we'll have to make due with this.  I have another gun in my files that is very close to this S/N range...but hell if I can find it right now.  I will find and post as soon as I do find it...

[Phosphorus32]

Bizarre. Just a Tula receiver that was dropped behind the milling machine in 1956 and discovered in 1958 on Arsenal clean-up day before a high party official came for a visit 

[Boris Badinov]

Yep.  That's definitely a weird one.

RM- I've got this one about 9k further down the line-- serial number 3197171:

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/3mil-type-56-hold-out-from-the-century-arms-cache-from-arsenal-twenty-five.621418/

[running-man]

Yep.  That's definitely a weird one.

RM- I've got this one about 9k further down the line-- serial number 3197171:

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/3mil-type-56-hold-out-from-the-century-arms-cache-from-arsenal-twenty-five.621418/

Nice, I have that one catalogued (from a 'Sir Plus Guns' gunbroker auction o 11/6/16 mind you), but it's not the one I'm thinking of.  The one I'm thinking of is a 31XXXXX gun with the end of the S/N obliterating the /26\ stamp.  Almost as if they tacked on some digits to an original number that would have lined up really well o the receiver.  It appears I don't have it on this laptop, it must be on my CPU at work as I know I saw it last week and made a mental note to post it with the receiver photo of this one.  I'm usually good about sync'ing the two, but apparently missed this one, D'oh! 

[Boris Badinov]

I'm wondering if this gives any credence to the notion that the letter rifles (or at least the receivers) were manufactured prior to 1956.

The story -- as I've heard it related on at least two other sks forums-- is that Tula shut down sks production in late 1955. And the 1956-1958 letter guns were assembled at smaller facilities from ☆  receivers built prior to 1956.

[Shoot The Refurbs]

3mil sn.... Hmm.
Now seems to me more likely it was like P32 said and a leftover that ended up being used a few years later, but why?
Certainly an odd ball....

I must say RM, these games of 'guess that sks' are a good time and gets me going down trails I might not l look at before 

[Greasemonkey]

Interesting beast...  a Russian receiver finished by the Chinese and restocked by the Albanians, a true door knob SKS...everybody got a turn 

[running-man]

Here's the actual survey entry for those that might be interested. 

(Note that there is no identifying info on these with respect to the person entering the info, just the data.  About as anonymous as you can be on the 'net these days.) 

[Boris Badinov]

Yep.  That's definitely a weird one.

RM- I've got this one about 9k further down the line-- serial number 3197171:

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/3mil-type-56-hold-out-from-the-century-arms-cache-from-arsenal-twenty-five.621418/

Nice, I have that one catalogued (from a 'Sir Plus Guns' gunbroker auction o 11/6/16 mind you), but it's not the one I'm thinking of.  The one I'm thinking of is a 31XXXXX gun with the end of the S/N obliterating the /26\ stamp.  Almost as if they tacked on some digits to an original number that would have lined up really well o the receiver.  It appears I don't have it on this laptop, it must be on my CPU at work as I know I saw it last week and made a mental note to post it with the receiver photo of this one.  I'm usually good about sync'ing the two, but apparently missed this one, D'oh! 

It's funny you say this (i.e. highlighted text), as it suggests that receivers were arsenal stamped before serial stamping. Perhaps the OP carbine is of a similar ilk-- an arsenal stamped blank that ended up in China before it could become a Letter K carbine?

[Boris Badinov]

The guy who entered the info into the survey appears to be aware that there is something unique about the rifle.

My money says that he'll be back after not too long. I sure hope he shows up.