A ghost of Vietnam

[Phosphorus32]

Probably...


Picked this one off of GunBroker about three weeks ago. It didn't appear to have any import marks, based on the mediocre, low-resolution Gunbroker pictures, and it had the look.

I received it yesterday, and I've had it apart to verify that it lacks import marks. Given the consistent patina and the absence of import marks I'd say it's a highly likely bring-back from Vietnam. The 9th to 13th year Type 56s seem to be most common bring-backs, so I'm pleased to get one of these early ones. I checked under the buttplate, no hidden papers (if you've been reading Gunboards posts, you'll know what I'm talking about). Mismatched bolt.

I love the look of the patina on the bolt carrier, receiver cover and buttplate. The stock and handguard have no shellac but they do have ground-in oily dirt, which seems like a perfect damp jungle soil color.

[running-man]

She's a beaut Jon!  That stock color is actually quite gorgeous IMO, just like the early guns should look like! 

How's the bore on this one look? 

[Phosphorus32]

She's a beaut Jon!  That stock color is actually quite gorgeous IMO, just like the early guns should look like! 

How's the bore on this one look?

Thanks Joe! I'm very happy with it. The bore looks bright and shiny. Gauges "1", .301, on my CMP bore gauge.

[lowell66dart]

Looks very nice. Good score. I have been trying to trade for one locally for a few months now, money won't get it. The rifle I am looking to get has a very narrow stock where the finger grooves are. It was very noticeable when I held it. Anyone else run across this before?

[Boris Badinov]

Another beauty, Phos.

The stories that rifle could tell.

[Matchka]

Nice! No question why the bolt is a replacement - this no import beauty was a 'workhorse for the original owner. Great find!

[Boris Badinov]

Thanks Joe! I'm very happy with it. The bore looks bright and shiny. Gauges "1", .301, on my CMP bore gauge.

Interesting.

OEM spec is .311 or .309?

Do you ever slug your bores?

[Phosphorus32]

Looks very nice. Good score. I have been trying to trade for one locally for a few months now, money won't get it. The rifle I am looking to get has a very narrow stock where the finger grooves are. It was very noticeable when I held it. Anyone else run across this before?

Thanks!  Narrow in the foreend I've observed most often with someone who has sanded the stock, or sometimes the Albanian replacement stocks, which just have more variability from spec. in every dimension.

[Phosphorus32]

Another beauty, Phos.

The stories that rifle could tell.

Thanks Boris! 

Thanks Joe! I'm very happy with it. The bore looks bright and shiny. Gauges "1", .301, on my CMP bore gauge.

Interesting.

OEM spec is .311 or .309?

Do you ever slug your bores?

I've rarely slugged a bore, and never an SKS. Occasionally, I've done it for a very worn firearm to determine if there is any groove depth left.

I believe spec on the SKS is nominally .310 (7.87mm) for the diameter to the grooves. Spec for the bore, aka diameter to the lands, is .300 (7.62mm).

[Phosphorus32]

Nice! No question why the bolt is a replacement - this no import beauty was a 'workhorse for the original owner. Great find!

Thanks!

It definitely saw a lot of carry and probably a fair amount of use. I imagine the bolt got mistakenly swapped during a group cleanup session, but who knows for sure. Given the relatively light wear in the bore, I doubt that the original bolt went out of spec through use and was replaced intentionally.

[Bob_The_Student]

Damn it, Jon!!! I'm not commenting on your guns anymore I've run out of adjectives to describe them. 

Seriously, why don't you send me your address I send a check for $400 for this SKS and I can add another $600 for the Husqvarna. 

The SKS is just plain cool. Love the look. Another great find.

[Phosphorus32]

Damn it, Jon!!! I'm not commenting on your guns anymore I've run out of adjectives to describe them. 

The SKS is just plain cool. Love the look. Another great find.

Thanks for that!  I'm definitely pleased with this one.

Seriously, why don't you send me your address I send a check for $400 for this SKS and I can add another $600 for the Husqvarna. 

your numbers are remarkably close  $400 was the purchase price, save a penny, on the Type 56 but I did pay one Grant more than your six Benjamins offer for the M/07 (Simpson's isn't the cheapest place in town, though they are more often reasonable on Swedes and Swiss firearms). Alas, they aren't for sale at the moment 

[Bacarnal]

Nice rifle, Jon!!  I would suggest dragging the bayonet behind your car on a gravel road to age it, but I know that you'll probably use some acid vapor solution or something else chemistryee for it .

[Phosphorus32]

Nice rifle, Jon!!  I would suggest dragging the bayonet behind your car on a gravel road to age it, but I know that you'll probably use some acid vapor solution or something else chemistryee for it .

Yes, good catch. It did come without a bayonet and I installed the worst one I had on hand to complete it, but it does look a bit too nice. The bayonets generally held up quite well in the hot and humid environment, so I'll probably just leave it alone. Of course if I were to age it, I would prefer to do it like you said, a bit of acid etching or something along those lines. 

[Phosphorus32]

Took a half day off and went out to the range, I brought this Type 56 along because...why not?  This old gal has the grittiest heaviest trigger of any SKS I've fired. The trigger group may need a deep cleaning 

Anyhow, rapid controlled both eyes open bench shooting at 100 yards with the sight on the 100m setting. I'll take 6moa. The dispersion shows that the sights are basically spot on.

[running-man]

Very nice! 

Not necessarily a tack driver, but certainly minute-of-man accuracy there.  10 ea. 1 inch long, 123 grain slugs hitting you @ right around 2000ft/s near one's center of mass would certainly ruin one's day. 

[Phosphorus32]

Very nice! 

Not necessarily a tack driver, but certainly minute-of-man accuracy there.  10 ea. 1 inch long, 123 grain slugs hitting you @ right around 2000ft/s near one's center of mass would certainly ruin one's day. 

Yup, it's currently highly acceptable    I may try pulling that trigger group out and giving it a good soak and detailing to see if I can decrease the grittiness and 8.75 lb trigger pull  (no hyperbole, average of 5 pulls using the Lyman trigger gauge).

If I can improve that trigger it'd be worth trying some slow-fire 5 shot groups. The sights are certainly on target.

[Phosphorus32]

I guess it was mostly sand and a bit of corrosion. Gave it an overnight soaking in mineral spirits containing about 10% SAE30. Brass brush and cotton swabs for a detailed cleaning and corrosion removal. Lubed with oil and wiped down. The grittiness is gone and it's a consistent 6.5 lb trigger pull (avg. of 5). Still not light but at least I removed 2.25 lbs of resistance. I'll have to get her out to the range again, maybe treat her to some Chinese surplus for a slow fire session.

[BMont]

Sweet catch man... great rifle for a fair price.

[Phosphorus32]

Sweet catch man... great rifle for a fair price.

Thanks man!