New one from SOG

[brentb636]

Thought I'd treat myself , and Monday I ordered one from SOG.  It's worthy of the price. $299 + shipping.  It's an all matching E1414 Chinese letter gun.  Haven't cleaned it yet, but bluing looks 90%+ thru the cosmo, stock has a few dings and maybe a trace of trench art.  No electropenciled markings on the gas tube or gas piston that I can make out.  This one will be a keeper next to K9103, which has more character and less bluing. 

Sks E1414 Slideshow by brentb636 | Photobucket

[Marshall-law]

Sounds like a keeper. Congrats

[running-man]

You've definitely got a keeper Brent, she's a really good looker there!  Not too many letter guns showing up with these last batches.  Good score. 

[brentb636]

I've put it in the survey, albeit incompletely  .  It's in no condition for checking  for stamps on the small parts.  They are soaking in spirits, and I'll let you know what stamps I find. 

[Dannyboy53]

Good catch Brent...congrats!

[spicusor]

Brent, What are the import markings on your new rife? I would like to know what batch this is from. TIA

[running-man]

Based on the first photo in his slideshow, I see enough of a fuzzy outline of the import stamp to be pretty sure it's from the IO Monroe, NC batch.  These were imported prior to IOs move to Florida way back in August, 2013 so it appears this gun has been sitting for a good year-and-a-half waiting to be sold.   

The Monroe guns were certainly nice ones.  Makes me like it even more!

[Loose}{Cannon]

Very nice...  RM is right, there were some real decent rifles in the first IO batch.   

[brentb636]

Based on the first photo in his slideshow, I see enough of a fuzzy outline of the import stamp to be pretty sure it's from the IO Monroe, NC batch.  These were imported prior to IOs move to Florida way back in August, 2013 so it appears this gun has been sitting for a good year-and-a-half waiting to be sold.   

The Monroe guns were certainly nice ones.  Makes me like it even more!

Good Eyes, R-M, it is indeed the Monroe batch.  After cleaning it looks to be about 95% good blue.  This should be a sharp looking old gun when it gets cleaned up, and the stock tweaked.  There's no varnish left , so I've given it an acetone bath, and then stained it.  Will finish it off with my home-blended wiping varnish.

[brentb636]

This E1414 is the top one of my mini-collection.



Brent

[Stoned_Oli]

Based on the first photo in his slideshow, I see enough of a fuzzy outline of the import stamp to be pretty sure it's from the IO Monroe, NC batch.  These were imported prior to IOs move to Florida way back in August, 2013 so it appears this gun has been sitting for a good year-and-a-half waiting to be sold.   

The Monroe guns were certainly nice ones.  Makes me like it even more!

Good Eyes, R-M, it is indeed the Monroe batch.  After cleaning it looks to be about 95% good blue.  This should be a sharp looking old gun when it gets cleaned up, and the stock tweaked.  There's no varnish left , so I've given it an acetone bath, and then stained it.  Will finish it off with my home-blended wiping varnish.

So there goes the collectabilty... Now we need somebody to say, "well, it's your gun"...

[Loose}{Cannon]

Is the russian sneak 100% matching, even the stock?   How did you make the stock look so good? 

[alfred]

Your mini collection is very nice.     

I'm looking for a nice all matching letter gun myself, one day I'll be at the right place at the right time. 

Thanks for sharing your 4 beautiful treasures with us. 

[brentb636]

Is the russian sneak 100% matching, even the stock?   How did you make the stock look so good? 

Except for the receiver cover, it's 100% matching, even the stock.  Here's a copy of the slideshow of the "sneak" ( work in progress) .  Got rid of the old finish with Acetone/Mineral spirits blend.  Let it dry and hit it quickly with a Mahogany oil stain and wiped it off, to accent the residual red .  Several coats of wiping satin BLO/spirits/varnish to protect it.  It's a very nice gun to start with, couldn't have seen any trench time .

SKS-Russian Slideshow by brentb636 | Photobucket

Brent

[brentb636]

To change the subject slightly, both of my Letter guns have an air gap between the rear sight and the barrel lug.  That gap is not evident on either my ghost or "sneak".  Is the gap also present on the guns immediately before or after the letter guns ?  Inquiring minds ......... ?


Brent

[brentb636]

Based on the first photo in his slideshow, I see enough of a fuzzy outline of the import stamp to be pretty sure it's from the IO Monroe, NC batch.  These were imported prior to IOs move to Florida way back in August, 2013 so it appears this gun has been sitting for a good year-and-a-half waiting to be sold.   

The Monroe guns were certainly nice ones.  Makes me like it even more!

Good Eyes, R-M, it is indeed the Monroe batch.  After cleaning it looks to be about 95% good blue.  This should be a sharp looking old gun when it gets cleaned up, and the stock tweaked.  There's no varnish left , so I've given it an acetone bath, and then stained it.  Will finish it off with my home-blended wiping varnish.

So there goes the collectabilty... Now we need somebody to say, "well, it's your gun"...

  I'll probably drop it in the mud at the range a few times, just to make it collectible again.   

[monkeyboy]

The gap you note is very common, some are more obvious than others. Throw in the fact a lot are plugged with gunk and cosmo many don't realize their rifle has that gap.

[Dannyboy53]

Brent as monkeyboy says that gap is normal. It actually serves a purpose, it's a storage area for dirt, lint, etc! 

[brentb636]

The gap you note is very common, some are more obvious than others. Throw in the fact a lot are plugged with gunk and cosmo many don't realize their rifle has that gap.

It stands to reason that you wouldn't want metal-metal contact, for fitting purposes.  Perhaps the chinese changed their specs a little on the sight blocks, from the earlier specs.  I'll try to locate my vernier caliper and be scientific about it.  Thanks for the feedback. 

[brentb636]

Brent as monkeyboy says that gap is normal. It actually serves a purpose, it's a storage area for dirt, lint, etc! 

Always said those Chinese were clever !!!