40 caliber
NES Member
I picked this up this weekend from another NESr. This is a beautiful Rifle and I thank him for the opportunity to own it. When we talked on the phone he said it looked like it was never shot. Now we are talking about a 1955 rifle. I have heard the unissued/ never shot story so many times and read it on Gunbroker for black bolt refurbs. So needless to say, I was a little skeptical. I met him halfway between our homes.
The mag well was out of the gun. His grandson wanted to put an AK Mag in it but did not. (horror!) He handed me the magwell first. I started to believe him. When I pulled the rifle out of the bag, I was convinced. I pulled the rifle apart to take pictures and return the mag well to its home. I used all the care of an Archaelogist on a sacred dig. I was so nervous I actually pulled apart another SKS to make sure i was doing everything right.I have dissassembled them a hundred times, but this was one rifle I did not want to screw up.
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe you will say some russian private just really took good care of it. You will have to go a long way to prove to me this is not an unissued specimen. I can't prove it unissued but I can't prove a bullet ever graced this mag well, or that the bolt was ever struck forward. There is not a scratch on it.
I showed it to Alex (the russian guy) at Collectable Arms. He has collected a long time and does not remember seeing one this nice in a long time.
My 17 year old son has been on this milsurp journey with me since he was 13. After he put on the white gloves (joking) and looked at the rifle. he about summed up the condition of the rifle best.
I can see the gears spinning. He is looking at the 57 year old rifle, thinking about it's journey from Russia to Nashua New Hampshire and all the hands it passed through. All the opportunities to get shot , used and abused... His comment was brilliance and innocence. Looking at the condition and remarking about the the rifle " Dad, how does this happen?"
Enjoy the Pics. tell me you think it was used. I dare you.
]
The mag well was out of the gun. His grandson wanted to put an AK Mag in it but did not. (horror!) He handed me the magwell first. I started to believe him. When I pulled the rifle out of the bag, I was convinced. I pulled the rifle apart to take pictures and return the mag well to its home. I used all the care of an Archaelogist on a sacred dig. I was so nervous I actually pulled apart another SKS to make sure i was doing everything right.I have dissassembled them a hundred times, but this was one rifle I did not want to screw up.
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe you will say some russian private just really took good care of it. You will have to go a long way to prove to me this is not an unissued specimen. I can't prove it unissued but I can't prove a bullet ever graced this mag well, or that the bolt was ever struck forward. There is not a scratch on it.
I showed it to Alex (the russian guy) at Collectable Arms. He has collected a long time and does not remember seeing one this nice in a long time.
My 17 year old son has been on this milsurp journey with me since he was 13. After he put on the white gloves (joking) and looked at the rifle. he about summed up the condition of the rifle best.
I can see the gears spinning. He is looking at the 57 year old rifle, thinking about it's journey from Russia to Nashua New Hampshire and all the hands it passed through. All the opportunities to get shot , used and abused... His comment was brilliance and innocence. Looking at the condition and remarking about the the rifle " Dad, how does this happen?"
Enjoy the Pics. tell me you think it was used. I dare you.
]