I've been wanting to fill the Romanian hole in my SKS collection. This one was a fun pursuit and I'm happy with how it worked out. I was watching a poorly presented auction in early January and was intrigued enough to ask the seller a few questions (nice guy, but a bit slow on the response timeline). The auction ended with no bids before I got answers to my follow up questions. He finally got back to me with the answers to my second set of questions and an offer to sell it to me for $25 less before he relisted it. He said it had a sling but it wasn't shown in any of the pics. He said the original receiver cover was included and all the external SNs matched. Anyhow, I decided I couldn't go wrong for the price so I bit...
AUCTION PICS
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/Auction%20group%20pics.png) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/Auction%20group%20pics.png.html)
Here's my worn, moderately refurbished Romanian M56 with a mismatched gas tube (from the very first block of 1957s) and a Romanian sling. Took her out to the range and she shoots very well. Only made minor adjustments to the front sight. I'm a happy camper. Got the five common countries filled. Given the prices on DDR, NK and the NVA marked SKSs, I anticipate a long wait until I check off another country :o cry1
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/range%20pic.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/range%20pic.jpg.html)
LEFT
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/1%20left%20full.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/1%20left%20full.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/2%20left%20butt.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/2%20left%20butt.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/3%20left%20mid.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/3%20left%20mid.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/4%20left%20front.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/4%20left%20front.jpg.html)
RIGHT
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/1%20right%20full.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/1%20right%20full.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/2%20right%20butt.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/2%20right%20butt.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/3%20right%20mid.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/3%20right%20mid.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/4%20right%20front.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/4%20right%20front.jpg.html)
SERIAL NUMBERS
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/left%20rail%201.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/left%20rail%201.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/receiver%20cover.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/receiver%20cover.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/trigger%20guard.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/trigger%20guard.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/magazine.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/magazine.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/rear%20sight%20leaf.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/rear%20sight%20leaf.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/bolt%20and%20bc.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/bolt%20and%20bc.jpg.html)
THE OFFENDING GAS TUBE SN :))
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/gas%20tube.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/gas%20tube.jpg.html)
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/phosphorus32/Romanian%2057%20SKS/barrel%20marking.jpg) (http://s1191.photobucket.com/user/phosphorus32/media/Romanian%2057%20SKS/barrel%20marking.jpg.html)
You lucky dog! I'd be thrilled with it and a sling to boot. Congrats man! Happy for ya. thumb1
Very nice... Good price?
Horse trading in the back alley even!! thumb1
She's a beaut Jon! I have a Romy with a horiz S/N on the stock too. I wouldn't sweat the mismatched gas tube either. It's not even a regularly serialized part on the Romys.
Dee dee argh matey!
:P
Quote from: armedhippie on February 07, 2016, 08:25:20 PM
You lucky dog! I'd be thrilled with it and a sling to boot. Congrats man! Happy for ya. thumb1
Thanks man!
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on February 07, 2016, 08:27:21 PM
Very nice... Good price?
Thanks! $375. Not a steal but I certainly won't complain, especially with the sling as a kicker ;)
Quote from: running-man on February 07, 2016, 08:46:52 PM
Horse trading in the back alley even!! thumb1
She's a beaut Jon! I have a Romy with a horiz S/N on the stock too. I wouldn't sweat the mismatched gas tube either. It's not even a regularly serialized part on the Romys.
rofl Thanks. Always fun to do a little back alley dealing.
Yeah, I'm not too put off by the gas tube number. It's a nice carbine. :)
Well worth the price. Well done
Nice pick-up! Goes to show that crappy pictures cost people money. With the sling that's a good deal.
congrats, nice . thanks for sharing. thumb1
I don't like it...
Because its not mine!!! bat1
:P
Thanks LC, carls sks, and MEBears
Indeed, bad pics are bad business. Helps to know what pics collectors would be interested in as well.
Now looking for Romanian M56, SN AA820, matching except gas tube rofl :o senil1 chuckles1
Funny how a rifle goes from a dog to a steal just by way of you opening a dialogue with the seller, asking the right questions. Beauty!
Thanks Kevin! Yes, it's fun to run across auctions that have an inkling of something better hidden from view.
Of course the opposite -- something worse hidden from view -- isn't true pullhair1 rofl
Wow, awesome buy! That's a freakin nice rifle!
Nice.... thumb1
If'en ya like, I can hold it for you :), I mean that tube, that non matching horrible terrible thing attached to channel gases to the piston, you know, those numbers don't match, so I'm offering you an opportunity, it's hard to refuse........... :o I'll simply hold it for you, thumb1 while you search for a matching rifle, once you find it, I can declare this one a consolidation prize for me cause you get the pristine uber real nice sexy matching one and you don't have to worry about those disgusting, nasty, trashy, belong in a dumpster, missy matchy thingys anymore.. rofl2 rofl2 rofl2 chuckles1 chuckles1 chuckles1 fart1
I promise it will be among many a Romanian family member and be treated, real, real well :) Besides, you already used it...so that value is kinda gone whistle12
whatcha say bat1 bat1 rofl2 rofl2 chuckles1
Quote from: Power Surge on February 09, 2016, 11:54:01 AM
Wow, awesome buy! That's a freakin nice rifle!
Thanks PS!
Quote from: Greasemonkey on February 09, 2016, 03:56:27 PM
Nice.... thumb1
If'en ya like, I can hold it for you :), I mean that tube, that non matching horrible terrible thing attached to channel gases to the piston, you know, those numbers don't match, so I'm offering you an opportunity, it's hard to refuse........... :o I'll simply hold it for you, thumb1 while you search for a matching rifle, once you find it, I can declare this one a consolidation prize for me cause you get the pristine uber real nice sexy matching one and you don't have to worry about those disgusting, nasty, trashy, belong in a dumpster, missy matchy thingys anymore.. rofl2 rofl2 rofl2 chuckles1 chuckles1 chuckles1 fart1
I promise it will be among many a Romanian family member and be treated, real, real well :) Besides, you already used it...so that value is kinda gone whistle12
whatcha say bat1 bat1 rofl2 rofl2 chuckles1
Dang GM, that's a really generous offer thumb1 I mean, especially since she's my only Romanian SKS and she might get lonely think1
...but I think I'll pass. After all, she does have my Mosin carbine, TTC, Romanian contract VZ24 and WASR, with which to exchange Romanian greetings :)
crazyp1 So........guess that kinda sorta means.....NO, Jimmy. yes4. back off dash2
Figured I'd try OK1
I mean, cry1 I would at least offer to cover the shipping rofl it's the least I could do senil1
Yup, that'd be: "No, Jimmy No! Put that down, right now! You don't know where that's been Jimmy!" rofl
The part of me that tends towards the OCD end of the spectrum would, of course, like an unnumbered or correctly numbered gas tube (thingy)...but I'm very, very happy with this M56 thumb1 :)
The part of me that simply likes a well-used functional battle loves my Romanian...and my beat up Albanian. My 56-1 looks like it tangled with some rough characters on the shady side of Skopje, spent the night on the wet and dirty floor of one of Hoxha's bunkers sleeping off a binge on com-bloc ammo, and it's a complete mismatch, but it runs great. I had it out with the Romanian last weekend and it shoots very well, after I got it zeroed tommy1
What ? You mean you bought a matching 57 with no cleaning rod ! ! ! That would have been a deal breaker lol ..
Nice score P32. Someone would be moving over in my safe so he could fill that hole.. thumb1
Way to go Phos! That's a nice '57 Romanian! And with the correct Romanian sling, to boot! You did great and I'm even a little encouraged that there may be one out there for me, yet. Congrats!
That looks like one of the Norinco made bipods in the first pic. Did it come with the carbine? I have a couple of the Norinco bipods, but they used a thick coat of black paint on them instead of a good parkerizing, bluing, or Moly coating of some sort. I'm going to disassemble one, strip the paint, and put a good finish on it, (which finish?...yet to be decided on). I like that bipod for bench shooting. I used some self adhesive felt on the inside of the barrel clamping jaws to avoid marring the surface/finish of the barrel. It worked quite well.
firstchoice
Quote from: Direct Connection on February 09, 2016, 11:17:20 PM
What ? You mean you bought a matching 57 with no cleaning rod ! ! ! That would have been a deal breaker lol ..
Nice score P32. Someone would be moving over in my safe so he could fill that hole.. thumb1
rofl Yeah, I have a spare cleaning rod on my bench, so it wasn't too great a detraction :)
Quote from: firstchoice on February 10, 2016, 06:17:02 AM
Way to go Phos! That's a nice '57 Romanian! And with the correct Romanian sling, to boot! You did great and I'm even a little encouraged that there may be one out there for me, yet. Congrats!
That looks like one of the Norinco made bipods in the first pic. Did it come with the carbine? I have a couple of the Norinco bipods, but they used a thick coat of black paint on them instead of a good parkerizing, bluing, or Moly coating of some sort. I'm going to disassemble one, strip the paint, and put a good finish on it, (which finish?...yet to be decided on). I like that bipod for bench shooting. I used some self adhesive felt on the inside of the barrel clamping jaws to avoid marring the surface/finish of the barrel. It worked quite well.
firstchoice
Thanks!
Yup, the bipod came with it and it does have the thick black paint. Doesn't look too bad other than that, and that it's heavy steel. Multiple independently adjustable positions on each leg. I've never tried one so I may have to give it a go. The felt sounds like a good idea!
Stick the bayo in the dirt. :P
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on February 10, 2016, 03:33:05 PM
Stick the bayo in the dirt. :P
The Simonov-approved built-in monopod approach :)