Auction just ended on GB:
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/600705226
Anyone here won it? It looks like a non-refurb (or very light refurb) with the original laminated stock. Any comments? Thank you.
I don't recognize the buyer. Certainly a VG as-issued letter gun. Those K's are darn hard to find in that condition! thumb1
10 years from now, that $800 price is going to seem like quite a deal I suspect.
I almost bid on that rifle, however after I saw the photo of the gas tube, I changed my mind
I don't think the gas tube is a replacement. I think Ivan might have engraved an incorrect numeral 6 first and then did a quick crossout and then being flustered at messing up one of Stalin's weapons quickly etched the 969 afterwards. :))
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1958_Tula/T969_K_gas_tube.jpg)
Either that or this was a gas tube off another three digit "TУ" prefixed gun. They went through at least TУ8236, so definitely quite a few more 4 digit tubes then there would have been three digit tubes:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1958_Tula/T8236_K_receiver.jpg)
Not a pretty engraving for certain, but the rest of the gun is darn near perfect, especially the stock.
Wow, that's a looker!! Cheers to whomever won that one!
Thank you, RM. it's possible. When I was studying that picture, I felt like that the first 9 was more like an original 0, the 6 looked strange too. That's why I was not sure it's a real non-refurb or a very light refurb (repaired) sample.
Quote from: pcke2000 on November 28, 2016, 06:55:01 PM
Thank you, RM. it's possible. When I was studying that picture, I felt like that the first 9 was more like an original 0, the 6 looked strange too. That's why I was not sure it's a real non-refurb or a very light refurb (repaired) sample.
It's certainly possible pcke, maybe it started out life as 1059? I could buy that I suppose.
You don't normally see a swapped gas tube with a correct handguard (wood vs laminate) as well as having the correct finish though.
I think it's one of those things we just will never know for certain.
I see that 06sandstone bought this one (http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?648033-Letter-K-finally!)
He's certainly amassed quite the collection over the years. Used to be a member here but had a falling out with someone as is wont to happen from time to time. dntknw1
Hope he gets you those pics of the gas tube pcke, I'm curious on it too now. thumb1