These don't appear very often so I went after this one. I certainly would have preferred it not to be import marked but it's an interesting variation in any case, and it's pleasing that it's matching. It has a rather early CAI import mark, so it's been in the US perhaps three decades.
It has the unusual, but seen before, "2" in front of the M21. It appears to me that there are three different font styles: the leading "2" is unique (different than the 2 in M21), the "M21 N" is the next font grouping, and the final font style is the serial number "017738" that is slightly shorter in height than the "M21 N". However, they all seem to have the same amount of wear.
(https://i.ibb.co/R92k66m/01-left-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qdB3ggf)
(https://i.ibb.co/ncgdkXc/02-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Wyx8Kry)
(https://i.ibb.co/sbL4VLN/03-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ydLCQLZ)
(https://i.ibb.co/fpkN6hc/04-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/r6xp8CW)
(https://i.ibb.co/6BPZN6T/05-left.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hfWMCp4)
(https://i.ibb.co/FhbwCLM/06-right-full.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wdNWjFX)
(https://i.ibb.co/4dg6BMN/07-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KwzMC7y)
(https://i.ibb.co/cDb1xHv/08-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HnNVXs2)
(https://i.ibb.co/sjPCkGf/09-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/K6GDRkP)
(https://i.ibb.co/2YWYCvK/10-right.jpg) (https://ibb.co/G3n38WP)
(https://i.ibb.co/C590045/11-SN-rec.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N6NYYf6)
(https://i.ibb.co/SdJckW2/12-SN-rec-cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7RbQ38H)
(https://i.ibb.co/RYkZGdZ/13-SN-bolt-carrier.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZGptR7t)
(https://i.ibb.co/Dp3vRqZ/14-SN-bolt.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dgnV5hR)
(https://i.ibb.co/NFzJKP0/15-SN-mag.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tH5vDt0)
(https://i.ibb.co/wY9sgtW/16-SN-tg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zNyJxdR)
(https://i.ibb.co/SdWY9Xz/17-SN-gas-tube.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dL1Cz0R)
(https://i.ibb.co/y0gd2Db/18-SN-stock.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XXFjH9v)
(https://i.ibb.co/jW0rfyv/19-import-mark.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1dymQrf)
(https://i.ibb.co/bQpGCvR/20-internals.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Dz3jvMg)
NICE!!
honest and very nice example! It does look like it had spent some time in jungles.
Congratulations!
Rare item if you ask me, plus I dig the patina and "been there, done that" look, I'm jealous.....
Quote from: pcke2000 on October 26, 2020, 05:35:51 PM
honest and very nice example! It does look like it had spent some time in jungles.
Congratulations!
Thanks PC! I do think it saw some heavy use before import. I can't rule out that some Georgian carried it through the Okefenokee swamp for 30 years, but I'd guess it saw its hard life before import :))
Quote from: owenj492 on October 26, 2020, 06:42:35 PM
Rare item if you ask me, plus I dig the patina and "been there, done that" look, I'm jealous.....
Thanks :) Mine is the 6th "M21 N" in the database, so they don't show up too often.
That's yucky, it looks all used and stuff. Besplode
Pure awesomeness! Screw that import mark, P32, you got an M21! That's a top 5 for me "want" on my SKS list. When and were did you find this beauty?
Wow. Just, wow.
Early CAI stamp + well used overall condition = ME capture?
Nice catch! thumb1
Really nice.
As I've said before, I love 'em when they have a lot of use on them.
Quote from: Bob_The_Student on October 27, 2020, 02:38:02 AM
That's yucky, it looks all used and stuff. Besplode
Pure awesomeness! Screw that import mark, P32, you got an M21! That's a top 5 for me "want" on my SKS list. When and were did you find this beauty?
:)) Thanks Bob! It was within the last month from GunBroker. It came out of an estate. It wasn't listed as an M21, and initially had no receiver picture, but I saw the N on the parts and asked for a receiver pic to confirm...then I was hooked.
Quote from: Boris Badinov on October 27, 2020, 10:32:18 AM
Wow. Just, wow.
Early CAI stamp + well used overall condition = ME capture?
Nice catch! thumb1
Thank-you BB!
That thought crossed my mind, as it does have one of the import marks associated with the ICs, as well as the look. Dirty and oily under the buttplate. A scorpion exoskeleton or some other geographically useful identifying info in the empty cleaning kit hole would have been nice, but no such luck.
Quote from: Larry D. on October 27, 2020, 11:28:22 AM
Really nice.
As I've said before, I love 'em when they have a lot of use on them.
Thanks Larry! For sure, I do like the character in this one.
That's pretty dang cool. Somebody carried that thing around a long time. PAX
Quote from: echo1 on October 27, 2020, 08:32:02 PM
That's pretty dang cool. Somebody carried that thing around a long time. PAX
Thanks PAX!
Indeed... agree with every one. Very cool example. Nice find and love the patina.