While working through some of the backlog of photos I have and entering them into the NON-/26\ Serial/Arsenal Data Collection Thread (https://clone.sks-files.com/index.php?topic=393.0), I came across the following arsenal stamp and quickly realized I have nowhere to file it because I had never seen one before:
(https://i.ibb.co/FDr5QDg/new-arsenal-stamp.jpg)
The stamping is poor, so unfortunately I can't really say what it is with much certainty. It may be a /015x\ or more likely a /016x\. I honestly see /0162\, but there is an odd horizontal line in the '6" that gives me pause. Probably need another example or two to be 100% certain.
From my limited search, I haven't found this stamp anywhere else (Howie's old lists definitely do not have this one).
Full suite of photos from the auction that I have of this carbine:
(https://i.ibb.co/mCSM19N/2400005-receiver.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/LJhHCSx/2400005-arsenal-stamp.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/ry5gwTk/2400005-import-stamp.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/vXBgpjr/2400005-left-lug.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/DbsmLMs/2400005-receiver-cover.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/qRkLRnW/2400005-right-front.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/RTkX3Qz/2400005-right-lug.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/4FLyTKX/2400005-right-rear.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/N2ksvRX/2400005-RSL.jpg)
At any rate, just wanted to hear opinions & discussion.
Only stamp on file even close to it is 0408. Here are my thoughts on what it may be; 0102, 0152, 0162, 0182, or maybe 01662 (see below)
(https://i.ibb.co/pjcZfC3/IMG-4123.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Kxd72C9)
Could be GG, lots of artifacts in the blown up photo that may or may not be there. That last character could even be an 8 like in 0408 as well.
Looking at the photo with the full S/N in the receiver, I just noticed that it was stamped 23 and then overstamped with a '4'.
Likely a receiver from year 23 (1978) that was already stamped and ready to be built, but not actually built & stamped with a S/N until very early year 24 (1979)
Given how low the SN is it is very possible. Left over from '78 and re-issued to be a '79. Makes you wonder if that is what happened to the arsenal stamp as well. Poorly scrubbed and re-stamped (also poorly) to a different arsenal number. Maybe started out as an 0408 then sent elsewhere and changed to 0130A. That could be a possibility. Those 2 arsenals over-layed could account for the faint odd indents.
Might the threaded barrel be a clue?
Are there any arsenals that began threaded barrel production AFTER the introduction of the pinned barrel Tye56?
Possibly this could be an updated version of the /156\ arsenal stamp?
When they picked production back up at /26\ they still used threaded barrels didn't they???
Quote from: Greatguns on March 04, 2023, 12:20:03 PM
When they picked production back up at /26\ they still used threaded barrels didn't they???
Yes.
A handful of other arsenals also made the threaded barrel variant until the end of military production in 1984.
Interesting :o thumb1
(https://i.ibb.co/gMxF1Mp/C157-DCDB-9735-41-DE-B4-F5-D66-A23-DCA98-E.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
Well, we know there are at least 5 of them out there somewhere in the world rofl