Wouldn't consider it a "steal", but... Romanian SKS

[martin08]

Happened upon a Romanian SKS at a local shop yesterday, priced at $349. It was a 1958, and I already had two from that year, but I had to have it anyway. The stock is heavily sanded, and the serial number was erased. Haggled to $340 OTD.

But see if you can spot the reason why I needed it so badly.

[Greasemonkey]

It has an original sling?? A rarity in it's self.

Nice find Not too terrible of a price, I would have paid that with out the sling

[martin08]

It has an original sling?? A rarity in it's self.

Nice find Not too terrible of a price, I would have paid that with out the sling

Ding, ding, ding, ding! Yes. These are VERY hard to come by. And most that you will see are from new-old-stock, and they will sometimes fetch up to $80. To find a Romanian made leather sling that is weathered and worn to the rifle is extremely rare. So, I'm liking it!

Yeah. I thought the price was fair, too. But I had to find some reason to haggle (sanded stock), without revealing that the sling was worth 1/3 of what they were asking for the whole gun!

[Three_Dogs]

Very Nice find Martin, great deal. I wish I could find a deal like that!

[Junk Yard Dog]

[kjohn]

Good find. I can't say that I've ever seen a real live Romanian SKS.

[JDennis]

Damn I was beat too it. I want that sling! That is awesome!

[jayrocka1200]

very nice !

[Bareassmeagain]

M08 buying a non-matching SkS is a rareity in itself. I have 3 1960's Tiger so don't feel alone

If you Still got that romanian spigot it should look just peachy on that warrior too !

[Sirex]

Very nice. $340 for ANY SKS is a screamin deal around my area.

[tjtM38]

SWEET

[fenceline]

Very nice.

[gurn]

Great deal! I learned something new,I traded for this Romanian a while back and didn't give the sling much thought. I figured it was just a sling from something else. When I saw yours I dug mine out and sure enough its the same one. Cool beans. I got an even better trade than I thought.





The mold spots were there when I got it, should I try and clean it? I think they give it a little character though

[martin08]

Mine has traces of the white haze that was prevalent on the recent import batch of Chinese SKS's from Albania. And no, I did not clean it off. If that is the type of "mold" you are referring to, then it might have some significance to determining where these guns came from.

Yours has the exact sanding (coarse cross-grained) method, and oil finish as mine. All others that I've seen that are factory rearsenaled have the shellac finish. The serial number on the buttstock is erased. The slings are both well used, instead of new-old-stock like they are usually found.

So far, yours and mine are the only two Romanians that I've seen with these characteristics. Wondering if there was a shipment.... hmmm...

[gurn]

Mine is # CD1645 and a 1958 like yours. They could have known each other

[Junk Yard Dog]

[Greasemonkey]

Nice
These slings, while very elusive can be found, my second sling was an issued type. I got it from a forum member here , it was a straw purchase sling, he bought it off Gunbroker, and shipped it to me . Total price for it was $30 , It ended a years long search, and I finally could remove the Romanian Ak sling from it.

My new used issued sling mounted on my '59 Romanian, the top one. Bottom is my matching '57 Romanian with a new-old-stock sling, the sling has an ink stamp and date present. I've never been able to determine if they were rearsenaled or someone done it before I got them, both have a thick layer of shellac, the only mismatched parts on the '59 is the bolt and carrier. Both stock numbers are clear and present, and all the other usual stamping are very clear, just under shellac, so I guess both missed out on the sanding part.