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I just picked up this 43 SKY M39 this morning. I haven't had to work this hard for something since I was back in high school chasing the girls! The seller originally put it up on Armslist a few weeks ago. Fellow Forum member Lotema alerted me to it so I sent the guy an email and was told that it was already sold. A week later the rifle is back up on Armslist. I shot him another email with the usual questions but he claimed he didn't know what counterboring & numbers matching were and didn't know if the stock had been refinished. With the two marginal pics posted on Armslist my main concern was that Bubba had "improved it". Anyway, communication was lost so I figured he had sold it again. A couple of days ago I had some time and decided to check Armslist. Sure enough, the rifle was posted again and with a lowered price to boot. I figured what the heck and shot him another email. This time he responded and after going back and forth about when and where to meet we finally decided on this morning in a Costco parking lot. After I had been sitting in the parking lot for a while he texted and wanted to change the time to 3pm. A little more smooth talking and he finally arrived. He said he had too many guns and had got this one from his cousin. He knew a fair amount about Mosins and said he had an M38 and a T53. Anyway, I was relieved to see that all numbers matched, the finish hadn't been Bubba'd, headspace checked out and everything was good to go. I just got done taking her apart and cleaning her up. Cosmoline covered everything below the wood line including the magazine. The tang date is a 1910 Izhevsk. Interestingly there were no shims but the wood did look to be shaved down in one spot which I've posted a pic of. The bore has rounded lans and the grooves are frosty. I'm guessing someone bought this CAI, VT import, wiped it down, put some ammo through it and then put it in the closet for a lot of years. No rust anywhere but the bolt still had some cosmoline on it. Overall I'm quite happy with it. How unusual is it for a 43 SKY to have a 42 SKY stock? It's my first SKY and my first M39 with such nice striping. What do you guys think?
Well I am pretty sure I hate you ...at least for now. Not sure on the stock but maybe a replacement at sometime. I would be tempted to lightly glue up that crack and the shaved part was likely to float the barrel good. The stock not having shims maybe because of the replacement during wartime and no time to shim correctly or maybe none needed. Shoot it and enjoy.
The commerce which maybe carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important ~Thomas Jefferson~ (to- Lewis and Clark)
That's a foxy tiger striped M39! Very nice. I too believe the stock to be a replacement as desdem12 indicated previously. The serial number also supports my thoughts on that. I love those M39s! I have a 43' Sk.Y too but my serial number is a little later than yours (508115).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953
Well you certainly earned your stripes on that one very nice. As Des stated above, I would clean that internal crack and squeeze some kind of glue in there, clamp and sit for a couple days. Congrats on a great rifle.
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
Theodore Roosevelt
Thanks guys. Dolk, I'll keep an eye out for that membership card and yes Des, I have to figure out a plan of action for that crack. There's actually two with the second one being right in front of that first one. Thankfully neither one goes all the way through to the bottom. The research I've done this afternoon shows that it's not uncommon for Sky stocks to have different dates than the rifle so that was a relief. Anyway, thanks again guys and I look forward to getting her outside when the weather improves for some better pics.
Our weather here is just right for outside photo taking, send it to me and I will help in your quest for better photos. Pay no attention to the white stuff on he ground..
Those cracks are right where the recoil lug on the barrel sits. so when you fire it, it hits those spots. I would give it a glue up before I shot it too much.
The commerce which maybe carried on with the people inhabiting the line you will pursue renders a knowledge of these people important ~Thomas Jefferson~ (to- Lewis and Clark)
The seller originally put it up on Armslist a few weeks ago. Fellow Forum member Lotema alerted me to it so I sent the guy an email and was told that it was already sold. A week later the rifle is back up on Armslist. I shot him another email with the usual questions but he claimed he didn't know what counterboring & numbers matching were and didn't know if the stock had been refinished. With the two marginal pics posted on Armslist my main concern was that Bubba had "improved it". Anyway, communication was lost so I figured he had sold it again. A couple of days ago I had some time and decided to check Armslist. Sure enough, the rifle was posted again and with a lowered price to boot. I figured what the heck and shot him another email. This time he responded and after going back and forth about when and where to meet we finally decided on this morning in a Costco parking lot. After I had been sitting in the parking lot for a while he texted and wanted to change the time to 3pm. A little more smooth talking and he finally arrived. He said he had too many guns and had got this one from his cousin. He knew a fair amount about Mosins and said he had an M38 and a T53. Anyway, I was relieved to see that all numbers matched, the finish hadn't been Bubba'd, headspace checked out and everything was good to go. I just got done taking her apart and cleaning her up. Cosmoline covered everything below the wood line including the magazine. The tang date is a 1910 Izhevsk. Interestingly there were no shims but the wood did look to be shaved down in one spot which I've posted a pic of. The bore has rounded lans and the grooves are frosty. I'm guessing someone bought this CAI, VT import, wiped it down, put some ammo through it and then put it in the closet for a lot of years. No rust anywhere but the bolt still had some cosmoline on it. Overall I'm quite happy with it. How unusual is it for a 43 SKY to have a 42 SKY stock? It's my first SKY and my first M39 with such nice striping. What do you guys think? 
It was you who beat me out.. I emailed him as well but was informed that it was sold.. Nice catch . Congrats.
and yes Des, I have to figure out a plan of action for that crack. There's actually two with the second one being right in front of that first one. Thankfully neither one goes all the way through to the bottom. The research I've done this afternoon shows that it's not uncommon for Sky stocks to have different dates than the rifle so that was a relief. Anyway, thanks again guys and I look forward to getting her outside when the weather improves for some better pics.