First pic post -my restoration Paratrooper SKS

[Greatguns]

Well, figured I might as well play a little to get more familiar with how this particular forum works as opposed to the others I am on so am posting up a recent restoration project. First a little about me on this. I am a tinkerer as many here who know me from other forums, etc. will testify. I used to work in a gunsmithing shop and have gotten more into building, restoring, modifying, and tinkering with firearms than collecting them. I used to have a decent sized collection but had to sell all but 1 SKS off due to work/finance problems a few years back. I now have 3 SKSs and 2 pistols and am trying to latch onto a Finn MN and an ex-sniper MN in a trade deal.
Anyway, I thought you guys might like to see what I just finished up after tracking down the period correct parts to get this Paratrooper back as close to original as possible, although realizing without replacing the barrel with a 20" one it will never get back to its true original state. Some of you, of course, have seen this before, but not completely done. So what I have is as follows; a 1967 /26\ Chinese SKS arsenal modified into a Paratrooper for the US market. action is matching except mag. This is how it looked when I got it. MC-5D stock was butchered to accept the 20rnd box mag.


Knowing how ugly it looked I replaced the stock and mag to a more traditional 'bubba' look(yeah, I know, but bear with me here )


Well, then I got to thinking about the matching Paratrooper I used to have that I had to get rid of so I changed it again. Looks a lot better but the stock was refinished before I got it and, while it looks nice, is not original color(as can be seen as compared to the HG) and had a non-matching number and it was for a pinned barrel set up so I had to file the cross bolt for fit. Also, the bayonet was a cut down from full length spike that was really too fat for the slot cut out.


Well recently I came across a non-matching Chinese SKS that had a no numbered, original finish, side sling mount stock so I swapped out stocks, cut down a cleaning rod to Paratrooper size, and decided(for now at least) to install a cut down Albanian spike bayonet I got from AIM Surplus. I had the collar spring and screw already and the Alby bayonet is thinner than the Chinese so when it was cut down it looked more correct. Stock is a better match to the HG than the other one too. The only issue is that it is black. I like the black look but I could easily blast it to achieve the correct appearance for the carbine. What do you guys think on the bayo?

[desdem12]

[millman]

[quote="Greatguns"]Well, figured I might as well play a little to get more familiar with how this particular forum works as opposed to the others I am on so am posting up a recent restoration project. First a little about me on this. I am a tinkerer as many here who know me from other forums, etc. will testify. I used to work in a gunsmithing shop and have gotten more into building, restoring, modifying, and tinkering with firearms than collecting them. I used to have a decent sized collection but had to sell all but 1 SKS off due to work/finance problems a few years back. I now have 3 SKSs and 2 pistols and am trying to latch onto a Finn MN and an ex-sniper MN in a trade deal. The Finn is a parts rifle but the Ex-sniper will more than likely be a restore job, possibly into a replica of its original state.(PU sniper)
quote]
Please do not "restore" your ex sniper. It is an EX for some reason, and was made that way by the Russians. It is in it's proper configuration now, and to "restore" it is just the making of another bubba fake. This is a preservation forum, and we do not condone changing mil-surp rifles from their proper configuration.
http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.c ... m.php?f=33

[Greatguns]

Well, figured I might as well play a little to get more familiar with how this particular forum works as opposed to the others I am on so am posting up a recent restoration project. First a little about me on this. I am a tinkerer as many here who know me from other forums, etc. will testify. I used to work in a gunsmithing shop and have gotten more into building, restoring, modifying, and tinkering with firearms than collecting them. I used to have a decent sized collection but had to sell all but 1 SKS off due to work/finance problems a few years back. I now have 3 SKSs and 2 pistols and am trying to latch onto a Finn MN and an ex-sniper MN in a trade deal. The Finn is a parts rifle but the Ex-sniper will more than likely be a restore job, possibly into a replica of its original state.(PU sniper)

Please do not "restore" your ex sniper. It is an EX for some reason, and was made that way by the Russians. It is in it's proper configuration now, and to "restore" it is just the making of another bubba fake. This is a preservation forum, and we do not condone changing mil-surp rifles from their proper configuration.
http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.c ... m.php?f=33

Well, I don't actually own it yet, but okay, wasn't really thinking about it that way. I was thinking that putting it back into a scoped configuration would be the proper configuration as originally issued by the Red Army, but I do see your point that it is a decommissioned rifle, re-arsenaled at the factory and re-issued as a standard rifle and thus should stay that way. "Restoring" it would only make another replica which would further devalue the originals. Got it. I will edit my OP accordingly

[millman]

Thank you Greatguns.

[MN Fan]

Nice job on the SKS revamp. There is a SKS here in Omaha that looks identical to your second photo. I can't get it through my mind how someone thought that it would look better than the original stock. You did a good job of "un-bubba-ing" this one!

Thanks for posting up the photos!

[millman]

Nice job on the SKS revamp. There is a SKS here in Omaha that looks identical to your second photo. I can't get it through my mind how someone thought that it would look better than the original stock. You did a good job of "un-bubba-ing" this one!

Thanks for posting up the photos!

The Chinese bubba'd these for the American market. IIRC you can thank Bill Clinton for the wierd thumbhole stocks. It might have been G Bush the elder, I can't remember the date exactly.

[martin08]

Yeah, the last configuration has the look. Any day that Bubba is reversed is a good day!

[Rongo]

Much improved!

I think I have an extra proper Chinese Paratrooper bayonet somewhere.... Let me look.

[Junk Yard Dog]

It was G Bush the elder, and I believe it was 1992-3 sometime. I have one of the Chinese Para sks's, but other than chopping the barrel down a bit they just added a plastic pistol grip to the regular stock and added that AK mag conversion. Be glad you don't have that, total piece of crap, drops the mags out every other round, but otherwise functions like any SKS.

[Woodbeef]

Nice job of bubba-busting there GG.

[Ironnewt]

Welcome aboard Anything you do/did to that SKS was an improvment. I've only actually seen about a dozen SKS's in the flesh and all were un-modified. As to your ex-sniper I read the OP after modification so I can't comment other than I agree with MillMan. If you want to look up something neat search the forums for a poster named dolk's 'Sten' project. under Collectabiles

[Drago]

I love the look of that para, Greatguns. You did a wonderful job. Love the black on dark garnet. A keeper for sure!! Oh, leave the bayo in the black by all means!

[Greatguns]

Thanks Drago. Yeah, I decided to leave it and am also thinking about going ahead with bluing the bolt/carrier as well.

[Drago]

Thanks Drago. Yeah, I decided to leave it and am also thinking about going ahead with bluing the bolt/carrier as well.

Man, that would look cool. Imagine having a matching Russian SKS, in the black, bolt and all with a black bayo in a nice matching red stock, sitting next to your China-girl there. I'd wall hangin' 'em if I had the pair. I'm SUPER partial to the all black look. I did a Russian one last year and was going to try and find a really light blond/amber laminate that was heavy BBQ'd with a black bayo, when I came across my blonde '54 Izhevsk. I killed a lot of birds (collector slots) with that Izhevsk purchase, saving me a ton of money.

[sclinesr]

Paratroopers are all Chinese unless someone had cut down a non chinese import. There was never a military production Paratrooper. Military SKS's were cut down for import to the US and labeled as "paratrooper".