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SKS 7.62x39 question

divebomb
I was given an sks, it is only the barrel and uncut receiver with folding bayonet. the person who gave it to me didn't really say why they didn't want it, just wanted to know if i wanted it or he was going to toss it,,,it is in imaculate condition so i took it thinking id at least research what it is before letting it go to the junk pile.
I'm not real familiar with sks rifles, but after doing some research I've found to complete this rifle it will cost appxamitly what it would to just buy a complete one, but figure it would still be fun to just do as a project.
I have a few questions about this rifle though, how come all the parts lots i find come with cut receivers, and what about the bayonet, I've seen articles that say this is okay to have on some sks rifles and not on others, I'm just wondering how do i tell if this sks is legitimate and know I'm good to complete this rifle, without breaking any laws.

the only markings on it are as follows

SKS 7.62x39 MADE IN CHINA 891XXXX
ARMCO BOYL. MA

The xxxx is a real four diget number

can anyone tell me what i have, and can i rebuild it legally or was there a reason it was given to me that constitutes me destroying it...

thanks for any and all input,
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • tsavo303
    sks are perfectly legal by themselves. (federal law... your local law, thats up to you)
    who knows why this guy wanted to get rid of it. that makes me a little weary or at least curious.
    you could always start it at a penny on auction and see what it brings
    a complete chinese sks goes from $200-250 in great condition
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  • Grasshopper
    well you could sell it as is.. Complete Stocks are not uncommon,,if thats what it needs,,,,also box mags are getting scarce for some reason.. Stock, mag box, maybe a sling and you ahout about 80-100 in it? or sell it for about 100...ymmv.[?]
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:how come all the parts lots i find come with cut receivers,
    At some point (I think during the Clinton administration) it became illegal to import military type rifles from China, including SKS rifles.

    But "parts" rifles with destroyed receivers aren't legally considered rifles, and should still be OK for import.

    quote:and what about the bayonet, I've seen articles that say this is okay to have on some sks rifles and not on others, I'm just wondering how do i tell if this sks is legitimate and know I'm good to complete this rifle, without breaking any laws.
    The whole issue of a bayonet is a minefield.

    The answer depends on when your gun was imported. If it was imported with a bayonet, and you're in a state that allows one, then you should be able to restore the gun to functional condition and keep the bayonet in place.

    I don't know when the ARMCO guns were imported, and in fact, I suspect that ARMCO of Boylston MA is defunct. But your gun was *probably* imported with the bayonet in place. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable about that particular company could add something here.

    Speaking more generally, you are not permitted to build/assemble a new gun in a configuration that is not legal to import. So if your gun were imported without a bayonet it might not be legal to put one on later.

    In your case, assuming ARMCO *is* defunct, then it may (or may not) actually be possible to prove when your gun was imported. Put differently, it may be impossible for anyone to prove that the bayonet on your gun was added illegally (if that even were the case).

    Note also, that I believe the ban in question is against construction/assembly of the gun in the illegal configuration, not possession of it. Since you didn't add the bayonet, I don't know if you are potentially criminally liable just for having it.

    Bottom line, the bayonet on your gun was probably original to the gun, implying that it was imported prior to the ban, meaning you can probably keep it on there legally.

    As a matter of practice, so long as you don't try something stupid with the gun, I don't think anyone is really going to care if there is a bayonet on there or not.

    If you're not comfortable with any of this, you can always take the bayonet OFF the gun.

    I own a Chinese SKS, and personally, I think the gun handles a lot better without a bayonet on there. Given that I'm probably not going to be conducting an infantry charge with my SKS, I'm quite happy to not have one on the gun!

    Since your gun will probably not have much collectors' value anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about removing a bayonet.

    In terms of just pure assembly, I believe ordinary SKS rifles with fixed 10 round magazine and NO bayonet are legal everywhere. That even includes MA.

    SKS rifles only potentially start to get legally sketchy once you start adding things like vertical pistol grips, folding stocks, detachable magazines, etc. (IMO most of those things are worthless anyway, but that's besides the point).

    So long as you are legally permitted to own the rifle to begin with, I can't imagine any reason why restoring it to functional condition would be illegal.
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  • divebomb
    cool thanks for all the information.
    i was just kinda worried about the real motives behind just haveing it given to me, i suppose just the fact it will cost as much to rebuild as it will to buy a complete one is a valid reason. its just that thought of the rifles legitamcy comes into play when the thing is just given away. so i wanted to look into it at least a little bit.
    thanks
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  • Grasshopper
    I believe that Armco SKS s came with bayo,,,these IF I remember correctly had the bayo with them... I have some and will check and see if any are Armco ..and what they have on them.
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  • nmyers
    There is no way to be sure aftermarket parts, or original parts from another SKS manufacturer, will fit your rifle. So, you might get $100 or more into the project & find it can't be done (without paying someone with more skill).

    OTOH, SKS barrels are no longer importable, so the barrel alone may bring $100 (some folks have ruined their barrel with corrosive ammo). I think you might get more than that for the barreled action.

    Neal
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  • Pistollero1050
    Put it up for auction, I'll buy it for $100. These rifles are easy to play around with. Cheap parts everywhere. Not technicly difficult to assemble. Legal in my state.
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