Chinese SKS, Trench Art: Cities and Dates!

[C&Rtrader]

Santa rode a big brown truck this year and made an early delivery over the weekend!

These came from century. Generally they are beat to hell especially the stocks. Sadly lots of cracks. Should be a fun time cleaning these things up.

Though beat up, the 2nd one out of the box was COVERED in carvings. There are more on the fore end I can't make out yet, but I will get some pics of those also up later.

This rifle has 3 southern Albanian cities carved into it:

Vlora
Tepelena
Fieri

Tepelena and Fieri are carved twice. The carvings on the butt stock contain the dates: 1991-1992 for Tepelena and 1992 For Fieri

A second chinese sks had a Russian Tula Stock and the year 1986 carved into it.

Its no Iron Maiden, but it gives us a pretty good clue when and where these were in use.

[C&Rtrader]

The stock for rifle 1 appears to be either from an M59 or a spike bayonet. Will have to get the measuring tape out.

[0321jarhead]

The stock for rifle 1 appears to be either from an M59 or a spike bayonet. Will have to get the measuring tape out.

Spike bayonet stock in the picture.

[Mr.Sandman]

This makes me glad I bought from J&G. Most of the ones coming directly from Century look like they have a ton of wear. Are you going to refinish them or just leave them as is?

[E Michael]

How do you tell if the stock is for a spike bayo or the knife one?

[Vlad 11]

Neat stuff. Esp the years '91 and '92. Two very big years in Albanian history

wiki says :
The People's Republic was dissolved in 1990, and the Republic of Albania was founded in 1991. The Communists retained a stronghold in parliament after popular support in the elections of 1991. However, in March 1992, amid liberalisation policies resulting in economic collapse and social unrest, a new front led by the new Democratic Party took power.

(Ive learned way more about Albania than i ever expected)

I saw another stock with a Vlora carving too

[C&Rtrader]

How do you tell if the stock is for a spike bayo or the knife one?

Length of the cut out

http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-18.htm

[E Michael]

bookmarked site, thank you

[BruinGuy]

Interesting stuff - thanks for posting these pictures.

Too bad they weren't a little more artistically inclined with their carvings; nevertheless a peek into the rifles history.

[E Michael]

Cave man paintings of dears and nazis is what I'm looking for

[0321jarhead]

How do you tell if the stock is for a spike bayo or the knife one?

Length and width of the cut on the stock as well as owning SKS's.