Stuck on This SKS Project, UPDATE POST 15

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I gathered all the correct parts for a Russian SKS that had been bubba'd, but I am stuck here. My gunsmith of choice was not able to get to this job so after a long while I just picked it back up.

Here is the original thread:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=819677&highlight=Sks+restoration

For some unholy reason the person who bubba'd this rifle moved the front sight base out of position and I cannot get it back in place. I also cannot get the wood handguard back on enough to reinsert a new retaining pin. Finally, I need to be able to reinsert the replacement takedown pin because because it was tossed when bubba installed a crappy railed top cover.

So i have all the parts to restore, just not the tools or skills. If anyone someplace not too far from the SGV canndo this I would gladly compensate for his troubles.

Thank you.

PS If i can't locate someone who can finish the above I will either end up selling as is or parting it out.

[SVT-40]

It looks like all you need is someone with a press to push that sight base back a few mm.....

Or maybe a little heat, penetrating oil and a brass hammer......

As for the hand guard you will probably need to sand or file the wood so it fits.....

Gonna be in Arizona in the near future???

[BrokerB]

$200..

[Bobby Ricigliano]

It looks like all you need is someone with a press to push that sight base back a few mm.....

Or maybe a little heat, penetrating oil and a brass hammer......

As for the hand guard you will probably need to sand or file the wood so it fits.....

Gonna be in Arizona in the near future???

I wish I was, would love to see some your awesome collection Sir. I don't have access to a press but I will try the above. I am somewhat worried that once I get it to move i will knock it loose and it won't secure in the right spot either. But as of now it is just a pile of parts so I don't have much to lose. Thanks for the tip!

[Bobby Ricigliano]

$200..

What is that? Your Christmas allowance? If I decide to sell it I will post it in the for sale section. I would not ever do business with you anyway.

[SanPedroShooter]

What is that? Your Christmas allowance? If I decide to sell it I will post it in the for sale section. I would not ever do business with you anyway.

lol... Who haven't you done business with?

Youre Itrader is impressive sir.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

lol... Who haven't you done business with?

Youre Itrader is impressive sir.

Thank you Sir. The above poster has a history of crapping on my threads and posting unfunny or insulting comments, displaying atrocious grammar and syntax for all the world to see.

[BrokerB]

I made jokes about his chrome fetish and he got mad, then wanted me moderated. Very sensitive in those pajamas and and hot coco
Dont worry bobby, I have my own money, dont have to ask wife for permission and safes are over flowing. No chromed A-Team rifles, but I wouldn't say no. Hell 200 is too much anyways.

Let the negative vibes go, I won't make any jokes in your threads any more for the new year. Good luck on your repairs. FSB looksblike a real pain

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I made jokes about his chrome fetish and he got mad, then wanted me moderated. Very sensitive in those pajamas and and hot coco
Dont worry bobby, I have my own money, dont have to ask wife for permission and safes are over flowing. No chromed A-Team rifles, but I wouldn't say no. Hell 200 is too much anyways.

Let the negative vibes go, I won't make any jokes in your threads any more for the new year. Good luck on your repairs. FSB looksblike a real pain

Just

Go

Away

[OniKoroshi]

Freeze the front of the barrel with the computer compressed air (flip can upside down if needed) and heat up the FSB in the oven and hopefully that's enough to make it fit. Love taps with brass hammer of course.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Thanks Oni, will give that a shot.

[Regula]

Are you using a replacement wood handguard made of wood? I found with mine that the wood compared with other original ones was too long and needed to be fitted. I would find another SKS handguard in your collection that does fit and take the two and compare them. I nearly had to cut and make mine an with of an inch shorter to work. I used a box cutter and rolled the sharp part across so that the line was straight and repeated this until I cut down enough to then start twiddling from the top. Clean pieces will flake off and then repeated it until it fit. I think the replacement wood hand guards sometimes are too thick and should have a gap between them and the handguard caps.
Quick fix really...did an amazing job on 3 of mine and the caps are flush with the wood.
Hope this helps.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Are you using a replacement wood handguard made of wood? I found with mine that the wood compared with other original ones was too long and needed to be fitted. I would find another SKS handguard in your collection that does fit and take the two and compare them. I nearly had to cut and make mine an with of an inch shorter to work. I used a box cutter and rolled the sharp part across so that the line was straight and repeated this until I cut down enough to then start twiddling from the top. Clean pieces will flake off and then repeated it until it fit. I think the replacement wood hand guards sometimes are too thick and should have a gap between them and the handguard caps.
Quick fix really...did an amazing job on 3 of mine and the caps are flush with the wood.
Hope this helps.

Definitely helps, will do that. As SVT mentioned above, the wood replacement handguard is just too long and has to be trimmed a bit. Thank you.

[knucklehead0202]

I'm not a pro but I've had to do a bunch of little stuff to some projects. if you run out of options, hit me up and I'd be glad to help. again, I don't have the best of skill or equipment, but I do have patience and stubbornness, which has gotten me through some scrapes...

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I want to again thank everyone for the great tips. I am going to exhaust all solutions myself prior to sending it out. This is why the C&R thread is the best kept secret on CG.

As I was lamenting this project, I received a little divine inspiration in the mail. As much of an SKS collector I am, I have strayed to other interests recently, such as Mausers and Garands. But this whim purchase I made on GB brought me back to where I started with much love for the Simonov.

All the things I look for in an SKS
100% matching metal parts (Stock is tastefully force matched)
Perfect bore and all inside parts show minimal wear
No droopy bayonet
No stock repairs or cracks
The mottled stock color
1954 Production (I did not have anything in that year)

Here are some pictures: