Age of "unissued" Yugo SKS

[TimRB]

Recently we were awash in unissued Yugo SKSs but the supply had dried up until this summer, when more are expected from Serbia. These can be made legal for sale in California by replacing the grenade launcher with a muzzle brake. However, to be C&R eligible, *in California* they must also be 50 years old in spite of the fact that they are specifically listed as C&Rs on the federal list.

If anyone here bought one of the Yugos, how old was it? I am trying to figure out if I should put myself on the waiting list for one of the new ones.

Tim

 

[R.H. Lee]

I bought one a month ago. The serial no. prefix was "I", indicating a 1972 date of manufacture. It was imported by C.A.I., and has a new barrel and operating rod/gas piston.

 

[ocabj]

SKS rifles made on or before 1954 are few to non-existent. Most SKS rifles were made in the late 50s on up.

FYI: Altering a C&R rifle from it's original configuration will cause it to lose it's C&R status. Thus, a modified Yugo 59/66 with the grenade launcher removed does not qualify as a C&R.

 

[rbernie]

Altering a C&R rifle from it's original configuration will cause it to lose it's C&R status. Thus, a modified Yugo 59/66 with the grenade launcher removed does not qualify as a C&R.

This does not seem to be a universal truth. There has been talk on some of the SKS boards regarding a finding from the ATF that suggested that 'the bayonet and grenade launcher may be removed for shooting purposes without affecting the C&R classification of the firearm'.

While this site seems to have a very complete synopsis of the SKS history and legalities of ownership and modification (not addressing the recent possible changes in ATF positions regarding C&R status), the best advice always seems to be to write the ATF and ask them for to provide a specific finding vis-a-vis the specific rifle and proposed modifications that you wish to make.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Firearms Technology Branch
650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW—Room 6450
Washington, DC 20226

 

[railroader]

On buying with a C&R try here: http://www.interordnance.com/ Mark

 

[Abakan]

is there a list with the prefix to year of manufacture? I got a "J"

 

[R.H. Lee]

is there a list with the prefix to year of manufacture? I got a "J"

"J" would be 1973. There is a list, but I can't find it now-I'm at work and blocked from 'weapons' sites. I'll find and post it when I get home.

 

[TimRB]

I'm beginning to get the impression that I simply cannot get a Yugo SKS in California using my C&R. That's too bad, because there are scads of them around and they are cheap right now. So on to the next question:

Does anyone know where I can buy a NON-Yugo SKS that is 50 years old? I am looking for a shooter, so any true collectors' rifles are likely to be more than I want to spend. None of the usual places seems to have anything but Yugos.

Tim

 

[G.I.Jew]

Almost all Russian SKS's are more than 50 years old. They were mass produced from 1949 to 1955 I think. The Romanians might also be 50 years old, too, but im not sure.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I got 2 J's and 1 K Yugo's last month from SOG.

 

[sachsr1]

This site says 1967 till 1970 on the Yugo's

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/index.asp

 

[Marko Kloos]

Odd. My I-series Yugo was made in 1971, according to the technical logbook that came with it. The log is serial-numbered to the gun, so I tend to believe what it says.

 

[cwalker3]

According to this site: http://users.cableaz.com/~mjbvrb/Survey Results.htm , Yugos were made from 1966 to 1989. Based on the info from this site, my three were made in 1970, 1975 and 1986.