Yet another Sks Question

[S&W657]

Opinion really... I recently seen a supposed Vietnam bring-back, at a local gun show. It Did Not have papers, but they were only asking $400. The stock condition looked appropriate, above average finish wear ( also appropriate), blade bayonet-Sino Soviet. There was pitting but no rust. Other than no import marks, what else should I look for. Is there an exclusive receiver mark or anything else? I currently own 2 Russian, 1 Yugo, and 4 chinese, so I'm no "noob", but i'm no expert either. I'm familiar with Yooper John (love the site), but just looking for more input and/or experience driven opinions.

 

[rule303]

There really isn't any way to positively identify a bring back without capture papers. Be wary, there has been a batch of really well used early feature Chinese SKS's on the market lately. I have seen several of them advertised as "bring backs" at gun shows, but you could see where the import mark had been partially removed from the side of the barrel. Long story short- buy the gun, not the story (unless documented).

 

[Mayvik]

Generally speaking no papers = not a bringback. No way for you to prove it as "third" owner and so on..

 

[1911 guy]

Bingo. No papers, no war stories.

Just as an example how these "bring backs" come up with no paperwork. Grandpa buys a Luger in 1980 something, tells Grandma it's like the ones the Germans used in WWII. When the Grandpa dies in 2014, Grandma tells Aunt Mabel it's a WWII German Luger. Aunt Mabel knows her Father, aforementioned Grandpa, served in Europe in WWII. therefore, he must have brought it home with him. And she's upset when folks say "no papers, no war trophies".

And some other people are just liars trying to make an extra dollar.