Oh my word...

I just ordered one from tenda curious of the condition of the apparent " super grade hand selects " :p... Either way everything on the market seems to look like crap so I may aswell pay less for a project.
 
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That is the question! I'm restraining myself now from buying a cheap corrosive x39 for $275-285 per crate waiting for that announcement from CanAm! When is it going to happen!?

They posted recently that their is no ETA. In the mean time tenda has crates for 279$ for 1500.
 
They posted recently that their is no ETA. In the mean time tenda has crates for 279$ for 1500.
That's what they are here too!
I think we have to remember that these are surplus firearms, and that although there are some very nice copies around, generally they will show some wear or ( interesting ways of refurb) which I like for the most part! The coating everyone seems to call BBQ paint is I think Russia's first attempts at Parkerizing and all but one that I have seen is a very tough coating! The one, was the bolt cover that had obviously been painted with a shot can! Some coatings are smooth and some have a rough texture, similar to what we get from factory jobs and aftermarket coatings! Also some folks say the bolts are painted black to cover rust spots or blemish. I have not seen that, of the black bolts I encountered, the coating does peel off them quickly sometimes and the ones I have stripped have basically a new bolt( extractor and all) so I think it is a rust inhibitor for storage or something! I bought 5 izzys with 3 having black bolt! All look new, the carriers were new for sure and taking them apart the trigger group had been completely rebuilt, with new springs and some parts, absolutely fantastic condition! What better place to try out new firearms coatings than in refurb factories for SKS!
I do like the blued barrels for sure, especially when you get those rich dark ones! I got 2 a couple years ago, with black bayo's , the bayo's and all the metal was the best I have ever seen, refurbs obviously but this factory took their time and did an awesome job! They were both 57's.
 
That's what they are here too!
I think we have to remember that these are surplus firearms, and that although there are some very nice copies around, generally they will show some wear or ( interesting ways of refurb) which I like for the most part! The coating everyone seems to call BBQ paint is I think Russia's first attempts at Parkerizing and all but one that I have seen is a very tough coating! The one, was the bolt cover that had obviously been painted with a shot can! Some coatings are smooth and some have a rough texture, similar to what we get from factory jobs and aftermarket coatings! Also some folks say the bolts are painted black to cover rust spots or blemish. I have not seen that, of the black bolts I encountered, the coating does peel off them quickly sometimes and the ones I have stripped have basically a new bolt( extractor and all) so I think it is a rust inhibitor for storage or something! I bought 5 izzys with 3 having black bolt! All look new, the carriers were new for sure and taking them apart the trigger group had been completely rebuilt, with new springs and some parts, absolutely fantastic condition! What better place to try out new firearms coatings than in refurb factories for SKS!
I do like the blued barrels for sure, especially when you get those rich dark ones! I got 2 a couple years ago, with black bayo's , the bayo's and all the metal was the best I have ever seen, refurbs obviously but this factory took their time and did an awesome job! They were both 57's.

I sold about 8 refurbs for cheap as hell because I started to run into various issues from slight intolerances for parts fitting, finnish wearing early and occasionally a few that just cant shoot due to barrel damage.

2 of them I bought from a sponsor the parts were not even on the gun when I got it, I went to put them on and none would fit right. I had to bust the file out. :bangHead: Its really hit and miss. I have got some amazing refurbs tho, Also some really bad ones that were unusable once they arrived.

Since this all I keep in my collection are the stamped matching, blued, silver bolt sks. Just bad luck maybe for me.


Edit---- I am picking up one more from tenda to see how these fair me ( I presume it will be refurbed heavy ) Is going to be my Bubba sks tho.
 
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I sold about 8 refurbs for cheap as hell because I started to run into various issues from slight intolerances for parts fitting, finnish wearing early and occasionally a few that just cant shoot due to barrel damage.

2 of them I bought from a sponsor the parts were not even on the gun when I got it, I went to put them on and none would fit right. I had to bust the file out. :bangHead: Its really hit and miss. I have got some amazing refurbs tho, Also some really bad ones that were unusable once they arrived.

Since this all I keep in my collection are the stamped matching, blued, silver bolt sks. Just bad luck maybe for me.


Edit---- I am picking up one more from tenda to see how these fair me ( I presume it will be refurbed heavy ) Is going to be my Bubba sks tho.
Wow, where did you buy them, that's nasty, of all the ones I have seen in this area, 1 would not cycle properly ( at the store) it likely just needed cleaning but I told the clerk not to sell to anyone until they figure out what exactly was the problem. Sorry to hear that, strange that it would be apart when you got it too!
 
I got one in an ammo package deal that was unusable due to a badly rusted sear. I was able to file/stone it to useable but just last weekend after less than 200 rounds a piece has chipped off the sear so when this Postie business is sorted it's getting parted out, sear is going in the garbage bin.
 
I got one in an ammo package deal that was unusable due to a badly rusted sear. I was able to file/stone it to useable but just last weekend after less than 200 rounds a piece has chipped off the sear so when this Postie business is sorted it's getting parted out, sear is going in the garbage bin.

This ^^ is one of the great things about the SKS! He is going to be able to get more money from parting it out than he spent on buying it and all
the parts should be useable with any other Russian SKS.:d
 
I got one in an ammo package deal that was unusable due to a badly rusted sear. I was able to file/stone it to useable but just last weekend after less than 200 rounds a piece has chipped off the sear so when this Postie business is sorted it's getting parted out, sear is going in the garbage bin.
Where did you get it, and why didn't you send it back! Sears are cheap!
 
Where did you get it, and why didn't you send it back! Sears are cheap!

Ordered the ammo package expecting a beater, which is what I wanted. Something to chew through cases and throw away. You take your chances on unseen surplus. The sear looked salvageable but I guess the rust went deeper than I could see when I worked it. A new sear is $25 plus another $20 in shipping and tax so, as Robert pointed out, parts sell.
 
So far any sks is a good sks in my experience. Not much to worry about other than rust on the springs and an ugly stock, all of which are easily remedied. Long as you got good springs the thing will not let you down.
 
Wow, where did you buy them, that's nasty, of all the ones I have seen in this area, 1 would not cycle properly ( at the store) it likely just needed cleaning but I told the clerk not to sell to anyone until they figure out what exactly was the problem. Sorry to hear that, strange that it would be apart when you got it too!

Its was a "package NON corrosive and sks deal", That should narrow it down to one retailer :p To be fair, I only paid 399.99 for all the combos so I figured thats what I was to be expected. Just thinking their are refurbs like that out their tho make the cringe. Im sure lots would flog em off at full retail and thats the big issues.

So thats my experience... Got one from tenda coming so maybe my opinion will change? Or maybe not...

I don't blame retailers, I blame importers.
 
Its was a "package NON corrosive and sks deal", That should narrow it down to one retailer :p To be fair, I only paid 399.99 for all the combos so I figured thats what I was to be expected. Just thinking their are refurbs like that out their tho make the cringe. Im sure lots would flog em off at full retail and thats the big issues.

So thats my experience... Got one from tenda coming so maybe my opinion will change? Or maybe not...

I don't blame retailers, I blame importers.
Well I wouldn't be so gracious, unless they advertised a substandard, non shootable rifle then you were short changed! If the stock was rough or some external light rust spots ok but a rifle that can't be safely shot is completely unacceptable.
 
Still have not seen any movement on the order. Emailed them about the possible strike and have not heard from them.

So far I am not impressed with Tenda considering all the good reviews of their speedy service.

They are on the other side of the lake and it should only be a one day delivery if they ever get to the post office.
 
You ordered on a Friday night of a long weekend it's only Tuesday, they are probably trying to figure the best way to get it to you! Lockout starts in 2 days!
 
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