Selecting the Perfect Russian SKS

[Woodbeef]

you're over analyzing this . they are also capable in welding a rod to a follower arm.

I don't know now MMattockx,might just be on to something there. Any trained monkey can do the frankenpinning job,heck even I probably could. But the way invented at Epps takes a bit of welding knowledge,and ability. Easier to drop something in the bottom of a container and weld it in,then to weld a pin in a certain part of a follower that is smaller than the pin.

 

[easyrider604]

From an aesthetic point of view, welding on the outside of the magazine detracts from its appearance.

From a functional point of view, welding a pin to the bottom of the magazine follower may or may not weaken the follower arm, depending on the quality of the weld. Granted the arm does not carry much load, but a failure of this arm may render the magazine incapable of loading a fresh round.

So from a collector's perspective, the latter could be more desirable.
As a shooter, I prefer the former. A welded magazine box will not compromise the magazine's reliability.