Yugo M48 Production Year?

[RevengeRoman]

I recently purchased a Yugo M48 serialized "A 21641" and I'm trying to figure out what year of production (approximately) it was made in. I realize that Yugo M48's were not serialized in such a way that that it is possible to 100% know which year it was manufactured at least from what I've read but I'm fairly new to Milsurp collecting so I'm hoping someone with a little more knowledge on the subject can shed some light for me.

Pictures can be provided on request.

Thanks in advance everyone!

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[RevengeRoman]

http://imgur.com/a/46FWyNp

[Aragorn243]

https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...Crvena-Zastava)

I guess your first step is determining if it is an M48 an M48A or an M48B That should at least give you a three year range.

[RevengeRoman]

https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...Crvena-Zastava)

I guess your first step is determining if it is an M48 an M48A or an M48B That should at least give you a three year range.

I'm fairly certain I am looking at an M48A, because the floor plate seems to be stamped, not milled. If it is an M48A then the serial number would put it somewhere in the middle of the 1950 production run right?

[Jim]

If a first model M48, it would have been made in 1950. If a later model, there is simply no way to tell by serial #. As another member said, narrowing it down to a range of years by variant is the best you can hope for.
First model M48- 1950-52...
M48A- 1952-56
M48B and M48bo From 1956.

There were orders of rifles devoid of markings, bo for "bez oznake"- "unmarked" or "w/out markings" prior to 1956 that were off the shelf rifles that were scrubbed and refinished. From 1956 on, the M48 Mauser was considered an export item and the "bo" model was a dedicated production model concurrant with the nationally marked M48B (still marked as M48A).

Probably NOT an M48A. Made from 1952-56 the only change from the first model was the magazine floor plate. In almost 20 years of collecting Yugoslav Mausers I have never seen a verifiable M48A. What I have learned is that the Serbians consider the M48A rifles as being the best of the M48 series so they are holding back theirs as the ultimate last ditch rifles.

The models A & B can be differentiated best by examining the trigger-guard/magazine well. In the model A it will be machined from one piece of steel just as was the 1st model. The model B, started in 1956, will have a trigger-guard/mag well assembled of stamped and welded parts. It is most easily identified w/out ***'y by a rib running around both sides of the trigger-guard.
The situation is complicated by the fact that on many of the M48s that major part is not serialized. You just have to look for other stamped parts on the rifle which would not be there on either of the models previous to the model B.
I hope that helps clear it up.
See pics below.
Attachment 97087 Attachment 97088 Attachment 97089