My Worse CHICOM SKS purchase ever.

[usabaker]

Back in April 2020, I fell for Classic Firearms AD and sent them the money for a Chinese SKS Type 56 Rifle - Original Military Turn In Rifles. 7.62x39 Semi-Auto W /Spike Bayonet. All totaled with tax and shipping $401.77

This is the WORSE firearm I have ever purchased from an online store nowhere near worth the money. Well, I have purchased rifles in worse condition, but I knew what I was buying, and they were priced accordingly.

What Classic advertised in their AD is deceiving painting the rifles in a positive light and bending the limits of acceptable percentages.

“The same goes for the bluing, however, to a far lesser extent. We have seen some guns with excessive bluing wear, but I would say that is the exception as most of these guns are running 80% plus in the blued department, with many being closer to 100%.”

If “most” and “closer” were a fact, then the rifle I got was that exception because the blue on the SKS I received was 10% and that 10% is under the wood as most of the firearm is in the white near to no blue at all. Add that to the stock being garbage, which was expected, with names and words carved or impressed to it, the resale value of this rifle is between $200.00 and $250.00, and that is ONLY because it does have matching numbers. So the way I look at it, I took a loss of $90.00 to $140.00 on this deal and would not be able to sell the SKS for the price I bought it.

I’m so disgusted with this buy that the SKS is still in the bubble wrap and box, in its cosmoline. If the outside if this SKS is any indicator, the inside of this rifle is going to be poor.

I bought this SKS from Classic because my prior purchase of a Romanian Tokarev pistol was fantastic. It was in excellent condition and met the AD’s description.

Will I buy from Classic Firearms Again? Well, that’s the question, I don’t necessarily trust what they write in their AD’s anymore. This is one of the reasons I have not bought one of their Italian M91 Carcano Cavalry Carbine they have right now, and I’m trying not to buy another rifle I don’t need. Had I a good experience with the SKS, my guess is I would have purchased the Carcano. Fool me once shame on them, fool me twice shame on me.

I’ll clean it up once I decide if I will reblued or parkerize this rifle, gotta do something or it's going to just sit here in the cosmoline.

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[rcathey]

I have a bit of a soft spot for beat up guns like this one. Show me a Winchester model 12 worn white around the balance point and I'm in love!
This one carries a lot of appeal for me.

That said...their ad does indeed sound deceptive and I wouldn't have been happy either. I can't recall ever having purchased from Classic. I've seen a couple of their "uncrating" videos and I did not get a warm fuzzy feeling from the presenters. Couldn't tell ya why...I just dont.

[usabaker]

Show me a Winchester model 12 worn white around the balance point and I'm in love!

I'd take a Win 12 in ANY condition. But a Chinese SKS is far from a Win 12 LOL. I would not have a problem with this SKS had Classic firearms been totally upfront on the actual condition of the rifles. Palmetto State Armory was selling these rifles at the same time for near the same price, I'm sure from the same source BUT they did not sugar coat their description like Classic did. I should have known better, I fell for Classics magic smoke and mirrors. Live and learn.

[usabaker]

I guess the fact that I purchased a Chinese SKS online from another vendor at the four days earlier, was better than described in their listing and I paid only $350.00, with shipping and NO tax $380.00 out the door. It makes what Classic sent me to look even worse lol. But then I buy a lot for this vendor and trust their descriptions.

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[Singer B]

I will never purchase anything from them ever again. I purchased one of their $239 91/30's. They said it had a small amount of rust on the bolt. When it came in, it was a complete rust bucket. I'm ok with wear and tear (thats called "character" here), but rust throughout the gun was ridiculous. I sent them an email with pictures and they replied that they stood by their assessment. In have a feeling all of the good surplus has already been found and sent out. What they are getting now is the junk that failed the first 2 to 3 rounds of sales. FYI, I had that 91/30 bead blasted then painted with duracoat since I wasn't going to pay $300 to reblue a $239 gun. It turned out alright and functioned really well when it was done.
I sold it a few weeks ago for $175 which I put towards a 1934 Izhvesk with a 3-digit serial number. I'm done with Classic.

[usabaker]

They said it had a small amount of rust on the bolt. When it came in, it was a complete rust bucket. I'm ok with wear and tear (thats called "character" here), but rust throughout the gun was ridiculous. I sent them an email with pictures and they replied that they stood by their assessment. ... I had that 91/30 bead blasted then painted with duracoat since I wasn't going to pay $300 to reblue a $239 gun. It turned out alright and functioned really well when it was done. I sold it a few weeks ago for $175 which I put towards a 1934 Izhvesk with a 3-digit serial number. I'm done with Classic.

Your experience seems to be the 'NORMAL' when it comes to Classic, quite a few of their review echo what you and I have found. I once had a boss that asked me to lie about an installation we were doing on a ship and I told him that I would not lie, that if asked I would tell the truth. He told me; "Its not a lie, its an elaboration of the truth". Sounds like he might have a career at Classic should he get a job there.

I'm thinking of refinishing the rifle with a black manganese parkerizing, just don't like to fire up my parkerizing tank unless I have a bunch of things to parkerize, which I don't right now. Even though you can reuse the parkerizing solution, the results are not always optimum.

[Singer B]

Your experience seems to be the 'NORMAL' when it comes to Classic, quite a few of their review echo what you and I have found. I once had a boss that asked me to lie about an installation we were doing on a ship and I told him that I would not lie, that if asked I would tell the truth. He told me; "Its not a lie, its an elaboration of the truth". Sounds like he might have a career at Classic should he get a job there.

I'm thinking of refinishing the rifle with a black manganese parkerizing, just don't like to fire up my parkerizing tank unless I have a bunch of things to parkerize, which I don't right now. Even though you can reuse the parkerizing solution, the results are not always optimum.

Sounds like that "lemon" is going to become a "diamond." At least you know you can't make it any worse and you get to customize it any way you want.

[browningautorifle]

I’m so disgusted with this buy that the SKS is still in the bubble wrap and box, in its cosmoline. If the outside if this SKS is any indicator, the inside of this rifle is going to be poor.

Hey Bill, I going the other way with the interior...I had a vet bringback from RVN show up that looked like hammered crap but the bore and interior and all the gas affected areas were about perfect because of the chrome. I'm going to hope when you strip the grease you'll find clean sharp rifling and your park tank will return it to perfect, stock be dammed... You can get new stocking for it...

[usabaker]

I had a vet bring back from RVN show up that looked like hammered crap but the bore and interior and all the gas affected areas were about perfect because of the chrome. I'm going to hope when you strip the grease you'll find clean sharp rifling and your park tank will return it to perfect, stock b e dammed... You can get new stocking for it...

I really hope you are right, I'd love to have one I don't mind shooting a lot. Still trying to decide if parkerizing is the right route, it would look nice but something about a rust blue is just so nice why more work though.

The handguard is done but stock is salvageable less the impressed names or words whatever they are. I do find it strange that its English letters when these are supposed to me surplus Chinese Army rifles Quoting Classic Firearms "These are all very early rifles - i.e. Pre Vietnam to Early Vietnam Era rifles which probably saw use in that conflict". I did win a Chinese stock on a
Proxibid auction for 17.00 + 18% fee only bid on it because I was bidding on some US Government .22 ammo. so I guess I could use that as well

[pocketshaver]

you need to remember, classic and even jg have been pointed out for selling guns as "good to very good condition" that have split barrels, bulged barrels, split and bulged recievers when they arrive at the end customer.