SKS C&R Status
dfletcher
Member Posts: 8,178 ✭✭✭
For no particular reason, am looking at buying an SKS. I have a C&R license, hitting a few gun shows and stores, would like to do the "cash & carry" with my license.
I don't know much about the SKS re C&R status. In similar fashion as with Smiths - all "5 screws" are C&R eligible or Colt New Service are +50 years old, Winchester 94s "pre-64" and such. Is there any such thing as "all Yugo SKS" are eligible, Type 56 are" etc?
Getting pushback re C&R FFL use sometimes happens, so I like making it clear and clean that I know what I'm talking about when it comes to eligibility. Had to recently do alot of convincing that a Ruger Flat Top qualified, I want to be sure that a) what I'm buying qualifies and b) can speak clearly about status if needed.
Comments
Going to a brick and mortar gun shop with a C & R is a hit or miss with the owners. An FFL-1 usually will not take them now as the ATF people are looking for any minor mistake on the buyer forms, and will cancel, suspend an FFL license for a minor mistake. That would take a gun store out of business and they will not chance it. My auction house will not take my C & R, they don't know exactly what is or isn't eligible, so they defer to the long form, they don't want to lose their license over an improper gun sale. I don't blame them, this is their livelihood, but I do see many will take them here at Gun Broker on their listings. But the good news is you will get cleared quicker with a C & R when they call it in.
This is a gray area. ATF makes a decision about each shipment; if suitable for "sporting purposes" or if a shipment has "historic interest", they are more likely to approve it. Unfortunately in most cases there is no federal paperwork to go with each rifle.
Chicom SKS's are mostly NOT C&R. Commercial versions may still be in production. One batch of mutilated Chicom's was so badly abused ATF approved their sale as C&R valid, based on probable use in combat; Aim Surplus may have given buyers paperwork.
All Yugo SKS's are considered valid for C&R, as long as they are unaltered. Remove the bayonet or anything else, no longer C&R.
All Russian SKS's are C&R if unaltered.
All Albanian SKS's are C&R if unaltered.
There are several other variants, most hard to find.
When you consider how easy it is to "alter" a firearm so that it is no longer C&R, I guess some sellers are just not going to take a chance.
Neal
At today's price, pass.