I recently cam across Fiddleback knives and I have to say I really like what I see. Beautiful but a very fictional working tool style, exactly what I like. I am new to the knife thing but I have been around firearms for a while. I have to suggest that you keep an open mind about the Yugo. They didnt have access to the mineral deposits to produce the chrome bores. But many of the Yugos I see are coming in never fired. The bores look new. The modern 7.62x39 is non corrosive and the bores should hold up well. The Yugo is really over built, the guns are built to last along time. One thing that I really like is that these guns are 100% milspec military production. They are not made for export like a lot of other SKS are. I know that many of the made for export SKSs are made on military tooling, but I still dont trust that the standards are the same. Anyway, I am strange like that and like true military surplus items.
Even though I like the 100%militery stuff I still am not above modifying it for my use. This is a Yugo that I picked up years ago and built up as a carbine. Most of the work went into reshaping and finishing the wood. I removed a LOT of wood to get a much thinner, lighter better contoured feel. It used to feel like you were holding a 2x4. Now it has some nice curves to it. I actually removed too much up top behind the rear of the receiver. You can see the sharp edges of the receiver showing a little in the pictures. I also removed all of the bayonet, grenade launcher and other stuff. I then cut a few inches off of the barrel and cut a new crown in a lathe. My friend cleaned up the trigger and put some Wolf springs in the trigger giving it a nice feel. Overall it is a great little carbine. It is about just what I wanted. I am sure you could do much better work than I did. But this gives you an idea of what can be done.
PS I was very exited to see that you are near Atlanta. I am just south of Atlanta and would really like to see some of your work in person if possible.
Even though I like the 100%militery stuff I still am not above modifying it for my use. This is a Yugo that I picked up years ago and built up as a carbine. Most of the work went into reshaping and finishing the wood. I removed a LOT of wood to get a much thinner, lighter better contoured feel. It used to feel like you were holding a 2x4. Now it has some nice curves to it. I actually removed too much up top behind the rear of the receiver. You can see the sharp edges of the receiver showing a little in the pictures. I also removed all of the bayonet, grenade launcher and other stuff. I then cut a few inches off of the barrel and cut a new crown in a lathe. My friend cleaned up the trigger and put some Wolf springs in the trigger giving it a nice feel. Overall it is a great little carbine. It is about just what I wanted. I am sure you could do much better work than I did. But this gives you an idea of what can be done.
PS I was very exited to see that you are near Atlanta. I am just south of Atlanta and would really like to see some of your work in person if possible.
