This Yugoslav M59/66 SKS is new old stock, still packed in its original cosmoline. It is chambered in 7.62×39 and carries serial N-5346xx, and all numbers are matching. The import mark on the barrel reads "M59/66 YUGOSLAVIA 7.62 X 39". The bore is a mirror. It retains its grenade launcher spigot, folding grenade sight, folding blade bayonet and cleaning rod. The metal wears a heavy coat of old cosmoline and lacquer, with a gold-brown varnish on the receiver cover and bolt carrier and traces of green paint on the gas tube. The reddish-brown stock shows dings and scratches, and the handguard is a lighter shade. NOT SAFE TO FIRE before the cosmoline is cleaned out.
The M59/66 is Yugoslavia's version of the Soviet SKS, built by Zastava. Its predecessor, the M59, closely followed late Soviet carbines but without a chrome-lined barrel. In 1966 the design gained an integral spigot for firing 22mm rifle grenades, which also serves as a muzzle brake, along with a folding ladder sight that doubles as a gas shutoff and a bayonet of Yugoslav design to clear the new front sight mount. M59/66 production lasted from 1966 until 1970; later rifles fitted with flip-up night sights were designated M59/66A1, and Zastava built 132,081 of the two models for the Yugoslav People's Army between 1966 and 1971. This example has the standard M59/66 sights. The rifle is a gas-operated semi-automatic with a fixed ten-round magazine and iron sights graduated from 100 to 1,000 meters.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Zastava
Country of origin: Yugoslavia
Model: M59/66
Action: Gas-operated semi-automatic
Caliber: 7.62×39
Serial: N-5346xx
Matching: All numbers matching
Condition: New old stock, still packed in cosmoline; not safe to fire before the cosmoline is cleaned out
Stock: Reddish-brown wood with dings and scratches; lighter handguard
Finish: Heavy coat of old cosmoline and lacquer; varnish on receiver cover and bolt carrier; traces of green paint on gas tube
Bore: Mirror bore
Muzzle: Integral 22mm grenade launcher spigot
Sights: Hooded front sight with folding grenade sight, tangent rear sight
Features: Folding blade bayonet, cleaning rod
