LAUGHING MY ASS OFF! [rofl]

How about U.S.A. made import restriction compliance parts for the SKS rifles?  

The background is this:  Even after (if?) the AW ban expires, people won't be able to LEGALLY use detachable magazines, handgrips or folding stocks on SKS rifles because installing those on existing SKS's will constitute "assembly" of a rifle from more than 10 imported parts.

On AK-47 type rifles, impoters like Century etc., have dealt with this by machining a number of US Made replacement parts for some of the items that are "counted" toward the 10 or less total.

On the SKS, no one has taken on this task.  Its a truly untapped market, and I bet you could sell hundreds of "sets" of parts to achieve US Made parts compliance.  

Tapco already makes US-Made gas pistons, and of course there are already US made magazines and stocks.  So the following are the parts I'd suggest.

First, for background here is a copy of a drawing of the parts from an SKS fire control group:

[img]http://www.sksboards.com/sksinfo/SKSTrigger.jpg[/img]

Ok, now the parts:

From that diagram:

"sear"
[img]http://www.sksman.com/images/searsp.jpg[/img]


Its machined steel.  Would probably need to be hardened and tempered, although I think the original equipment part is just surface hardened not through hardened.  Probably could sell new units marked "USA" for $20 to $25 each.

"hammer"
[img]http://www.tapco.com/item_pics/md/SKS6630_md.jpg[/img]

Also machined steel, obvously would have to be well hardened but also tempered so as to avoid shattering under recoil and getting slammed around.  Quite a few machining operations would be necessary on traditional machining, but shouldn't be too difficult with a CNC machine.  I'd bet you could sell it for $20 to $25 each.


"piston extension" aka "operating rod"
[img]http://www.districorp.ca/English/SKSpistonextensionspring.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.sksman.com/images/oprodns.gif[/img]

This part lives under the rear sight.  It's smacked by the gas piston and, in turn, smacks the bolt carrier -- opening and cycling the action.  It would have to be tool steel, hardened and tempered.  But it would be an EASY lathe-produced part.  Suggested price:  $20.00.


"trigger"
[img]http://www.tapco.com/item_pics/md/SKS6631_md.jpg[/img]

From the factory, all SKS triggers are stampped steel.  But a machined one, perhaps with grooves on the front, would sell well -- and of course, its one of the "counted" parts so the "USA-MADE" thing would be improtant.  Sale price would be $15 to $18.

I figure you could charge a disounted price of $75 to for a "kit" that included the 4 parts above, and still make money.  

Ok, well lets talk some specifics.  Part of the reason I chose the above parts is that they're the most easily machined based on my review of things, and also less likely to be messed up by tolerance stack up.  Given the nature of the SKS trigger group, all parts other than the op-rod and the hammer would have to be installed by a gunsmith, and you could include disclaimer language to that effect in the packaging.

I have spares of each of these parts I could send you to help you work up the specs, and I'd be more than willing to test out any of the prototypes, etc.  With millions of SKS's out there, I think think even a minimal quantity operation could be quite a money maker.  Places like Tapco, CTD, Cabellas could be expected purchasers of the parts, and could also be enlisted in raising awareness as to the legalities that require such replacement parts.  

If the AWban sunsets, there will be a lot of people wanting to put folding stocks on SKS rifles, and USA mags will probably show up and start making those duck bill mags again;  but, must people interpret the remaining import restriction laws as making this impossible without the right number of US made parts.  I'd consider it a service to gun owners to help them avoid unconstitutional, albiet still very real, prosecution under the absurd laws.

Regards, Gonz.