If I buy a pre-ban SKS, is it legal (and relatively easy) to put on new furniture (folding stock, etc.) and convert it to accept detachable mags?  Flash hider?

Thanks.

I don't know that much about SKS's but I didn't know that there was a "pre-ban" model.  Is the person trying to sell you this rifle telling you this?  Also I think that if there is a difference between "pre-ban" vs "post-ban" that unlike American made AR's where you can easily call the company or look up pre-ban serial numbers.  With SKS's they're made by everybody throughout the world.  You'll never convince the BATF that some Chi-Com SKS made in some little factory in east flung-dung is pre-ban.  Again, I may be wrong, but I think that the guy selling you this rifle is just blowing smoke up your a$$.

I'm not going to comment on the "legal" issues but let me tell you from experience;

1) Working on an SKS project gun is loads of fun (really) but it will take time, money and a lot of mixing and matching (a Dremel tool should be accessory #1 you purchase.

2) Don't count on anything you buy through the mail actually fitting/working on YOUR gun. I have rebuilt three SKS rifles from "U-fix-ums" (2-Roms.& 1-chi.) I have worked with stocks, gas tubes, trigger groups, magazines, sights, muzzle brakes, bolts & carriers, pins, springs, slings and finishes. NOTHING will "drop-in" except the charges to your credit card.

Most of the "Evil Features" won't improve the basic soundness of the rifle anyway. Think about things like length of pull (stock), trigger work, using the charger clips, headspace, finishes and rattles.

prob with a "preban" sks is a sks being a imported rifle falls under alot of diffrent laws