Author Topic: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!  (Read 95193 times)

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PAP

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Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« on: February 28, 2007, 03:16:43 PM »
In response to this topic, I chose to start new one so everyone can see, and hopefully remember for future references.

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=25410.0


Here is the skinny on chrome lined barrels in Yugo weapons including of course sks.
I wrote to Mr.Branko Bogdanovic , asking him what was the reason why Yugo sks were chromeless.
For those that don’t know who he is, Branko is THE leading authority on all Yugoslavian weapons, and also Kragujevac factory historian. Of course, Kragujevac is the one and only Yugo factory that produced small arms in Yugo.
His response:

The technology for producing chrome and nickel existed in Slovenia’s steel mills ( one of the former Yugo republics, now independent state) in 1950.
But, technology of actually applying hard chrome in barrels, began after1970 in Kragujevac factory.
First chrome barrels were produced in M70 automatic rifles ( Yugo Kalashnikovs), and Yugo automatic pistols Skorpion 7.62 mm M84 ( Czech scorpion M61)

So, in short, Yugo had/has plenty of chrome, the know how just came late, after 1970.
It has nothing to do with Russians, cost prohibitive, or else.
My correspondence with Branko was in Yugo language, I did my best to translate.
I hope you find this interesting
Best regards

Dan

« Last Edit: February 28, 2007, 03:46:38 PM by 1952Sniper »

1952Sniper

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2007, 03:46:05 PM »
I know we already have too many sticky posts in this forum, but I'm going to tack this one up to the top for future reference.  Nice work, PAP!  Maybe this will help alleviate some of the bad rumors out there.

Tony C.

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2007, 03:51:17 PM »
well, this just raises another question - why didn't they want to chrome-line the barrels?  the technology is not rocket science, and was well within their grasp to either obtain or develop. 

if they wanted to do it, they would have.

huh.

BillyBang

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2007, 07:05:33 PM »
Yeah,
Nice work PAP.
I'm glad we finally got that one from the horses mouth.

well, this just raises another question - why didn't they want to chrome-line the barrels?  the technology is not rocket science, and was well within their grasp to either obtain or develop. 
if they wanted to do it, they would have.
huh.

I don't know that this was an issue whether they wanted to or not,
as much as it was whether they thought it was necessary or worth it.
Regimes and governments, no matter how backward they are, have people that decide what
money gets spent on and what doesn't.
That part of the world was pretty volatile politically and I'm sure that decisions were made
with things on their mind like possible military coupes, the Red Army and maybe even the person
next to them.
They had to look good to their superiors, so while we don't know the exact reason they
let the chrome issue slip through, it probably didn't seem as important as other things they
had to worry about then.

BB


Americans love solutions to nonexistent problems. --- Danjal

Cosmo

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2007, 12:57:19 AM »
I had my doubts about "Yugoslavia has no natural chrome deposits" story simply because the bayonet and gas tube piston sure seem to be made of some sort of chrome alloy.

Of course it may have been possible for them to have imported the bayonets and gas tube pistons; but even if that was the case, what would prevent them from importing the chrome from the same country making those parts?

Thanks for the info. PAP.  :thumbup:




1952Sniper

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2007, 08:28:47 AM »
Quote
I don't know that this was an issue whether they wanted to or not,
as much as it was whether they thought it was necessary or worth it.
That is my thought as well.  They had been producing Mausers and other firearms for a long time without chrome bores, and perhaps they figured it wasn't worth the additional labor, time, and cost.  Their army was used to shooting corrosive ammo in non-chrome bores already.

Dieter

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2007, 02:44:43 AM »
Other than the corrosion advantages with chromed bores and that they might be easier to clean, in a well-maintained rifle, does the chromed bore really amount to much? Do the chromed ones wear better with bi-metal jacketed bullets??

GTwannabe

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2007, 02:47:24 PM »
By the time Yugoslavia started chroming barrels, the 59/66 was long obsolete and relegated to export/stockpiling.  Also, replacing corroded barrels likely provided some of the busywork necessary in a Communist state.   

cvasqu03

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2007, 04:13:25 PM »
Great, now people can finally stop arguing about the "black chrome" that's supposedly in their Yugos.
I am the one they call Cesar.

pex

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #9 on: September 08, 2007, 08:21:42 PM »
Send this guy to Wikipedia.  The article still thinks it's a chromium deposits issue.

bch7773

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2007, 12:24:59 AM »
Send this guy to Wikipedia.  The article still thinks it's a chromium deposits issue.

edit the article yourself.  thats the purpose of wikipedia
guns be funs

RussianRedneck

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2007, 01:59:39 PM »
he is lying. the real reason was covered up. in 1955 space robots invaded yugoslavia and they demanded all of their chrome for energy. the cia has been covering up that for years.
I'm thinkin' you weren't burdened with an overabundance of schooling, so why don't we just ignore each other 'til we go away?

pex

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2007, 04:21:18 PM »
Send this guy to Wikipedia.  The article still thinks it's a chromium deposits issue.

edit the article yourself.  thats the purpose of wikipedia

The purpose of Wikipedia is not to be a free-for-all do-as-you-will edit-thon-a-pedia.  I didn't talk to this guy, so it's all really second-hand to me.  I could cite this thread as my source, but I think that would be something BETTER handled by PAP or Branko Bogdanovic.

crackshot

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2007, 03:11:46 PM »
Great, now people can finally stop arguing about the "black chrome" that's supposedly in their Yugos.

Mine has "black chrome" lining in my barrel. I know this because its mine!  :lol:

mailman

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Re: Yugo SKS "chrome barrels"..mystery solved!
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2007, 01:10:02 PM »
I asked this very same question to a gunshow vendor who was selling several Yugo SKS rifles.  His response was that the steel in Yugo barrels is much better quality than the steel in Chinese barrels.  Never was able to confirm that.