Zastava M59/66 SKS 7.62x39, 22 in Barrel, 1971 Yugoslav Variant, Semi-Auto, Mixed Serials, Custom Ported Muzzle Brake
This 1971 Zastava M59/66 is a Yugoslav SKS-variant chambered in 7.62x39 with its distinctive grenade-sight hardware and manual gas shut-off. It has mixed serial numbers—receiver, bolt, stock, and dust cover match, while the bolt carrier and trigger guard do not—along with a clean, mirror-bright bore, and a custom ported cylindrical muzzle brake installed in place of the original 22 mm spigot. With milled-steel construction, wood furniture, and intact variant-specific features, it is a well-kept example of the M59/66 platform.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: There are minor scratches and blemishes. Cosmoline buildup is present in some areas.
What's Included
- Zastava M59/66 rifle (7.62x39)
- Installed ported cylindrical muzzle brake (replacement for original 22 mm launcher spigot)
- Folding blade bayonet
Built by Zastava in Yugoslavia, the M59/66 is the Yugoslav take on the SKS pattern, identifiable by its right-side flip-up grenade ladder sight and a manual gas shut-off integrated into the short-stroke gas system. This example retains the variant-specific hardware and the milled-steel receiver construction associated with these rifles.
The rifle is configured with a 22 in barrel and a fixed, hinged 10-round internal box magazine. Its semi-automatic operation uses a short-stroke gas piston, and the manual gas shut-off is present as designed. A custom ported cylindrical muzzle brake has been installed as a non-standard replacement for the original 22 mm spigot.
Sighting equipment includes a protected front post and a tangent rear sight leaf graduated 1–10, plus the right-side flip-up grenade ladder sight. Wood furniture includes a ventilated upper handguard and a lower handguard with a grasping groove, along with a hardwood stock featuring a side sling loop and a black rubber buttpad.
Markings include MDL 59/66 7.62x39 import text on the gas tube/barrel area (partially legible) and a left-receiver stamped code "S-103 100" (partially legible). The rifle dates to the 1970s era with a 1971 manufacture year. Serial status: receiver, bolt, stock, and dust cover match (H-272953/272953); the bolt carrier is stamped 0-00022 (non-matching), and the trigger guard is hand-scribed 272955 (non-matching). Length of pull measures 12.5 in, and the metal finish presents as blued/phosphate.