Help SKS identification

I got a new SKS from a friend.... He told me it's Russia made but im not 100% sure. There is also no date stamp on it. All #'s are 100% matching. Any help figuring out the date and location made would be appreciated.... :)

I looks to be Russian. First off, the import mark usually will not lie, trust it. Second, the letters on the side in the serial number ar crylic, a Russian alphabet. The 3rd picture shows a box with a diagonal slash through it. This is the Russian stamp meaning that the wood has been replaced/refinished. A box with a straight line across it would mean metal has been refinished and it would normally be seen on the reciever ring next to the date. However, on a Russian SKS the rifle markings would be on the top cover. It looks like the top cover is blank, or void of markings. My guess is that it is infact a russian SKS that has been recently imported as a refinished surplus rifle, much like the recent nagants, but the top cover has been replaced with a non Russian top cover. Hope this helps.

-mdrim13

Thanks mdrim13.....
The top cover does have a mark on it... its really hard to see in the picture but its right in the center... to me it looks like an "N" or "Z" or maybe the box with diagonal slash and SN# on the back of the top cover does match the rest....
Any idea of what year it might be? In the last picture its hard to see but i think it says 59

---------- Post added at 09:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 PM ----------

one more question.... It came with original cleaning kit, muzzle brake, recoil pad, 20 stripper clips and 400 rounds of ammo..... The gun is in very clean condition...... Is $300 a good deal?

The top cover should be marked in a pretty obvious way. To my knowledge they all were marked in one way. Pictured below is a top cover off a Russian SKS. There is a large star above, a date, followed by a crylic letter r. The crylic letter r means year. The example below is a 1951 dateed top cover with no refinish marks. Keep in mind not all rifles got the rework stamps. Ive got a recent import Mosin-Nagant that has no such mark and it has been reworked. If it is not marked like this it might still be Russian, as I am no expert. Someone else may chime in.

mdrim13


http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...6e479cb571.jpg

---------- Post added at 11:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 PM ----------

Russian rifles like that are going for $300-350 usually. The ammo is basically free at the price you payed. Ill take 400 rounds of any ammo any day. Its a good deal.

thanks again mdrim13........

Old thread I know, but here goes.

Late model 1955 Russian SKS rifles, and those produced in 1956 had no year stamped on the recoil spring receiver cover. If it is a Russian, and the receiver cover isn't some random piece from another gun you are probably the owner of a "late 1955" or "1956" model Tula.

Russia sold the SKS production machinery to China in the mid 50s. The first Chinese SKSs were made from a mixture of Russian and Chinese parts. I have a 1951 Russian SKS marked as per post #4. Are you able to tell us what type of bayonet is fitted? Russian is SVT38 style with Mosin Nagant Carbine Style hinge. The Chinese versions I have seen have spike bayonets.

I paid £125 for my unused deactivated 1951 SKS together with a sling. $300/£200 for a live one with ammo was a good deal. I think you can do a similar deal for a Tokerev SVT 40.
People tend to forget about the SVT40 and SKS because they have been over shadowed by the AK47. The SKS is still in wide spread use for cerimonial duties becuase it is longer than an AK47.
Kind regards, Lester

The muzzle brake/flash hider and the recoil pad would be after markets parts.

Gary