Russian SKS45 ID/FAQ collectibles

[rightcoast]

I have no idea why Cabelas put that description up there...mine, and after checking with people here who have them ,none have a date on them...Canadian importers, last I checked, are not required to stamp a dated code on guns, but having said that, it has been a long time since I checked LOL!

Again, thanks so much for ll the feedback. I appreciated it. And I have decided to just leave it alone :~) When I bought it, it was with the intention to just leave it in the box as a collector.

[VinnAY]

wow...that's more than you could ever want to know about the SKS45...WELL DONE!

[Glynn863]

Thanks for the interesting thread. I have a late 1952 model I acquired from a friend in 1996. He bought it in the parking lot of a pawn shop for $200 after the shop tried to low ball the original owner, and I got it from him the next day for the same price. It has all matching numbers, and apparently went through a light refurb / overhaul. All metal finishes appear original. The hand guard appears to be original birch and the stock is laminated. On the right side, the stock has the stamped box with diagonal line about 2 inches above the butt plate. On the left side, it has the serial number about 2 inches above the butt plate, a small diamond with a number 7 inside it just below the wrist of the stock, and a small circle with a Cyrillic B inside it just ahead of the hand groove. The barrel has the importer stamp CAI ST ALB VT upside down on the right side above the bayonet, and just below that, right side up, partially unreadable appears to be TULA 39 RUSSIA. The gas tube is electro-penciled.

[mr_jonny]

looking for help on my 1953 sks . after the serial number on the receiever it has a date stamped on it . ( I think) Any ideas none of the other rifles i have bought from that supplier have the marks. thanks in advance

[mr_jonny]

I have figured it out now ( best guess) Romanian rebuilt 53 Tula

[SilverStallion05]

Great post! I recently purchased a Russian SKS that someone put a Norinco top cover (with rail and scope) on. I do not have the original top cover, so this post really helped me date the rifle, as well as find out some other helpful information. However, without the original top cover, how can I find out what arsenal it's from? Is there a mark anywhere else on the rifle that I may be overlooking or cannot find? Thanks!

[kc9aop@]

So what is the deal with painting the bolt and barrel black? Does it have an impact on the value of the gun? I have a 1950 Tula I just picked up and the carrier, barrel and gas tube are obviously painted and the bolt is blued. The referb mark is clearly stamped on the receiver and I believe the barrel is chrome plated (I'm a bit of a newb) because it is very bright and clean. I do want to shoot it but l also don't want to devalue it either.

Also, in general, will touching up the bluing on a milsurp have a negative impact on the value? I'm not talking about a full strip and reblue, just some touchup where bare metal is showing.

[datastreamcom]

The visual comparisons are worth gold and provide credible, bankable details otherwise unattainable by the average collector. Great work in the subject.

I will add some of my own documentation, if only for picture-reference, author willing.

[datastreamcom]

It is what it is folks. Despite showing some refurb marks (barrel, rear sight, blade), the top cover is not stamped as a refurb.
Attachment 79492Attachment 79493Attachment 79494Attachment 79495Attachment 79496Attachment 79497Attachment 79498Attachment 79499Attachment 79500Attachment 79501
Attachment 79507Attachment 79508

The stock appears to have the 1st GRAU Arsenal at Balaklaya on the right side (unusual) and one-time force match on the left side.
Attachment 79509Attachment 79510

I'm seeing a 'K' in a circle, an '(X)', and several /1\ or /9\ in different places.

The bolt is especially storied...
Attachment 79502Attachment 79503Attachment 79504Attachment 79505Attachment 79506

Comment thoughts or insights. Thanks

[Boris Badinov]

Looks like a great acquisition.

Can you post some full length photos? And a photo of the trigger group internals?

A few things to consider:
The Soviets weren't very consistent with the top cover refurb stamps on the SKS-45. Also, it isn't uncommon to find top-cover dates that do not match the date specific features of the rifle. And it isnt uncommon to find the [/] stamp on the right side of the stock. As already noted, stamp consistency was somewhat lacking and often imprecise -- and seemingly less so in both regards in the final years of Soviet SKS45 production.

If it is an actual 1951 carbine it will have a 45degree gas port (swithched to curved gas port in mid 1952).

Several features suggest that this carbine may have been through several refurbs: The stamp laden bolt (always intriguing the more stamps that appear IMO), the late style laminate stock which wasn't statndardized until late 1955 or early 1956, and the slight differences in the serial number fonts. For font comparison use the receiver stamp as the base point and compare all the others to it. The Cyrillic characters differ in width and style. As well as slight to more obvious differences in the numeral fonts.




Middle gas port is 1951 appropriate:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P1090961-1.jpg

I just took my 1952-53 Soviet Sneak to the range last weekend. In 20degree weather it shot consistent 4-5' groups out to 75yards.

Post some full length pics when you can.

Nice get!

Boris