Russian SKS45 ID/FAQ collectibles

[jjjxlr8]

Man! That '49 is an awesome sight. Thanks for sharing and taking time to put this thread together. Great stuff.

[sandstorm]

possible the stock was the only thing that was replaced .

So I was looking at my '53 SKS, everything checks out on your list of non-refurb stuff there, but one thing is a variation. My stock is a laminate, and its not a 56 or past. The thing is, it has the numbers that match the barrel, stock, magazine, receiver, and other parts. EVERYTHING matches for numbers, but the laminate you say is not till later. How is that?

[rightcoast]

Hello fellow SKS owners. I recently (April 2013) purchased a 1953 Tula Russian package from Cabelas Canada for $250.00 It came with the usual sling, manual, stripper clips, cleaning kit and oil bottle, in a what I'm guessing a standard "western market" cardboard box with "Russin SKS 45" and matching red hammer and sickle.

I am grasping..because of the amazing work and input from sandstorm, some of the idiosyncratic differences of this remarkable weapon. Yes there is a question in here LOL! ..

What does a refurbish stamp, on a laminate stock...the box with-diagonal line...on the right side of the shoulder piece mean? The other stock markings are the serial #.. original and stamped, not XXXX... with an 0 within a small diamond proof-mark beneath it. There was clearly some other refurbishment done, as the serial number on the gas tube, is electo-engraved not stamped. All others are stamped, and matching. There is no other signs of "typical" refurbishment from what I've researched.

Any help would be appreciated, as I would love to smooth out the finish on the stock, as it looks like most in all the pics I've seen of issue ones I've seen, but am afraid it may reduce the value...if there is any. If the consensus is that this is not a collectable, then I will make it a "pretty" shooter

[jjjxlr8]

The refurb marks are often found on the top receiver cover and sometimes on the wood stocks. Sometimes there aren't any visible at all, even though they are obviously refurbished. I have a '52 Tula SKS45 that has no refurb marks but has a laminate stock (stamped with only the rifle's serial number). It obviously had a stock replacment but appears that nothing else was changed.

The serial numbers are ep'd on the gas tubes ORIGINALLY. This is not a refurb feature.

You will most certainly hurt the re-sale value if you do any "smoothing" of the original finish. As a collector, I would not even consider buying a rifle that has been re-finished outside of a military arsenal.


These rifles have been steadily increasing in value here in the US where they are no longer imported and it would be a shame to destroy the collector value by re-finishing the stock, IMO.

[rightcoast]

Thanks so much for your prompt and informative reply. So if I read your reply correctly, if there is no refurbish stamp anywhere on the metal, and typically the receiver cover, but one on the stock, one should assume the stock was refurbished, but not the rest of the gun? I have also seen pictures of factory refurbished stocks...poorly done, having said that they were apparently Albanian, they is was a very crappy job, and clearly had the 100 grit taken to it, and although mine is smooth with no dings, and just 2 small fixable scratches, could one assume it was refurbished in the Tula factory? I am trying to keep everything in perspective, as they did make a bizzillion of them, mostly for combat, so I guess flawless is not what collectors are looking for? But I did at one time have a mint, never issued Lee Enfield No1 MKIII which I dearly wish I still had. Here in Canada during the early 70's, they sold them everywhere for 20 bucks unissued. We would pick through barrels of them looking for the perfect one...and there were lots *sob*

I digress...so smoothing out the factory refurbishment sandpaper marks and re-sealing it would be a no-no?

[jjjxlr8]

Thanks so much for your prompt and informative reply. So if I read your reply correctly, if there is no refurbish stamp anywhere on the metal, and typically the receiver cover, but one on the stock, one should assume the stock was refurbished, but not the rest of the gun?

You should never assume. It sounds like your rifle could be one that just had a stock replacement but it would be tough to tell with 100% certainty. Is there any black paint on the rifle instead of blued metal? Is the bayonet screw still facotyr staked? How many stakes? Is the chrome lining of the bore still showing "in the white" at the muzzle? There are lot's of small details that might lend a clue, but it really doesn't matter too much since it's obviously a "refurb" rifle which puts it into a different category as far as collectibility and value are concerned.

I have also seen pictures of factory refurbished stocks...poorly done, having said that they were apparently Albanian, they is was a very crappy job, and clearly had the 100 grit taken to it, and although mine is smooth with no dings, and just 2 small fixable scratches, could one assume it was refurbished in the Tula factory? I am trying to keep everything in perspective, as they did make a bizzillion of them, mostly for combat, so I guess flawless is not what collectors are looking for?

I've owned Russian SKS45 rifles that were refurbished very nicely and others that looked like hell. Not sure why the huge difference but you can find all levels of finish quality with the factory refurbished Russian SKS rifles. For me, I look for rarity, originality, and condition when I purchase for my collection. I don't consider ANY rifles (even a '49) that have been re-finished by anyone outside of a factory arsenal. It's a deal breaker for me and a lot of other collectors.

.......so smoothing out the factory refurbishment sandpaper marks and re-sealing it would be a no-no?

Certainly a "no-no" in my book.

[rightcoast]

This is the original advert by Cabelas ;

Product Description
These rare, unstamped year of manufacture receivers are highly desirable to collectors. All feature matching serial numbers and original factory bluing. Includes original cleaning kit, oil bottle sling and ammo pouch. NRA Rating: Very Good Condition. Very Limited supply!

It probably means more to you than me LOL! ..and hope they did not make an a** out of me Here in Canada we get loads of SKS's from the former eastern bloc and China, but a friend told me to snag the Russian from Cabelas because of the description.

I guess pictures may help you help me? Google+

[jjjxlr8]

Not sure what they mean by "undated" if you got a '53. It was only the 55 and 56 rifles that were not dated.

Pics would be great, but you should probably start a new thread!

[rightcoast]

I have no idea, Cabelas wrote the description, and since I know squat about them, I can only shrug. I am guessing the following link did not work?
Photos - Google+

...and this from another site;

Look at the flat end of the receiver by the trip bolt for the date stamp. You will either see a symbol stamped in the metal which will indicate the country the gun was manufactured in (a star for Russia, a star in a circle for North Korea and so on) and a manufacturing date stamped below that. ....so what I'm getting from that is that date stamps on the receiver are the norm, and no date stamp with just a star is rare?

[jjjxlr8]

Must be a Canadian thing for the importer to stamp a date code on the receiver? The receivers of the Russian SKS45s never had dates on them from the factory and the guns imported to the US don't have dates on the receiver, either.

Anyway, your rifle looks very nice and it very well could be that only the stock was replaced at some point. Great rifle!! Don't mess it up!