Unissued 1953 Russian SKS? Am I that lucky?

[Freedom1955]

I am new here and have been reading many post on this site about the Russian SKS trying to get educated about them. I have what I hope is an unissued Russian SKS rifle. I inherited it in 1995. It was bought and advertized as a unissued Russian SKS 1953 item. I am planning on selling it and would like some educated opinions on whether or not this is actually unissued or a refurb. I am not sure of the value of either.
The rifle has a star with an arrow in the middle of it on the top of the receiver. It has the serial number HExxxx on all the usual areas including the bolt right behind where the stripper entrance is located and the edges of the numbers are sharp. On the side of the receiver it says Russia SKS-45 7.62X39 KBI,INC HBG,PA RH2161xx.
As I have said I no nothing about these rifles other than what I have read on this site I did notice something on the left side of the stock that looks like work has been done to it and that is the serial number does not have the HE in front of the numbers and there is a faint star with what looks like faint numbers below it but there hard to make out. I'm not sure what that means.
Also a few years ago (my bad)I took this rifle out and fired 20 rounds through her and it shoots wonderfully.I was amazed and what little recoil it has.

Any help would be appreciated in helping me identify and decipher if it is unissued or a refurb

Information

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[jjjxlr8]

It is certainly a refurbished rifle.

Looks like a nice one, and with the original box and accessories should be worth around $450. Maybe higher if you put it up for auction.

[Freedom1955]

I should also add that I cleaned the bayonet in 1996. I have a feeling I should not have. If I remember correctly it was yellow and or gold in color and kind of sticky. I can't remember what I used to clean it with but I did get the yellow color off.
I hope that by cleaning the bayonet I did not devalue the rifle.

[jjjxlr8]

Here is an example of a non-refurbished stock. Notice the way the date and serial number are stamped under the Tula cartouche. Also notice the original Tula inspector stamp on the opposite side of the buttstock, as well as all of the small inpector marks around the cross bolt.






Your stock was sanded (you can still make out part of the original serial number with cryllic prefix) and re-finished during the arsenal refurb and then re-stmaped with the 4 digit serial number.

---------- Post added at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 AM ----------

I should also add that I cleaned the bayonet in 1996. I have a feeling I should not have. If I remember correctly it was yellow and or gold in color and kind of sticky. I can't remember what I used to clean it with but I did get the yellow color off.
I hope that by cleaning the bayonet I did not devalue the rifle.

I wouldn't have cleaned it but I don't think it will hurt the value, especially since it's a refurbished rifle.

[Freedom1955]

Thanks for the reply!
Could I have a rifle that the only part of it refurbished is the stock?
All the metal parts have the serial number in all the right places along with no refurb marks that I can see.

[jjjxlr8]

Thanks for the reply!
Could I have a rifle that the only part of it refurbished is the stock?
All the metal parts have the serial number in all the right places along with no refurb marks that I can see.

Yes, there are all different types of refubs out there. I had a '52 that appeared to be all original except that it had a laminate stock (stamped with the prefix but no Tula cartouche or date).

[Freedom1955]

I've got everything the box sling and accessories.
Are the 30 round magazines legal to own? How much would one sell for?
And the stripper clips are they worth anything?

Thank You for your help!

[jjjxlr8]

30 round mags are legal to own in my State. Pretty sure they are in Michigan, too. The problem is that when you install it into that SKS45 you now are in violation of 922r requirements. You would have to replace many more parts with US made pieces to make it compliant with that 30 round magazine. Most 30 rounders don't work as well as the fixed 10 rounder, anyway. They are not worth much.

Stripper clips are the way to go if you want to blow through ammo at a faster rate.