Despite many SKSs passed my hands I never owned one because post '45 stuff is not my thing. However I could not passed this one as I like unusual and uncommon specimens.
This rifle is factory matching, never issued, never fired and never refurbished. Though it's worth mentioning it went through regular storage inspections and during one of such inspections touch-up paint was applied to butt plate and couple of other parts, now paint from plate removed by previous owner by simple rubbing to check serial. So other than this rifle is as she left the factory.
Letter series SKSs are very special because they stand aside of regular production cycle, however even among them one can find something even more amazing for study. I'm talking about КР###x and СМ###x series of "Д" rifles. Quite possible these two are the first two months of production resuming in 1956 (as we suspect, based on similarity of year coding in PM and APS pistols). First rifles of КР###x had covers with Star and "1955" stamped (probably leftover from previous year of production), then "1955" disappears, Star still present on cover but not on receiver yet. Rifle below is that kind of transitional КР###x rifles. Only Star on cover can be found in both КР###x and СМ###x and then it moves to receiver. In the same "Д" year in ТВ###x, ТД###x, ТМ###x, ТРхххх series technological and acceptance markings on the stock were changed from four marking on left side around cross bolt with none on the right to only two markings on the left side and five on the right. Rifle below still retains earlier pattern with four on left and none on right.
A big bonus is magazine that hadn't been butchered, a thing most collectors really appreciate.
Interesting that op rod was serialized twice with same number, first time with same handwriting style as other parts and second time with different handwriting.
Hope you enjoyed pics and information, now I need your advice - Tapco or ATI?
This rifle is factory matching, never issued, never fired and never refurbished. Though it's worth mentioning it went through regular storage inspections and during one of such inspections touch-up paint was applied to butt plate and couple of other parts, now paint from plate removed by previous owner by simple rubbing to check serial. So other than this rifle is as she left the factory.
Letter series SKSs are very special because they stand aside of regular production cycle, however even among them one can find something even more amazing for study. I'm talking about КР###x and СМ###x series of "Д" rifles. Quite possible these two are the first two months of production resuming in 1956 (as we suspect, based on similarity of year coding in PM and APS pistols). First rifles of КР###x had covers with Star and "1955" stamped (probably leftover from previous year of production), then "1955" disappears, Star still present on cover but not on receiver yet. Rifle below is that kind of transitional КР###x rifles. Only Star on cover can be found in both КР###x and СМ###x and then it moves to receiver. In the same "Д" year in ТВ###x, ТД###x, ТМ###x, ТРхххх series technological and acceptance markings on the stock were changed from four marking on left side around cross bolt with none on the right to only two markings on the left side and five on the right. Rifle below still retains earlier pattern with four on left and none on right.
A big bonus is magazine that hadn't been butchered, a thing most collectors really appreciate.
Interesting that op rod was serialized twice with same number, first time with same handwriting style as other parts and second time with different handwriting.
Hope you enjoyed pics and information, now I need your advice - Tapco or ATI?
