Lever Arms SKS

collector67

collector67

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Well, I went out and picked me up a laminated 1950 Tula for $223 from Lever Arms, and I can't wait to try her out next Friday afternoon. I couldn't help but compare her to my 1954 Tula that I got from Frontier Firearms (Saskatchewan) in February...The Pros about Lever: I got a nice example of an early model SKS 1945...spring loaded firing pin, "slanted" gas block, longer rear sight base and the "perforated" reciever relase catch. Also, the bore is not chrome lined, but appears to be in good condition. This isn't really a "pro" per se, but it adds to the originality of the rifle. She cleaned up nice, after about 2 hours of scrubbing....
The Cons are as follows: I am not fond of the crummy "powder coat" paint job on all the metal of this rifle, and the bead blast look of the bayonet isn't that appealing either. In comparison, my SKS from Frontier has a beautifully shellacked birch stock, shiny bolt and bayonet, and the bluing is first rate. I was at the SKS gong shoot in PoCo last week, and I had a few members comment on how nice my rifle looked, so I am going to hold back on this beauty and let the "rough sister" come out at play time...
I will post pics as soon as I am able.....:sniper:
 
You have a 1949 or 1950, they did not make them in 1945. The model is a SKS 45. You will like the spring loaded firing pin, less likely to get a stuck firing pin. As for identifying more info about your cool shooter, give Curtton's sticky a read at the top of the Red Riffle section.

Cheers
 
I've got a Frontier SKS that looks brand new unfired. Not sure if it is or not but definitely a beautiful rifle. Also got a black bolt SKS coming from Cabela's Canada (finally). If you plan to shoot make sure you totally disassemble the rifle and clean the cosmo if any. gommee the firing pin spring was to reduce the possibility of a slam fire but were deemed unnecessary with the hard milspec primers. Only accounts of stuck firing pins I have heard are from bolts filled with cosmo and not being cleaned before firing.

I think the Chinese guns have been packed full of cosmo everywhere more so then the Ruski guns and has caused more problems then the Ruski's. I actually got a good deal on a Poly SKS that was traded to a dealer because of misfires from cosmo hardened in the bolt group.
 
gommee said:
You have a 1949 or 1950, they did not make them in 1945. The model is a SKS 45. You will like the spring loaded firing pin, less likely to get a stuck firing pin. As for identifying more info about your cool shooter, give Curtton's sticky a read at the top of the Red Riffle section.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Ok, I thought the full model name was "SKS 1945", my bad.:p
It is definitely a 1950, according to the reciever cover, and from other features I picked up from YooperJohn's SKS page. Kind of sucks about the non chrome lined bore, but it looks mint, and I'm very meticulous when it comes to cleaning corrosive. I had to choose between this one and a 1956 Tula, but the subtle differences from my 1954 Tula, plus the sping loaded firing pin won me over.
Actually, I have heard that the first prototype SKS's were issued in 1944 to troops on the Belorussian front and were very successful against the Germans. (only about 1000 were ever made). The russians fully adopted the rifle in 1949 for mass production.
 
crashcollins said:
I've got a Frontier SKS that looks brand new unfired. Not sure if it is or not but definitely a beautiful rifle. Also got a black bolt SKS coming from Cabela's Canada (finally). If you plan to shoot make sure you totally disassemble the rifle and clean the cosmo if any. gommee the firing pin spring was to reduce the possibility of a slam fire but were deemed unnecessary with the hard milspec primers. Only accounts of stuck firing pins I have heard are from bolts filled with cosmo and not being cleaned before firing.

I think the Chinese guns have been packed full of cosmo everywhere more so then the Ruski guns and has caused more problems then the Ruski's. I actually got a good deal on a Poly SKS that was traded to a dealer because of misfires from cosmo hardened in the bolt group.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I spent about 3 hours with brake cleaner (plus CLP) and Simple Green to bring my new baby up to speed. I have much experience in dealing with our aged enemy COSMOLINE.......:mad: I also got my 54 Tula from Frontier, it took me almost a full year to get her, but I was VERY satisfied with the end results. Apart from the non matching reciever cover and magazine, this rifle appears to be all original. (even the stock is matching). That's why I bought my "shooter" from Lever, I want to preserve my beautiful '54!
 
Hey, my 1950 refurb laminated SKS /w gold bayonet just arrived in the mail yesterday. I didn't have time to take it apart yet, but it looks beautiful!

Question about the stock. Is it shellac? What do use to properly buff off the oil on it?

Thanks!
 
My chinese SKS's have come all new and some have been totally packed with cosmo and some have had only a light coating of cosmo. I always totally disassemble my SKS's and check them out. My Ruski is the best looking but my factory 26 early SKS is a close second.
 
john777 said:
Hey, my 1950 refurb laminated SKS /w gold bayonet just arrived in the mail yesterday. I didn't have time to take it apart yet, but it looks beautiful!

Question about the stock. Is it shellac? What do use to properly buff off the oil on it?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yes, it is shellac...
Just use Simple Green, (nothing stronger than that) a lot of elbow grease to remove the Cosmo, and then apply several coats of Birchwood-Casey Gunstock Wax. Trust me, your lammy stock will absolutely shimmer in the light!
Congrats on your purchase!
 
Nice I want to compare to mine also from Lever, since i am new, Any pointers as to WHICH one i should choose? ie to look out for from the Lever ones? I am going on Wednesday to buy a set.
 
It all depends on what you want...I had my heart set on a laminated stock, because they are stronger than the original Arctic Birch wood, plus they have an extra reinforcing "wrist pin" to prevent against cracking in that area. I freaked when I saw a Lammy 1950 Tula, and snapped it up right away, because of the relative rarity of this date. I was also told by the guys at Lever that they did have a few 1949 dated SKS's (no spike bayonets, unfortunately) in their batch, but they were quickly sold.:( (I didn't see any square gas blocks in the cabinets anyways. Believe me, I looked closely!)
Since these rifles have been Russian refurbished, you can assume that they all have been overhauled to the extreme. Any mechanical faults have been repaired or replaced, so I think it more or less depends on looks. The 1951s and newer have chrome lined barrels which is nice when you are shooting corrosive ammo. These rifles are refurbished, which means for the most part, most of the parts are non matching (although, I am amazed at how much of my '50 Tula is complete and matching!:D). Either way, for $223 CAD, it's still a freakin' AWESOME deal!!!!!:rockOn:
 
crashcollins said:
I've got a Frontier SKS that looks brand new unfired. Not sure if it is or not but definitely a beautiful rifle. Also got a black bolt SKS coming from Cabela's Canada (finally). If you plan to shoot make sure you totally disassemble the rifle and clean the cosmo if any. gommee the firing pin spring was to reduce the possibility of a slam fire but were deemed unnecessary with the hard milspec primers. Only accounts of stuck firing pins I have heard are from bolts filled with cosmo and not being cleaned before firing.

I think the Chinese guns have been packed full of cosmo everywhere more so then the Ruski guns and has caused more problems then the Ruski's. I actually got a good deal on a Poly SKS that was traded to a dealer because of misfires from cosmo hardened in the bolt group.
Click to expand...

I have ordered a new firing pin that comes with a spring from the SKSman for my shooter which is a 55/56 with laminated stock and black paint every where. I agree about the hard primers, but surplus ammo will not be around for ever. The 3 cases I have now will last me for a little while...:p
 
Is lever open on Mondays these days? They always used to be.

The Girl wants me to drive down and pick her up from the ferry on Monday, maybe I will kill 2 birds with one stone and pick one of these up. Are the Russian SKS's any more/less accurate than the Norinco ones? I'm not interested in historical/matching parts etc. I'd be more interested in a reasonably accurate plinker.

It will be funny to buy an SKS for over $200....Last time I bought an SKS they were $75- At Lever.:p:p
 
Accuracy of these Lever Russkies, if the ones I have are a good indication, is definitely in the plinker class. 5-shot 4" groups at 100 meters are common.

My "D", if I remember correctly, gives the same. Haven't shot it in a while because the Russkies are so much prettier.
 
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