A Very Rare and Exceptional Beauty: non-refurbished, clearly unfired 1953 Izhevsk SKS
- Thread starter The Kurgan
- Start date
Not too sure i understand this bayonette lug thing, rifle looks like my 53 izzy, mine is also flat.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
I'll do that when I have time. The bolt face is brand new, off the assembly line perfect.
Thanks to all. She's my favourite now. Though out of the many SKS's I've owned or own, there's still two others that get photographed and admired alot as well: A mint (and when I say mint, I mean PERFECT) unissued 1951 Tula with a shiney bayonet. I also own a '54 IZH import non-refurb with the pin welded follower that has the most beautiful stock you've ever seen: dark red and black. All three get a spot in my locker, the rest get displayed prominently in my crowded "hobby room".
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
They're all equally good. The Izhevsk's just command a few more dollars because fewer of them were made. According to my SKS registry (which has 2350 entries), less than 5% of all SKS's entered were made at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, the rest were made at the Tula Arms Factory. Some say that the Izhevsk's were made with more care. That may be partly true, as evidenced by my mint 1953, but I have Tulas of equal beauty: deep bluing, excellent wood-to-metal fitment, clean/sharp cartouches and proofs, and nicely finished stocks. Personal observations are that quality and fitment started to drop after 1954. Sorry, but it's true. The least attractive SKS's I've handled (non-refurbished) seem to be the later ones, especially the 'no-daters'. But of course, there's exceptions to every rule. However, regardless of finishing, they all seem to shoot about the same. That goes for Chinese SKS's which I don't collect, but others seem to like.
One of my best shooters is a lowly refurbished frankenpinned 1952 Tula... pretty darn rough and ugly, but prints 3 inch groups at 100 yards using the irons. Hard to beat that, regardless of semi-auto brand!
Just as FYI, the rarest Russian SKS you will ever find, save the unissued/non-refurbished 1949 (which don't exist), are the 1953 Izhevsk's. Of the 5% noted above, only 10% of that 5% are dated 1953! And a non-refurbished version is even rarer!
My suggestion: buy every 1953 Izhevsk you can find. They will command the highest dollar in the future.
Flamingchicken has an all-matching laminate 1953 for sale right now. Apparently with a low serial number, which makes it even more interesting.
If the funds and space weren't an issue, it would be in my collection as I type.
I forgot to add, 1949 refurbs are more common than 1953 non-refurbs... according to my registry. In fact, 1953 refurbs are about as common as 1949 refurbs.
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- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
The math regarding the 1953 Izhevsk SKS...
Let's say there are 200 SKS's on the rack.
5% or 10 of them will be Izhevsk made.
Of the 10 Izhevsk's 1 will be a 1953.
Of that 1 1953 Izhevsk SKS, there is a 2/3 (~66%) or greater chance of it being refurbished.
Of the 2350 SKS registry entries, I think there's 3 or 4 non-refurbs. That equates to, at best, .17% !
So, on a rareness basis, buy them !
Let's say there are 200 SKS's on the rack.
5% or 10 of them will be Izhevsk made.
Of the 10 Izhevsk's 1 will be a 1953.
Of that 1 1953 Izhevsk SKS, there is a 2/3 (~66%) or greater chance of it being refurbished.
Of the 2350 SKS registry entries, I think there's 3 or 4 non-refurbs. That equates to, at best, .17% !
So, on a rareness basis, buy them !
canadianpatriot
Member
- Location
- London Towne (not the UK version)
Your arguments are very convincing Kurgan!! It's science...and you can't argue with science! LOL
Good work!
Good work!
Was looking at a 1956 hardwood on Westrifle's site. It has a small star on the receiver in one of the pics. I was reading about sks on Wikipedia and remembered something about Vietnamese Sks's that had a star on the receiver. Is that what it is or am I on crack? Are 1956 ones rare?
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
It is a late 55, or 1956 Russian Tula. They stopped dating the recoil spring cover in late 55, and started stamping a star where you saw it. Pretty standard.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
Yeah black bayo is refurb, unless it is ex-DDR... which is unlikely. Any Izzy is a good Izzy... hang on to it and enjoy it.
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- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
Not my "big question"... value is whatever somebody is willing to pay.
The gold bayo debate has been beaten to death. Use the search function and you will be rewarded with a wealth of information.
