refurb SKS with its original stock sanded

MiG25

MiG25

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I recently saw a 1950 SKS with the SN restamped on the stock. the old SN was still visible even though the stock had been sanded, and the original SN matched the rest of the rifle and the restamped SN. I thought the sanded stocks usually were off of other rifles or were marked with X's. Is it common for the original stock to be sanded and be matched up with the same rifle it came off of?

Thanks.
 
The stock was probable scratched or/and dented so the sanding was just a part of the refurb process to bring it back to spec /look good then a restamp of the serial #.
These rifles look great now but I can imagine what some must have gone through while in different countries, each one holds a story for sure!
 
bobdbldr said:
The stock was probable scratched or/and dented so the sanding was just a part of the refurb process to bring it back to spec /look good then a restamp of the serial #.
These rifles look great now but I can imagine what some must have gone through while in different countries, each one holds a story for sure!
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FWIW, The SKS saew pretty limited service in Soviet Russia. After a short service life, the AK47 largely was front-line issue. The balance of the SKS rifles were used either for training, home service (guards, schools, etc.) or were simply stored for war reserve. LOTS were sent to sympathetic countries as aid, but those are not the rifles we are seeing now, which are largely Russian or Ukrainian war stock.
 
My observations as follows:

1) the IZH imports, even the unissued ones, look to have been re-shellac coated AFTER manufacture. All the unissued ones I have owned, even the coveted "gold bayonet" ones, showed more than one shellac if you know what to look for. This is not terrible, but I believe it was done to improve the looks of the rifles and get a better price on the world market, or perhaps it was practise at the arsenal at some point to give them another coat of shellac for preservation purposes - who knows?

2) The Westrifle imports, in MY OPINION, have, in many cases, been recently re-stamped in the wood with reproduction markings around the cross bolt and the factory cartouches in the butt. I've looked at a lot of photos of these in the last few days and they are not consistent with the IZH imported rifles. They don't seem to have multiple-layers of shellac, but instead look to have been stripped or refurbished and only have one layer of shellac on them. For example, rifles that are clearly sandblasted, re-blued and refurb marked on the top cover, somehow have matching factory-correct stocks with crisp new-looking stamps everywhere that do not match the condition of the rest of the rifle, especially their izhevsk-made examples. In MY OPINION - the Russian vendors are tarting them up to make them more saleable. I clearly remember they did this with the 1949 rifles as well, which clearly all had replacement stocks modified from blade-bayonet stocks.
 
Interesting. I don't know how that would be economical to dress up rifles to make them sell for more. I'm sure the source gets very little(comparatively) based on certain features. They are liquidating thousands upon thousands of rifles, so this makes no sense to me. If there was any dressing up I would think the retailer would have a part as they get the most profit based on condition, grade, etc. (not saying they do that!) repairs done during refurb or inspection seems to be more likely.
 
Claven2 said:
My observations as follows:

1) the IZH imports, even the unissued ones, look to have been re-shellac coated AFTER manufacture. All the unissued ones I have owned, even the coveted "gold bayonet" ones, showed more than one shellac if you know what to look for. This is not terrible, but I believe it was done to improve the looks of the rifles and get a better price on the world market, or perhaps it was practise at the arsenal at some point to give them another coat of shellac for preservation purposes - who knows?

2) The Westrifle imports, in MY OPINION, have, in many cases, been recently re-stamped in the wood with reproduction markings around the cross bolt and the factory cartouches in the butt. I've looked at a lot of photos of these in the last few days and they are not consistent with the IZH imported rifles. They don't seem to have multiple-layers of shellac, but instead look to have been stripped or refurbished and only have one layer of shellac on them. For example, rifles that are clearly sandblasted, re-blued and refurb marked on the top cover, somehow have matching factory-correct stocks with crisp new-looking stamps everywhere that do not match the condition of the rest of the rifle, especially their izhevsk-made examples. In MY OPINION - the Russian vendors are tarting them up to make them more saleable. I clearly remember they did this with the 1949 rifles as well, which clearly all had replacement stocks modified from blade-bayonet stocks.
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I very recently picked up a SKS from this vendor, and I would concur with your opinion.

There is a large dish on the left side of the stock of my rifle as well as circular sanding marks visible in the wood. The shellac has been re applied in that spot and there is a distinct overlap in old to new finish. The font or the numerals, as well as the size of the date of manufacture stamp on the butt is a close, but not perfect match to the known unrefurbished SKS I've seen. There is also a faint inspectors cartouche on the right side of the butt which has been filled in with the new coating of shellac.

I was almost certain this rifle had undergone refurbishment when I viewed the rifle through the posted pictures because the butt of the stock was a much lighter color than the rest of this rifle.

The rest of the rifle has no obvious signs of refurbishment to the metal work, aside from a wire wheel cleaning of the bolt carrier. The stock in my opinion is most definitely a not original to my particular rifle in this case. These current rifles are not of the same calibre of the earlier imports that were truly unissued new in crate.

Regardless, I'm still very happy with the particular rifle I selected as it's a extremely tough year to come by, refurbished or not.
 
Well, I don't think Westrifle is claiming their SKS's are unissued or "as-issued" so there's no lying going on, and it doesn't matter the origin of the changes, but those inspection marks, cartouches, factory symbols, and dates are not original to most of those stocks. The colour of the stocks is also a dead giveaway that they were sanded and then subsequently restamped. Do some searches on as-issued SKS stocks and make up your own mind. By the way, I purchased a dead gorgeous all-matching metal 1949 SKS from Westrifle, and it came with a laminate stock. A factory symbol and date were clearly added at some point (the serial number looks original based on colour, depth, finsh, etc.). But, it doesn't bother me, as it was a refurb anyway.
 
The Kurgan said:
Well, I don't think Westrifle is claiming their SKS's are unissued or "as-issued" so there's no lying going on, and it doesn't matter the origin of the changes, but those inspection marks, cartouches, factory symbols, and dates are not original to most of those stocks. The colour of the stocks is also a dead giveaway that they were sanded and then subsequently restamped. Do some searches on as-issued SKS stocks and make up your own mind. By the way, I purchased a dead gorgeous all-matching metal 1949 SKS from Westrifle, and it came with a laminate stock. A factory symbol and date were clearly added at some point (the serial number looks original). But, it doesn't bother me, as it was a refurb anyway.
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I agree, and I should mention, I am in no way shape or form trying to throw Westrifle under the bus.

They are the best I've dealt with when it comes to Surplus rifles. I challenge other surplus vendors to post as many detailed pictures as they do. I've never once been disappointed with a purchase from them as the pictures don't lie!
 
Absolutely. To be clear, I am not bashing west rifle. I am merely saying the IZH imports that are sold as NON-REFURB, generally are legitimately non-refurb. Westrifle promises only matching numbers and their own pics show bolt carriers that have been sanded and electro-pencilled, stocks that have been sanded and re-numbered, etc. Clearly refurbished in some way and made to look something like a non-refurb, but they aren't claiming that in the ad copy. They are also reasonably priced.

Personally though, I would opt for an IZH gun, pinned cover and all, of I were after an unissued or non-refurb gun, as you are more likely to get one that way. Weimarjack has been my GO-TO for unissued or non-refurb SKS rifles for some time. No complaints.
 
Claven2 said:
I would opt for an IZH gun, pinned cover and all [if] I were after an unissued or non-refurb gun, as you are more likely to get one that way.
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Just to clear for newbs, a riveted cover ("pinned") is not a "frankenpinned" cover. Riveted mags are by far more attractive, the S/N is not destroyed, and it doesn't impact the function of the follower in any way. We all know the early 2008 IZH import welded mag follower is the most attractive method, but they are not widely available anymore.
 
Claven2 said:
My observations as follows:

1) the IZH imports, even the unissued ones, look to have been re-shellac coated AFTER manufacture. All the unissued ones I have owned, even the coveted "gold bayonet" ones, showed more than one shellac if you know what to look for. This is not terrible, but I believe it was done to improve the looks of the rifles and get a better price on the world market, or perhaps it was practise at the arsenal at some point to give them another coat of shellac for preservation purposes - who knows?

2) The Westrifle imports, in MY OPINION, have, in many cases, been recently re-stamped in the wood with reproduction markings around the cross bolt and the factory cartouches in the butt. I've looked at a lot of photos of these in the last few days and they are not consistent with the IZH imported rifles. They don't seem to have multiple-layers of shellac, but instead look to have been stripped or refurbished and only have one layer of shellac on them. For example, rifles that are clearly sandblasted, re-blued and refurb marked on the top cover, somehow have matching factory-correct stocks with crisp new-looking stamps everywhere that do not match the condition of the rest of the rifle, especially their izhevsk-made examples. In MY OPINION - the Russian vendors are tarting them up to make them more saleable. I clearly remember they did this with the 1949 rifles as well, which clearly all had replacement stocks modified from blade-bayonet stocks.
Click to expand...


Here are pics of the stock on my best 1949 from Westrifle. While refurb, I think it is an original 1949 stock not a blade bayo stock chiseled out to fit the spike. I have that on a couple other of my 1949's though. But then again the '49s got refurbed the most.




Curious detail is that the Tula arrow mark is missing half the fletching making it a one of a kind.

 
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