1953 Izhevsk sks questions

[frenchyguy]

hello, about 9-10 years ago, i bought a 1953 Izhevsk sks, for 500 dollars, i think, an un-thinkable price for a sks at that time for a non collector, but i fell in love with it. it has all matching numbers, everything seems correct, but i would like to know for sure if it is a refurb or not. can anyone help?


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v9dBCafqTwd4lh6mv4jt8AiQYTPd87vX/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eLKoWnHsmhYd-KVCIS_kYMadmEYGns4A/view?usp=sharing

 

[Marlon94]

Take a look at Yooper J's site through a quick google. Very informative site to help ID your SKS.
If I'm not mistaken, which I may be - Most refurbs had a refurb marking on them (square with a slash through it I think). If you could post or link to some pics of your SKS it would help a lot and I'm sure a more informed poster than me can guide you in the proper direction.

 

[frenchyguy]

i have been to that site, and i can find nothing making this a refurb, but im sure i probably missed something obvious.

 

[jaroslav]

Not enough pictures.

 

[jpboivin]

Refurb from your pics

 

[scianna54]

Refurb from your pics

agreed, the stock doesn't fit properly.

 

[The Kurgan]

Hi all; late to the party. All truly non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk SKS's have one defining and unusual trait... their stocks are more of a honey blonde finish, not the typical Russian red that was also introduced to Izhevsk SKS's starting in 1954. Here's a few photos of one of only three confirmed non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk's in Canada that I am aware of...





Exceedingly well made and extremely rare.

 

[jpboivin]

I also have one

 

[jaroslav]

Hi all; late to the party. All truly non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk SKS's have one defining and unusual trait... their stocks are more of a honey blonde finish, not the typical Russian red that was also introduced to Izhevsk SKS's starting in 1954. Here's a few photos of one of only three confirmed non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk's in Canada that I am aware of...
View attachment 564473
View attachment 564474
View attachment 564476
View attachment 564477

Exceedingly well made and extremely rare.

What do the 2 letters in the circle mean?

 

[The Kurgan]

It's an Izhevsk SKS factory code.

 

[uberti77]

Hi all; late to the party. All truly non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk SKS's have one defining and unusual trait... their stocks are more of a honey blonde finish, not the typical Russian red that was also introduced to Izhevsk SKS's starting in 1954. Here's a few photos of one of only three confirmed non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk's in Canada that I am aware of...
View attachment 564473
View attachment 564474
View attachment 564476
View attachment 564477

Exceedingly well made and extremely rare.

Wow how much is thos one worth?

 

[The Kurgan]

Hard to say, but if I still owned it, I would NEVER sell. Even $2000 doesn't get you much today, so there's really no incentive to sell such fine gems.

 

[cement head]

Hi all; late to the party. All truly non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk SKS's have one defining and unusual trait... their stocks are more of a honey blonde finish, not the typical Russian red that was also introduced to Izhevsk SKS's starting in 1954. Here's a few photos of one of only three confirmed non-refurbished 1953 Izhevsk's in Canada that I am aware of...
View attachment 564473
View attachment 564474
View attachment 564476
View attachment 564477

Exceedingly well made and extremely rare.

Wow that's one of the nicest most clean sks rifles I have ever seen . sellers remorse ? it is what it is . again very clean .

 

[cement head]

hello, about 9-10 years ago, i bought a 1953 Izhevsk sks, for 500 dollars, i think, an un-thinkable price for a sks at that time for a non collector, but i fell in love with it. it has all matching numbers, everything seems correct, but i would like to know for sure if it is a refurb or not. can anyone help?


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v9dBCafqTwd4lh6mv4jt8AiQYTPd87vX/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eLKoWnHsmhYd-KVCIS_kYMadmEYGns4A/view?usp=sharing

when I enhanced those photos I never saw any stamps around the the cross bolt. the bolt going through the stock at the front . it is blued not painted . and only one stamp across the one side of the stock . more than likely you could sell it for double or more than you paid for it but you could never replace it . from what I have read they were only made for half of the year in 1953 and a full year in 1954 .

 

[EL34/6L6]

I have an all matching 1954 Izhevsk from 9-10 years ago.
The 1953 is more rare from my understanding.

 

[The Kurgan]

Don't sell, refurb or not. These are rare and will only increase in value.

 

[Boris Badinov]

The claim is often made that crossbolt stamps on the left side of the rifle are an indication of an all original, as issued rifle.


Does this mean that stocks with crossbolt stamps on both sides of the rifle more original or less original than rifles with crossbolt stamps only on the left side? Or might right and lefts side crossbolt stamps be an indication of something else?


There is simply no way that a original lacquer finish would resemble the above 53 and 54 Izzy's after 70 years-- 40-50 years of which would have been spent in crate storage in the extreme fluctuations of heat, freezing winter temps and humidity of CCPs. In such conditions a lacquer finish on birch hard wood would start to flake and peel in 4-5 years.

 

[Boris Badinov]

hello, about 9-10 years ago, i bought a 1953 Izhevsk sks, for 500 dollars, i think, an un-thinkable price for a sks at that time for a non collector, but i fell in love with it. it has all matching numbers, everything seems correct, but i would like to know for sure if it is a refurb or not. can anyone help?


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v9dBCafqTwd4lh6mv4jt8AiQYTPd87vX/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eLKoWnHsmhYd-KVCIS_kYMadmEYGns4A/view?usp=sharing

Frenchguy-

The apparent absence of and Izhevsk arsenal stamp and date on the stock would be an indication of post production work. Only with better, and more detailed photos will it be possible to opine on any work that was done and to what extent.

 

[PinkyPlinker]

Don't sell, refurb or not. These are rare and will only increase in value.

Or Trudeau will make them unsalable and worthless.

 

[frenchyguy]

Thank you all for your help. I have to say, everything about this rifle is beautiful. Crisp, clean, and other than the stock, seems proper.