Early 1950 SKS refurb ... should I buy?

The Kurgan

The Kurgan

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Those in "the know" know that the early 1950 variants are not common. They are basically indentical to the 1949's, but with a blade bayonet.

This one is priced a little high at $325 and it is a mild refurb.

The good:
just about everything...
-all matching metal, including gas tube and gas piston
-bluing is immaculate
-bayonet is nicely blued
-bore looks perfect
-bolt carrier and bolt face show little to no signs of wear
-early hand punched date and Tula factory star
-early ringed receiver cover release tab
-early square gas block
-stock (replacement) matches handguard colour perfectly and is a nice tight fit
-trigger seems crisp and rather light for an SKS (very nice)

The bad:
-stock, while in beautiful condition and tight fitting, has the original serial number ######'ed out, but the new serial number is different from what is on the metal parts. I've seen this before, and wonder what happened at arsenal refurb?
-the magazine has the westrifle style of pinning which is aesthectially pleasing, but in this case, the magazine follower does not seem to pivot as freely as it should. It's a bit stiff. I've seen this before, and in some cases this impedes feeding!
-tonnes of cosmoline (but that's ok... I have cleaning down to a fine art)
-price

Go for it?
 
That's a bit of a premium for one of these as I picked up a very nice all correct, (aside from replaced stock) early 1950 a while back for $240, but if you need one to fill a spot in your collection I wouldn't think twice about.

I tend to think that there are fewer early '50's with square gas blocks than '49's, but that's just an opinion of mine based on how many I've seen displayed or listed for sale (I can count the number on two hands)
 
Wow I just sold mine for 100 all matching just so I. Could afford this k cup thing my mum wanted for her birthday and while I don't regret selling it I would buy another in a heartbeat cause they are so different.

And before some asks why I sold for so little is cause my mum rules :)
 
Well, I got it for $290. It's in exceptional condition, and the hand stamped date and star are particularly neatly done.
There aren't too many of them out there, and certainly not in this condition. Yes, it's a refurb, and yes it will be shot, but it's also collectible.
Just like a 1949, there are NO early 1950 Tula in non-refurbished condition that I've come across. If you have a non-refurbished one, prove it. I may even buy it off you! :)

I really like the blued bayonets. The stock is not numbers matching, but is really nice, tight, and perfectly matched to the handguard. Sometimes, you have to pay a little more for something you want. I don't feel I overpaid when I look at the rest of my modern rifles!
 
I bought a '51 all matching with black bayonet for $159 at xmas... the only sign it was a refurb was the black bayonet

I'd say look around for a better price

Opps sorry missed you already bought it... enjoy
 
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The Kurgan said:
Well, I got it for $290. It's in exceptional condition, and the hand stamped date and star are particularly neatly done.
There aren't too many of them out there, and certainly not in this condition. Yes, it's a refurb, and yes it will be shot, but it's also collectible.
Just like a 1949, there are NO early 1950 Tula in non-refurbished condition that I've come across. If you have a non-refurbished one, prove it. I may even buy it off you! :)

I really like the blued bayonets. The stock is not numbers matching, but is really nice, tight, and perfectly matched to the handguard. Sometimes, you have to pay a little more for something you want. I don't feel I overpaid when I look at the rest of my modern rifles!
Click to expand...

It was a wise decision to purchase the rifle if you wanted it . How many times over the years have I thought about buying something , waited off , and lost out on the buy to someone else . At 290 dollars....it was worth buying just for the peace of mind and joy of ownership that the firearm will give you.....ENJOY !
 
In the end, whether I paid $150 (which is rare) or $220... the cost differential is so little, that it doesn't matter. These things are a serious bargain compared to everything else out there. One day they will dry up, and you'll be hugging the ones you own. I just dished out $300 for vintage holster for my Swiss 1882... I just had to have it, and it's a rare bird. Life is short. Enjoy.
 
Just looked at one today at Canadian Tire. Had the old style scribe 1950 date on receiver but it was BBQ painted and the stock was ###xx'd out. Plus it had a really beat up stock and discolouring/rust on the bayonet. They wanted 199 for it. I passed on it.

325 seems really high to me. It's up to you but i would keep looking. Good luck Kurgan.
 
The stains on the bayonet is probably just cosmo. And the rough varnish on the stock can be cleaned up. I think its just dipped in varnish at refurb. Looks crappy but it protects the wood. Does what it's supposed to.
 
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