Help with SKS markings

[Jeff Mather]

So I have looked everywhere and can't find any reference to the serial number on this sks. Believe it is Russian, just trying to figure out year and such. Any help is appreciated









Thanks

 

[calibrecarstairs]

Are there any markings on the dust cover?

 

[Jeff Mather]

Original dust cover is gone for a railed aftermarket one

 

[Conquest66]

any numbers on the bottom of the mag or bottom of trigger guard?

 

[Jeff Mather]

No Mag on it. Trigger guard has same serial as receiver and bolt BE193

 

[Conquest66]

likely Russian, date was on the dust cover. Check here:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=17575

 

[The Kurgan]

"BE" is a Russian serial number prefix.

 

[DAR 701]

Serial number looks to be Izzy?

 

[gewehr76]

Is rear sight has П on it or D letters? Or number 3 at very bottom?

 

[Jeff Mather]

 

[The Kurgan]

Serial number looks to be Izzy?

"BE" is a Tula prefix, probably 1953.

 

[Boris Badinov]

The barrel lugs were not serial stamped. These barrel lug numbers are believed to be type of metal hardness proof / nitro proof-- A quality control for chamber strength.

The Tula rifles (as well as the early Chinese guns) have a similar 4digit number stamping (without the letter prefix) around the circumference of the barrel lug.

My Izhevsk has a similar horizontal stamping with an H prefix.

 

[Boris Badinov]

"BE" is a Tula prefix, probably 1953.

The serial font-- as well as the horizontally stamped barrel lug number -- identify the carbine as definitively Izhevsk in origin,.

 

[Boris Badinov]

this is my 1954 Izhevsk H6777 (horizontally, like the op Izzy):


My 1955 Tula (6655 circumferentially):


and a 1957 (2mil serial) Chinese Carbine (1266 circumferentially):

 

[The Kurgan]

Regardless, it is a Tula serial. I've assembled a large database of serials to draw this conclusion from. I should clarify/restate my original response. It is highly probable that it is a Tula serial. Now, could Izhevsk manufactured parts have been used and assembled at Tula?Yes, but uncommon. Did serial prefixes overlap between the factories? Not in 2200+ serials I have analyzed. I guess it is possible.

 

[Boris Badinov]

Regardless, it's a Tula serial. I've assembled a large database of serials to draw this conclusion from. I should clarify/restate my original response. It's highly probable that it is a Tula serial. Now, could Izhevsk manufactured parts have been used and assembled at Tula?Yes, but uncommon.

It is absolutely 100% Izhevsk in origin. That style of serif "1" stamp on the receiver was NEVER used by Tula.

BE is also a documented serial prefix for the 1953 dated carbines from the Izhevsk arsenal.

 

[Boris Badinov]

OP, I highly recommend a visit to the sks-files.com forum. They have an extensive archive of serial data for the soviet guns available to established members with 100+ posts.

 

[The Kurgan]

Have you seen serial prefix overlap? If so, I would be happy to revise my conclusions. I base my comments on observations of 100's of SKS's and over 2200 serial numbers. Unlike others here, I won't discredit your comments, but photos of fonts and stamped serial angles is not conclusive enough for me.

 

[The Kurgan]

Oh, and btw, I am not arguing. I am sincerely interested in proof of serial prefix overlap.

 

[Boris Badinov]

Have you seen serial prefix overlap? If so, I would be happy to revise my conclusions. I base my comments on observations of 100's of SKS's and over 2200 serial numbers. Unlike others here, I won't discredit your comments, but photos of fonts and stamped serial angles is not conclusive enough for me.

There is definitely a lot serial prefix overlap between Tula and 1953 Izhevsks in particular-- IIRC especially with serials beginning with A and B., for example.

Perhaps this has something to do with why Izhevsk also switched largely to the single-prefix+single suffix serial style in 1954?

(i.e. XY 1234 became X 1234 Y)