howiebearse
Member
- Location
- Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
as a collector I have studied the sks pretty well over the years. on the Russian sks top covers are very interesting and sometimes a mystery and missleading.
1949-1955 Tula dated with Star and fletched arrow same stamping on stock
1953-1954 Izhevesk dated with triangle and fletched arrow same stamping on stock
late 55 Tula star with fletched arrow dated 1955 with small star after serial number serial number only on stock no factory markings
late 55 56 top cover may have a star and fletched arrow no date
small star (actually found with 2 sizes of star) folowing serial number
56 most likely plain top cover no markings unless refurbed markings
small star after serial number stock will have just serial number
any refurb can have a laminated stock hardwood stocks also found up to late 55
56 most likely issued from factory with laminated stock with serial number only
Caution on refurbed guns: they sometimes depending on what place did the work actually scrubed the original serial numbers and re stamped new ones on carious parts (not electric pencil as usually found) these parts will be scrubbed restamped with prefix and numbers to match new receiver and reblued. you can spot these by looking at the corners and surface under the stampings and see they were buffed or ground down. Easiest to spot is trigger guard also you will some times find a Izhevsk dated top cover on an obvious Tula late gun with small star after serial number but with same numbers as receiver. so take a good look at the parts of your Russian sks and see if you can spot a scrubbed and renumbered part.
1949-1955 Tula dated with Star and fletched arrow same stamping on stock
1953-1954 Izhevesk dated with triangle and fletched arrow same stamping on stock
late 55 Tula star with fletched arrow dated 1955 with small star after serial number serial number only on stock no factory markings
late 55 56 top cover may have a star and fletched arrow no date
small star (actually found with 2 sizes of star) folowing serial number
56 most likely plain top cover no markings unless refurbed markings
small star after serial number stock will have just serial number
any refurb can have a laminated stock hardwood stocks also found up to late 55
56 most likely issued from factory with laminated stock with serial number only
Caution on refurbed guns: they sometimes depending on what place did the work actually scrubed the original serial numbers and re stamped new ones on carious parts (not electric pencil as usually found) these parts will be scrubbed restamped with prefix and numbers to match new receiver and reblued. you can spot these by looking at the corners and surface under the stampings and see they were buffed or ground down. Easiest to spot is trigger guard also you will some times find a Izhevsk dated top cover on an obvious Tula late gun with small star after serial number but with same numbers as receiver. so take a good look at the parts of your Russian sks and see if you can spot a scrubbed and renumbered part.
