- Location
- West Quebec
Post some detailed pics so we can evaluate it, easier to do than just going by explanation. Besides we all like gun ####...
Indeed let's see some..
My Unref SKS Refurbished?
- Thread starter Pcmx
- Start date
Indeed let's see some..
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The whole issue is a bit esoteric. If i was sold a rifle as unissued or un- tampered with and paid extra I would not be impressed if I didnt get what I consider non refurbed. With unrefurbed rifles, without the usual square and diagonal line on the rec cover which denotes a refurb, electro pencil should just be on the small parts ie gas tube, piston,firing pin, things that are too small to stamp. If its on the mag, trigger group or bolt or receiver cover,or any large part of the rifle, it is what's called forced matching. Thats usually a sign that the rifle has been refubed. Sanded stocks, ###ed out numbers on stocks, and stocks that werent issued with certain dates- (laminates and early dates for one example), is another sign. The worst of course is the dreaded BBQ paint as this was not an original finish. As to bayos and the different colours and cleaning rods, I dont know. I would suspect that both the bolt, rod and bayo should be without paint and no scrub marks( as in taking the paint off) should be present. Ive seen bolt groups that have obviously been put under the wire wheel. Correct me if Im wrong. Nice looking stock by the way! Cheers
There are other refurb marks other than the square with the diagonal line thru it. There is the <> as well as the <> with a line intersecting on of the >'s on one end. Sometimes the refurb mark is only on the rear portion of the stock stamped in the wood. A lot of times I have noticed that if the gas tube and piston have been refurbed there will be the electro pencil serial without the letter(s), just numbers. The unrefurbs on the stocks will normally have inspection carouches around the foreward bolt in the stock generally on both sides but sometimes just on one.The early and mid year guns were issued with shiny polished bayos. The blued, painted or bead blasted look are usually refurb however I think they used the rough finish bayos as well as the shiny as original equipment on some of the later ones too. (If someone else could confirm that as well). As far as scrubbed bolt covers there should be crisp lines on the contours at the charging handle. If it is too rounded in this area then you will probably see scratch marks where it was ground then wire wheeled and those scratches will go in at an angle to the main line of the bolt cover. and then either electro penciled or restamped. Just my observations and from doing research. Also you can look for tell tale things like for example the shape of the gas block. If it has a 90 degree gas block and a hole in the receiver cover release lever but the cover says it's a 1953 for example that is a dead giveaway that it has been refurbed. There were other features that were only used for certain years and if the dated cover doesn't match the date these were in use it can tell you a lot as to whether it is a refurb or not.
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- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
The matte silver bayonet became standard issue on SKS's starting in 1953 (Izhevsk) and 1954 (Tula), but you can find polished variants on these years as well.
Another place to sometimes find a refurbishment mark is on the top of the cleaning rod.
On later SKS's, you can sometimes find the serial number electopenciled on the buttplate and this is NOT a sign of refurbishment.
Paint on the buttplate is not necessarily a sign of refurbishment, as this was sometimes crudely applied to SKS's, refurbished or non-refurbished (as-issued), to prevent crate wear and/or corrosion during arsenal storage. This quickly and poorly applied paint is easily and safely removed with acetone, and is not to be confused with the uber strong and highly resistant "BBQ" paint found on some refurbished barreled-receivers, trigger groups, top covers, mags, etc.
Bayonet bolts were often snugged down during refurbishment, and therefore misaligned punch marks/dimples does not necessarily mean the bayonet was replaced!
The last tidbit that comes to mind is that ALL SKS's were inspected and handled during the arsenal refurbishment process. We will never always know if gas tubes and/or gas pistons and/or operating rods and/or recoil springs and/or cleaning rods and/or bolts were replaced or not!
Another place to sometimes find a refurbishment mark is on the top of the cleaning rod.
On later SKS's, you can sometimes find the serial number electopenciled on the buttplate and this is NOT a sign of refurbishment.
Paint on the buttplate is not necessarily a sign of refurbishment, as this was sometimes crudely applied to SKS's, refurbished or non-refurbished (as-issued), to prevent crate wear and/or corrosion during arsenal storage. This quickly and poorly applied paint is easily and safely removed with acetone, and is not to be confused with the uber strong and highly resistant "BBQ" paint found on some refurbished barreled-receivers, trigger groups, top covers, mags, etc.
Bayonet bolts were often snugged down during refurbishment, and therefore misaligned punch marks/dimples does not necessarily mean the bayonet was replaced!
The last tidbit that comes to mind is that ALL SKS's were inspected and handled during the arsenal refurbishment process. We will never always know if gas tubes and/or gas pistons and/or operating rods and/or recoil springs and/or cleaning rods and/or bolts were replaced or not!
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Lots of very good info on the sicky I'd been tearing into: Russian-SKS45-ID-FAQ-Collectibles-update-feb-8th-2011
I didn't notice signs of refurbishment except one I thought maybe was a part transition year and just the little things I wondered about, as mentioned, arsenal inspection/minor adjustments before going into storage. This has electo-pencilling on the underside gas tube and on the piston, cyrillic characters included.
The electro-pencilled barrel, I didn't find anything. My other refurb has it too. Except that this wasn't supposed to be a refurb. I paid more than what they are going for now, but less than my first refurb at $300, so anything less, and actually quite a bit less, didn't bother me.
The thing that was concerning, is the shellac went bad on its own. Typically from what I read, not common on a non-refub. That's when I noticed the sanded markings on the barrel and.. I'll post more pics, soon
I didn't notice signs of refurbishment except one I thought maybe was a part transition year and just the little things I wondered about, as mentioned, arsenal inspection/minor adjustments before going into storage. This has electo-pencilling on the underside gas tube and on the piston, cyrillic characters included.
The electro-pencilled barrel, I didn't find anything. My other refurb has it too. Except that this wasn't supposed to be a refurb. I paid more than what they are going for now, but less than my first refurb at $300, so anything less, and actually quite a bit less, didn't bother me.
The thing that was concerning, is the shellac went bad on its own. Typically from what I read, not common on a non-refub. That's when I noticed the sanded markings on the barrel and.. I'll post more pics, soon
Thanks! That was a main choosing factor, so I like it either way.
The cyrillic characters are blanked out. I know it seems silly, but I know of another with same year and numbers. The 7s show some minor differences in font.
3 Cartouches on one side:
Touch up paint, not considered part of refurb :
Punched numbers have raised edges:
Stamped numbers, edges not as apparant:
I didn't feel like field stripping, but mag has slot at back; mid-picture (1953 and prior):
Early style gas tube lever (I like this style.. Changed in '54??):
1954:
I should have taken this from the other angle, but notice the short-topped 7s:
Trigger guard raised edges on numbers:
Cartouche, not very strong:
Nice looking grain:
Crown looks good, bayonet handle's not worn:
Not sure if the flat spot is a bit ground, the rest does not look wire-wheeled like my other:
Pic of the other side:
Cheers!
NubbY said:
No, not there. My Mosin I got there is doing the same though, and my SVT-40 from them isn't. Not to say my SKS is not from the same batch depending on who was importing from that same bunch if it works that way (?)
Thanks, I really like the look of the stock! I just had these pics of part of the barrel:
There's what looks to me like some sanded/ground out markings and some light scoring of the metal, and the electropencilled barrel..
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..Anyone know what the 4 digit number on the barrel visible in this pic directly below the rear sight is?
I'm looking that hard haha
I'm not sure. My other SKS looks like that, and the one I have in question has paint too, but I'm gatehring it is not a sure sign of refurbishment, rather possibly an arsenal protective coating before storing them away.
I wouldn't worry about the "paint" on the butt plates. I think it was applied by the arsenalers to protect the rubbed blued portions of the butt plates. I can scratch it off with my fingernail and it looks like it was applied over the cosmoline thus the flaking. I would not be done that way at refurb. As far as the barrel marks hard to say. The one mark may be lightly struck rather than scrubbed. Not sure about the numbers and have never seen or heard of a serialed barrel, electropenciled or otherwise, new or refurb (again maybe someone else can chime in on this). The cleaning rod may be a replacement for a lost or bent one, wouldn't necessarily denote refurb though...
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- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
My non-refurbished '52 came this way. The buttplates were hastily painted (it seems to be common this shipment) to prevent corrosion and crate wear during storage. If nothing else is refurbished on the SKS, you can be sure this is not a sign of refurbishment. It comes off super easy. I just removed the buttplate and wiped it off with acetone. It took all of 10 minutes.
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
Yeah, most of the non-refurbs are gone... but weimajack has a few real beauties... I have my eye on the 1950 non-refurb.
