Original SKS finish

[Grizzly Adams]

Post about the unidentified Russky got me thinking if there another way to tell a refurb from an original. All the refurbs I've seen are black phospahte finished. Old clunker I have is blued. My thinking is that the original finish was blueing, then phosphatised on refurb. Sound about right?


Grizz

 

[svt1940]

Post about the unidentified Russky got me thinking if there another way to tell a refurb from an original. All the refurbs I've seen are black phospahte finished. Old clunker I have is blued. My thinking is that the original finish was blueing, then phosphatised on refurb. Sound about right?


Grizz

Original finish is blued, refurb can be blued or painted with flat black paint. Paint is somewhat rough btw. Usually, refurb have a refurb stamp on the cover either a square witht a line in or a diamond. Some SKS 1949 may have been painted originally at the factory.
Joce

 

[Dakk]

Usually, refurb have a refurb stamp on the cover either a square witht a line in or a diamond.

Though many do not have refurbs stamps.

I think in most cases, the easiest way to tell a refurb is by the stock. Most refurbs either have forced # match or they are laminate stock on a pre-1955 SKS. There aren't many SKSs that have an original # match on an original matching stock type.

 

[svt1940]

Though many do not have refurbs stamps.

I think in most cases, the easiest way to tell a refurb is by the stock. Most refurbs either have forced # match or they are laminate stock on a pre-1955 SKS. There aren't many SKSs that have an original # match on an original matching stock type.

Russian are not always constant putting the refurb marks on and sometimes they only change the stock on a barely used rifle.
Joce