Painted VS. silver bolt

[rhourd]

I am looking at buying one of those Russian beauties and I am wondering:

Is there any difference between painted and silver bolts other then looks?

Are the laminated stocks better or the same as the regular wood stocks?

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

There is no difference in the bolt. Its just the Black ones are more common. Same goes for laminate vs Birch stocks. The Silver bolt and laminate stocks are just sought after more so they are more expensive. But I did read about issues with the arctic birch cracking around the grip area, which is one of the reasons they went to laminate. But that was probably because the military is a lot harder on rifles then target shooters. Read those Stickies! I knew nothing about the SKS before I read them. Thats where a lot of the info I just gave you came from.

 

[Baldrick]

Good to know.
Thanks

 

[easyrider604]

Are the laminated stocks better or the same as the regular wood stocks?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and many people think laminated is prettier and more attractive than solid arctic birch. Laminated is stronger in the wrist area and they have the additional recoil lug behind the trigger as well. Laminated will resist warping better than solid.

IMO, collectors will go for original non-forced match stocks be it birch or lam. Shooters may find lam desirable for the qualities mentioned.

 

[bearhunter]

Laminated stocks were more serviceable and had the advantage of being cheaper and in many ways, easier to produce. Especially as decent solid wood was getting scarce. The fact that the stocks tend to be tougher and as mentioned above, more stable, is just a bonus. Cost and availability is usually the reason for such changes.

 

[Pblatzz]

The laminate wood could also have the defects cut out and spliced in good wood prior to glueing. No or minimal waste.