Picked up a LOW serial number '53 Izhevsk refurb

[The Kurgan]

Just snapped these with my smart phone, so not the best quality, but note the very low serial number!

two with a better camera:

I have never seen a shipment of SKS's so badly covered in cosmoline! It took me the better half of the day to get her clean.

Based on the transitional bayonet lug and early trigger assembly, I believe this is a very early 1953 Izhevsk!

All metal parts are matching, the bore is immaculate, and the "new production" arsenal-fitted laminate stock fits nice and snuggly. The only ugly thing about it is the buttplate, which was crudely repainted with some thick black paint. My 1952 SKS refurb also had a crudely painted buttplate, but in an olive green shade.

One thing that stands out is the machining, especially around the receiver/receiver rail. The finishing seems better than any SKS I've ever handled -- and I've handled hundreds!

BTW, there's a wierd triangle symbol on the buttstock. Anybody seen this before?

Now, time to get out and shoot her!

 

[plinker 777]

Kurgan; where do you keep finding these gems? Let's see...Izzy sks's were made for two years '53 and '54, and you've found #8 in 1953!!! It's no wonder the machining is fantastic, the job is still a novelty for Ivan the machinist at this time.

The triangle almost looks like half of the refurb square/diamond??? As your stock {like mine} was new and numbered when installed {no ###X} it was part of a refurb process. Is the mark a stamping or burned? It looks the latter.

 

[st1264]

Nice rifle... I really like the laminated stock models in great condition. Your smart phone takes pretty nice pics (that's rare).

 

[The Kurgan]

Kurgan; where do you keep finding these gems? Let's see...Izzy sks's were made for two years '53 and '54, and you've found #8 in 1953!!! It's no wonder the machining is fantastic, the job is still a novelty for Ivan the machinist at this time.

The triangle almost looks like half of the refurb square/diamond??? As your stock {like mine} was new and numbered when installed {no ###X} it was part of a refurb process. Is the mark a stamping or burned? It looks the latter.

It looks burned on the stock, prior to the finish being applied.

I have a "few" non-refurbs now, so my focus is on finding "interesting" or rare SKS's. An arsenal-fitted laminate stock on an otherwise all-matching SKS is just fine with me. This SKS was definitely issued and used, but the bolt, carrier and barrel are pristine. You can tell this is an early '53 Izhevsk... and I'm thrilled to own one.

 

[RMXC51]

You certainly DID find an interest and rare bird there, Kurgan! OP8 sounds like some shadowy military sub group. DANG.

Of all the SKSs I see, the 53 Izzies tend to have the most strange/interesting/weird componentrs.

 

[Undergiver]

why do they pin the mag like that, it ruins an otherwise gem of a rifle.

 

[The Kurgan]

You certainly DID find an interest and rare bird there, Kurgan! OP8 sounds like some shadowy military sub group. DANG.

Of all the SKSs I see, the 53 Izzies tend to have the most strange/interesting/weird componentrs.

You are right about that. Sadly, I never get to handle too many 1953 Izzy's, so I bought this one without hesitation, and also because non-refurb '53 Izzy's are super rare, and secondly, it has one low serial number. Clearly, the earliest production runs were used, so I expected a refurb, just not one that's limited to a replacement stock.

If we only knew Russian SKS production numbers and where the various batches ended up after being shipped from the Tula arsenal and Izhevsk Mechanical factory! History really adds value!

 

[The Kurgan]

why do they pin the mag like that, it ruins an otherwise gem of a rifle.

Sad isn't it? Remember the days when the mags were frankenpinned (horrific drill, weld, and grind jobs)? However, I'll take an endless supply of low-cost mint condition SKS's with neatly pinned magazines over comparable SKS's that cost $500 to $750 in the good ol' USofA.

 

[RMXC51]

The US rifles have ugly impoter marks crudely bashed into their barrels. 5 rounds sucks but to me a rivet beats lines of text staring at you any day.