Please help identify an Izhevsk SKS just bought

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bradut

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Hi, I wanted a shooter, so I bought a Izhevsk in a Tapco stock, with Tapco magazine and the bayonet still on. I am not collecting so the value of the original SKS used was not important to me. But I just noticed the lack of many serial numbers in the locations they should have been on this gun. In addition, there is a modern "made in Russia" type of stamp, please see the pictures. I wonder if this is not a toy, something made recently and eventually installed by the Russians in a Tapco stock, just for commercial sales in Canada. Is it shoot-able? Does anyone know what is this?
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Looks like a refurbished 1954 sks exported in 2013. Was likely put in that stock by the importer or another owner. Perfect gun to shoot the bag off of!
 
The barrel stampings identify it as a Molot commercial rebuild, and likely a shootable gun. But, if you are uncertain, there's no harm in having it inspected by a professional before you go live.

Is there a serial number on the receiver cover? Are those photos of the only serial stamps on the gun, or are there others?

The date on the cover is not a reliable indicator of the actual date of manufacture. Various design features are the best clues to D.O.M., as small changes in design are attributable to certain date ranges.(i.e. bolt design, trigger contour, gas port cut, bayo lug angles, # of tabs on the gas tube take dow lever, etc)

Similarly, the Izhevsk stamp on the cover does not necessarily indicate that the gun is Izhevsk in origin. Original Izzy cover serials were single line. A Double line serial on a Izhevsk cover would indicate scrub (via filet weld) and restamp. Differences in serial fonts are also a reliable indicator or replacement parts.

The tapco stock is definitely not a Russian replacement, and was likely added post import.
 
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bradut said:
Hi, I wanted a shooter, so I bought a Izhevsk in a Tapco stock, with Tapco magazine and the bayonet still on. I am not collecting so the value of the original SKS used was not important to me. But I just noticed the lack of many serial numbers in the locations they should have been on this gun. In addition, there is a modern "made in Russia" type of stamp, please see the pictures. I wonder if this is not a toy, something made recently and eventually installed by the Russians in a Tapco stock, just for commercial sales in Canada. Is it shoot-able? Does anyone know what is this?
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You have a modern SKS refurb made by the Russian "Molot" factory. AS the white number "13" shows it was mostly assembled from various parts in 2013 (the white marking Г И C - God Izgotvlenya Serii 13 means Year of Series Production 13; B П- Вятско-Полянский машиностроительный завод «Молот»- Vyatsko-Polansky "Molot" machine work plant - symbol of the Molot plant). It has no collector's value at all. However, it's absolutely shoot-able. They are being sold in Russia as hunting rifles nowadays. It can be a good shooter as usually the barrels used by the "Molot" factory are either very good or at least good quality. The Tapco stock is an extra addition, normally, the Molots were imported into Canada with wooden stocks. Unfortunately, their importation to Canada stopped after 2014 when sanctions were imposed on Russia.
I have an identical "Molot" SKS refurbished/assembled in 2014. I mounted a red dot on it and it shoots well at 100 yards.
 
Thank you for the replies. The receiver cover also has the HH96 serial number at the back, same as on the bolt. This serial number, very short, made me doubt the origin. All parts have been "painted" with what may be a Russian version of "parkerizing" since it is not soluble in any solvent buy may be easily sandpapered off. Even the firing pin retaining pin was painted! Imagine when you press such a pin!
 
Thank a lot! This is what I expected from a real expert!!! I do not speak Russian. I know the "H" is a latin N, but this is all. Very short serial for a 1954 because my understanding was Izhevsk produced SKSs for two years, 1954 being the last year, so I do not see how they numbered the guns.
 
bradut said:
Thank a lot! This is what I expected from a real expert!!! I do not speak Russian. I know the "H" is a latin N, but this is all. Very short serial for a 1954 because my understanding was Izhevsk produced SKSs for two years, 1954 being the last year, so I do not see how they numbered the guns.
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This thing was assembled from parts and painted/parkerized in modern times around 2013 in the Molot factory. So, serial number really doesn't matter. That black coating looks so-so but in reality is very resistant to scratches. I've been extensively using my Molot for over two years (2,500 rounds through it) and the coating looks nearly new. The barrel on my Molot was also nearly new with a very strong rifling. The gun is really just for shooting.
 
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