PLEASE, tell me about my "new" SKS (note: many photos)

The Kurgan

The Kurgan

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I picked it up today from Al Simmons gun shop in Hamilton.

I was told that it is in "very good" condition and was an "early" refurbish.

It is Russian in origin.

All metal parts have original blueing and looks excellent, stock is laminate and not original?

The barrel is also not original and is chrome lined. The rifling looks sharp and clean.

All parts have matching date stamp (3n2013), except the barrel (1823)

The magazine has what appears to be a "pin" job to meet Canadian 5 round standards.

It came with a "baggie" containing a sling, round oil can?, oil can pouch (leather), some small metal tubular thing, and some other heavy duty canvas pouch containing what appears to be speed loader clips?

I bought a "crate" of Czech made ammo.

That is all I know about it.

Oh, and I'm in love! Its my first centrefire since my FNC1A1/A2 and C7 days in the Reserves (11 Fd Regt RCA).

Experts, please chime in.

Thank you kindly from the Hammer :>)

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I just bought a Russian SKS a couple days ago to.. nice rifle and shoots good. I bought a ATI monte carlo stock so make it look a little more modern ... I could careless about the collectors value if any. For $189 bucks you cant go wrong.
 
#1 - clean the hell out of it!!!!

#2 - shoot the hell out of it!!!!

What you have is a 1954 Tula (the maker) that has been arsenal refurbished. That means that some parts will be "forced matched" by using an electropencil to engrave new numbers on parts (like your gas tube).

There are some great stickies at the top of this forum that you should read. There's a lot of helpful information in there.

Welcome to the SKS addiction!!! :cheers:
 
It means the stock has been "forced matched" just like his barrel and gas tube. The X's cover up the old serial number and the new one is added.
 
The Kurgan said:
I suppose a refurb barrel and stock meets the definition of frankenstein. I can live with that. :)
Click to expand...
franken pinned refers to the way they pinned the magazine to comply with canadian law
ive seen nicer sks but their cheap and cheap to feed so use it and if you get into them source yourself out a nice one that is a non refurb with matching numbers
 
shredder said:
It means the stock has been "forced matched" just like his barrel and gas tube. The X's cover up the old serial number and the new one is added.
Click to expand...

That makes sense to me. I'm happy it has the original blueing and most matching parts. As for the stock... I understand that the laminate is indeed a 1950's add-on. So, with the exception of the barrel and a 1950's stock replacement, and perhaps the electro-penciled gas tube, she's pretty unmolested. I can't wait to empy 1000 Czech rounds out of her! :)

I found this after a google search:

Some things to look for:

FINISH:
If the finish is NOT blued, but parkerized or dark grey, the rifle has been reworked.

If an electro-pencil has been used to number any parts, such as the bottom of the gas tube, there should be bright bare metal or slightly rusted metal showing. If the numbers are blued then it has been reworked.

Laminated stocks are NOT original, but a 1950's replacement.

Original Russian SKS's had shiny bolt carriers, bolt parts, and bayonets. If you have a blued, black, or parkerized bolt carrier, it has been refinished or replaced at one time.

MARKINGS:
The Russians marked the rifles they refurbished. The marking was a diamond or a box with a diagonal line through it. This mark is usually found either on the stock or the lug that hangs down from the receiver cover.

If any serial numbers have been "X"ed out and new numbers stamped near the originals, then the rifle is a referb.
 
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a definate good read is the sticky on this forum about identifying SKS rifles, different refurbs dates etc... best one I've seen on the interweb
 
Robert0288 said:
a definate good read is the sticky on this forum about identifying SKS rifles, different refurbs dates etc... best one I've seen on the interweb
Click to expand...

Thank you. I just spent the better part of an hour reading the stickies. What a great resource! I feel much more comfortable knowing the facts.

I'm now curious about the barrel... is it supposed to have a matching serial number? See first two pics.
 
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Refurb or not, that's a beautiful looking SKS. People will rummage through crates of rifles looking for laminate stocks like that one. Looks like the parts are in great shape, should be a fine shooter. I would guess that the barrel number should match the rest, but maybe not. For what you paid you can't go wrong. Enjoy!
 
It looks like more than just the stock is force matched....the magazine is, and a couple other parts, you can tell because the numbers are scribed on by hand. Also, sometimes they grind the old numbers off and stamp new ones on, and you can tell because the numbers end up being not on a straight ruled line, but a wavy line. That said, I think it's about as nice an SKS as i'd ever hope to buy for myself. I'd rather it was frankensteined force matched parts that actually works than totally matching and need work or not function perfectly.
 
mwjones said:
It looks like more than just the stock is force matched....the magazine is, and a couple other parts, you can tell because the numbers are scribed on by hand. Also, sometimes they grind the old numbers off and stamp new ones on, and you can tell because the numbers end up being not on a straight ruled line, but a wavy line. That said, I think it's about as nice an SKS as i'd ever hope to buy for myself. I'd rather it was frankensteined force matched parts that actually works than totally matching and need work or not function perfectly.
Click to expand...

Actually, the magazine has the correct serial number stamped at the bottom. Its just that part of the number is covered over by the hideous pin job -- Canadian import rules regarding magazine capacity. So the importer also electopenciled the serial number on the side of the magazine. I also did more homework on the subject -- all day to be exact. The only confirmed "forced matched" part is the 1950's replacement laminate stock. The only other part that might be a replacement is the barrel... but to be honest, I'm not convinced that the numbers on the barrel (as shown in my top two photos) are supposed to match the serial numbers on the other parts. Somebody needs to prove to me that the numbers are supposed to match.

I can also confirm that the gas tube was never a stamped part -- too thin. Whether or not it was replaced some time ago, I can't confirm. However, the blueing seems to match the tone of the rest of the blueing on other parts. Either way, that doesn't bother me.

I also have the serial number electropenciled on the gas piston. I can't confirm if its a replacement piston or the original. Again, this doesn't bother me.

There is no evidence that any number was grinded off on any part. Only the stock has the original serial number ###X'ed off.

Convince me that the barrel should have a matching serial number. Take photos of your SKS parts and post them up.

Overall, to have a nearly original 'arsenal refurb' is ideal... it hasn't been unnecessarily molested, it has been thoroughly checked over by a Russian technician, and declared ready to shoot! I'm tempted to buy another for safe keeping. What a great rifle!
 
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