Russian SKS Serial Number Registry

Here's my attempt to, OVER TIME, estimate total production of Russian SKS carbines.
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There was no system in cyrillic prefix/number system. The prefixes were assigned randomly and for the reason - nobody would be able to estimate the total production numbers.
 
dimon said:
There was no system in cyrillic prefix/number system. The prefixes were assigned randomly and for the reason - nobody would be able to estimate the total production numbers.
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You are entitled to your opinion. Clearly you haven't read through this thread!
 
The Kurgan said:
You are entitled to your opinion. Clearly you haven't read through this thread!
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My apologies for not being clear in my expression. Also, I am not questioning the great research you are conducting in any way.
In late 1940-1950's and later the tension between West and Soviet Union was quiet high and thus it created a "shield" of secrecy in Soviet Union. Especially when it comes to armaments including small arms.(Remember how even the existence of AK was kept, well at least attempeted to, secret?)making the quantity of weapons produced and kept in warehouses a classified strategic data. Heck, the amount of weapons, even an SKS's kept in military reserve warehouses in Russian Federation these days is still classified. So, the serial numbering on weapons was designed to prevent an estimation of production quantity. That's why I am saying that there is no straight forward system in serial numbering. I admire your approach to cracking that 'code' and don't want to sound ignorant.
 
I have Dr. D. N. Bolotin's "50 years of Soviet Small Arms and Catalogue" in front of me. Here is a concised extract(with serial #'s) of SKS's in collection of Historical Military Museum in then Leningrad(printed 1967):

Inv# 175, 179. 7.62mm SKS-45 serial# СГ 48, СГ 207. Made in 1946. In 1946-1949 went through field trials.
Inv# 259. 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # СВ 63. Made in 1947. In 1947-1949 went through field trials.
Inv# 179. 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # СВ 51. Made in 1947. In 1947-1949 went through field trials. In difference from base model has cruciform bayonet.
Inv# 173 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # 2A 16. Made in 1948. In 1948-1949 went through field trials. In difference from base model has cruciform bayonet.
Inv# 172, 169, 261 7.62mm SKS's-45, serial #'s РО 1946, РО 2570, НЮ 1668. Made in 1949. In 1949-1950 went through field trials.
Inv# 174 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # ЮП 314. Made in 1949. In 1949-1950 went through field trials. In difference from base model has cruciform bayonet.
Inv# 105 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # TP 1815. Made in 1950. Used by troops of Lenigrad Military District in 1950-1957.
Inv# 212, 165 7.62mm SKS-45, serial #'s TA 4458, OB 35872(correct 5 digit number as in the book) Made in 1951. In 1951-1953 went through field trials.
Inv# 260 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # HC 787. Made in 1951. Used as a teaching aid in Dzerzhinskiy Academy...
Inv#'s 106, 107 7.62mm SKS-45, serial #'s AH 2337, OK 2566. Made in 1952. Used by troops of Lenigrad Military District in 1952-1958.
Inv# 178 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # ЗН 2135. Made in 1952. In 1952-1953 went through field trials.
Inv# 213 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # ИМ 1741. Made in 1953. Went through field trials.
Inv# 177 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # HA 711. Made in 1954. In 1954-1955 went through field trials.
Inv# 183 7.62mm SKS-45, serial # ЮВ 1015. Made in 1954-1955. Went through field trials.

I am not an SKS collector, but I hope this little bit of info is helpful for whomever is into it. There is more information and description in here, particularly in regards of experimental specimens of Model 44 SKS and personal donations of S.G Simonov himself to the Museum, but at the moment I am reluctant translating all and perhaps it deserves it's own thread.

Best regards,
 
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I am not sure whether it is well known or not but one that is collecting Russian sks Carbines should be aware that many rebuilt guns have parts from other guns on them that have been (in some cases) scrubbed and re serial numbered. Attention to the fact a example may have a dated top cover with a small star after serial number. You must look st the contours too see whether the part has been sanded down and re stamped where the serial number goes. I have found 3 so far with dated top covers that did not belong but were serial numbered to the receiver one was a Tula small star after serial number with Izhevesk 1953 top cover with matching serial number. You could see the edges were flat on the rear from sanding then re stamped. Trigger groups are the easiest to see that have been scrubbed the contours are not right.
 
The Kurgan said:
I might do that for my favourite SKS... 1951 non-refurbished beauty queen.
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I am looking for a '51 SKS to match my '51 dated sling and pouches. I also have an early cleaning kit to go along with it.

I have the sling on my 55/56... for now.

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Wasn't thinking clearly on what years I wanted, but I definitely need a non refurb '51 SKS. Will have to wait till the next Westrifle batch. Hope I get lucky...

As for the Izzies I have two '53 that have been both been lightly refurbished. After much study, it seems only the stocks, gas tube and piston have been replaced on both.
 
Hope you can get it back up and running Kurgan. Can the data be dumped into an Excel spreadsheet or something? My original idea was to do something like this, so that 1 person can keep the original file and (hopefully) avoid problems like you have had.

Got 2 more to add once its going again.
 
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