SKS: what's more desirable

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joed66

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From a value point of view what is more desirable?

An SKS with all matching S/N except the stock or an SKS with all matching S/N except the magazine? both are 1954 Tula builds

SKS on the left has mismatched magazine

SKS in the middle has mismatched stock (original S/N ######x out)

Thanks

 
All things being equal, the mismatched mag is easily more desirable. Mismatched mags are considered to be fairly standard casualty of the import process and also are a "lesser" component of the gun compared to a stock.
 
Philthy1 said:
All things being equal, the mismatched mag is easily more desirable. Mismatched mags are considered to be fairly standard casualty of the import process and also are a "lesser" component of the gun compared to a stock.
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Plus one ^^. Both of those Russians appear to be blued, very nice. Even with a bit of damage around the front cross bolt, I prefer an original stock.

However, is that a Chinese SKS on the right? That might be your real gem?:confused:
 
To me it doesn't make a difference valuewise, both are mismatched and would be worth what a mismatched rifle is worth no matter what. Personally if it was me I would buy the rifle with the matching magazine as the magazine might have been fitted to the rifle, which might make it more reliable than the non-matching magazine rifle.
 
As soon as the mag's been pinned, it might as well be a mismatch.
Someday, you might find an unpinned arsenal original unserialised mag, so I'd put more value on a matching solid birch stock.
 
dendro said:
Which one shoots better? They're both sub $200 rifles.
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That's more along the lines of my thinking, neither one has all the numbers matching, so go with whatever one works better, shoots better, has better blueing, less rust, barrel looks nicer or trigger feels better, whatever features are important to you.
 
both comparable refurbs that are super common and nobody is collecting them. go for the best trigger/finish.shooter grade only. i wouldn't care about the miss matched stock as all refurbs are that way.
the spacer on the butt makes that one more useful
 
LarryG said:
both comparable refurbs that are super common and nobody is collecting them. go for the best trigger/finish.shooter grade only. i wouldn't care about the miss matched stock as all refurbs are that way.
the spacer on the butt makes that one more useful
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Sks's? They are most collected firearm in the country
 
Robert Nicholson said:
Plus one ^^. Both of those Russians appear to be blued, very nice. Even with a bit of damage around the front cross bolt, I prefer an original stock.

However, is that a Chinese SKS on the right? That might be your real gem?:confused:
Click to expand...

That is a Chinese type 56 SKS on the right. One of those commercial builds, although with parts that came from the mid to late 60s, eg. milled trigger group rather than stamped, screw in barrel rather than pinned, etc. All the S/N match on that gun. It is a beauty that I had to have!
 
Philthy1 said:
All things being equal, the mismatched mag is easily more desirable. Mismatched mags are considered to be fairly standard casualty of the import process and also are a "lesser" component of the gun compared to a stock.
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My thoughts as well, thanks.
 
I'd get the one with the mismatched stock every time, as that was an actual arsenal refurbishment process, the mismatched mag was due to the importer (and avoidable). Either way, you can't go wrong in a shooter.

The gems are the early 2008 IZH import SKSs with the mag pinned by way of a small piece of bar stock tack welded to the follower arm. I have one that is non-refurbished and an excellent shooter. It will always remain in my collection.
 
joed66 said:
From a value point of view what is more desirable?

An SKS with all matching S/N except the stock or an SKS with all matching S/N except the magazine? both are 1954 Tula builds

SKS on the left has mismatched magazine

SKS in the middle has mismatched stock (original S/N ######x out)

Thanks

Click to expand...

These are all shooter grade, and not collectibles. While they are all nice, they are not of the collectible level....... Yet. As the nice ones have stopped coming in the mismatched ones will go up in value, just not for awhile. As for the most collectible, a 1949 period correct, numbers matching like I have in my safe :) the fewest built, and all period correct there are not many around. There are also NO noted non refurb examples that I have heard of in Canada...
 
Bubba Yugga said:
As soon as the mag's been pinned, it might as well be a mismatch.
Someday, you might find an unpinned arsenal original unserialised mag, so I'd put more value on a matching solid birch stock.
Click to expand...

You should specify with today's frankenpinning method of mag limiters. A few years ago they were tactful and didn't mangle the magazine. No such luck now
 
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