The date on the cover is original. The serial number on the back of the cover is not. It was fairly common during refurb for mis-dated and mis-matched covers to end up on different rifles. The serials were scrubbed and restamped BUT the dates and arsenal stamps remained. This practice has led to much confusion regarding dates on the soviet SKS45's. So much so that the best way to determine the truth or fiction of the dates on the covers is to examine the rifle design features to narrow down the possible dates of manufacture.
SKS with blued bayonet?
- Thread starter mbogo3
- Start date
The date on the cover is original. The serial number on the back of the cover is not. It was fairly common during refurb for mis-dated and mis-matched covers to end up on different rifles. The serials were scrubbed and restamped BUT the dates and arsenal stamps remained. This practice has led to much confusion regarding dates on the soviet SKS45's. So much so that the best way to determine the truth or fiction of the dates on the covers is to examine the rifle design features to narrow down the possible dates of manufacture.
The spring loaded firing pin narrows it to 1950-1951.
And If it's got a chrome lined barrel, then it's definitely a 1951 date of manufacture.
With a bore light, a Chrome lined bore will appear very shiny after cleaning, even if its well worn. Without the chrome lining, a clean bore will have a dull, uneven luster, but not the bright shine of the chrome. You'll also be able to see the chrome sleeve as the inner circumference of the muzzle crown.
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These are Cyrilic (Russian) letters "D" and "N". So that serial number, whatever it means, is in English: DN 2325. Since it has no letter after the number it's not a "letter series" SKS. The "letter series" started in 1955 if I remember correctly. Yours was manufactured in 1954 in Tula. Obviously, it must have a chromed bore for that production year. The cover is correct. I don't believe that it was "re-stamped". IMHO the spring loaded firing pin is most likely an aftermarket pin.
This in not a 1954 gun. Just a '54 cover on an early gun. It's definitely and early soviet firing pin, bolt and carrier. The '54 dated cover is a relpacement, and the matching serial number is the result of scrubbing and restamping, a feature commonly seen on Soviet SKS refurbs. Additionaly, specific features on the gun (45° gas port, and the early bolt/carrier) limit the possible dates of production to only 1950 or 1951.
Also, the early bolt, carriers and firing pins aren't easily compatible with the later guns. There are dimensional differences which would lead to insufficicent head space, and problems with the hammer striking the firing pin.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/12/SKS45028Small1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/12/SKS45051Small1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/12/P1090961-1.jpg
Also, the early bolt, carriers and firing pins aren't easily compatible with the later guns. There are dimensional differences which would lead to insufficicent head space, and problems with the hammer striking the firing pin.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/12/SKS45028Small1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/12/SKS45051Small1-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/12/P1090961-1.jpg
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I have a 1950 matching which has a replacement chrome lined barrel, no numbers on the barrel where you say but there is a # 2 on the receiver plus lots of proof stamps etc on both, I believe I got this one from Tradex as the pinning is done with a large rivet. It does have the Spring loaded firing pin!
I've not seen any evidence yet that the soviets replaced barrels during refurbishment. It's a very labor intensive process. Original matched barreled receivers were tapped and threaded on paired machinery to assure proper thread alignment. Getting threads to fit on a replacement barrel would be very difficult. Though not impossible.
If you've got at stock or a cover or both that say 1950 and the barrel is chrome lined -- then it's most likely a later gun with replacement stock and cover.
Many of the Canadian suppliers are know to have "modified" soviet sks's to make them matching: for example, ever seen a 1949 dated laminate stock?
Is the front gas block 45° or curved?
And does the barrel/receiver alignment hash mark line up?
If it is a chrome lined barrel with the early bolt,carrier and firing pin it could be a 1951 with a replacement cover.
Are you sure it's chrome lined? Can you post some pics of the rifle? Including one of the muzzle?
All matching numbers including cover, the link you provided even says they replaced worn barrels, this would be especially true of the early rifles as they were not chrome lined and wore out faster and they were, in general, issued more as they were first off the assembly line, I have seen lots of early rifles rebarrelled when I had the opportunity to go through a couple hundred at our local CTC, later models most likely didn't need replacement as often due to the chrome lining making them more durable. They were also probably used much less as the numbers of AK 47 grew!
The link I provided is a great resource overall, but as I stated when I posted it, it has some inconsistencies, and makes some claims that can't be corroborated. Arsenal rebarreling and 1950 guns issued with spike bayonets are the two substantial claims made for which I have not seen definitive proof... at least not on any of the US imported guns.
I have never seen an arsenal re-barrled sks (from any nation) in the US. It's entirely possible that they exist, but I'd have to see one to believe one.
Many guns that have gone through Canadian distributors, exhibit varying degrees of post import modification-- often with the seeming intention of making an all matching original condition gun from what was a preveiously a standard, mis-matched refrurb. Kind of like Mitchell's Mausers here in the US.
Can you post some pics of this gun? It would be helpful to see the crown, the front and rear gas blocks, and the area beneath the stock on the left side of the reciever where the barrel joins.
Thanks,
Boris
I will try, camera not the greatest but it seems no matter what, you won't believe that there are rebarrelled sks, even to suggest that they were rebarrelled after coming into the country, where do they get the barrels, from another sks? Why? Go to all that trouble to sell a $200-$250 sks, does not make sense. Not sure how you can scrub/grind off the serial numbers on the cover and or the receiver, them reblue it just to make a couple bucks, you would likely lose money, none of that makes sense. Most of my sks cost aaverage of $180. Plus tax, except the 59/66! So how much did the importer make! Plus they had to pin the mags. Not a bunch of money in it. I can see if the rifle was rare and worth a lot of money, but the sks is neither, you can't spit without hitting one in Canada, sales on today have copies of Chinese and Russian refurbs going for $219. The new normal price for sks. I am not sure why you don't believe there are rebarrelled sks, factory rebarreling makes complete sense when refurbing old shot out sks to be stored till their comrades in other countries needed assistance!
What is more likely is that you have a 1950 cover that had the serial number scrubbed and restamped during refubishment.
You can post pics or not, that's your call. If you decide to do so, please post some pics of the stamps on the cover too.
Again, I'm not saying its unlikely, or even improbable. What I'm saying, rather indirectly, is that I've read a handful of threads over the past decade where someone claimed to own (or to have once owned or at least seen) a rebarreled soviet sks. But in all of those posts, there were never any pictures posted to show what they were referring to.
You can post pics or not, that's your call. If you decide to do so, please post some pics of the stamps on the cover too.
Again, I'm not saying its unlikely, or even improbable. What I'm saying, rather indirectly, is that I've read a handful of threads over the past decade where someone claimed to own (or to have once owned or at least seen) a rebarreled soviet sks. But in all of those posts, there were never any pictures posted to show what they were referring to.
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- Location
- Steel Town
I have handled hundreds of SKS's over the years... I have NEVER seen a re-barreled refurbished SKS. I am certain that the refurb arsenal would have sent unserviceable barreled-actions to the smelter. As for the question of faked matching SKS's--I have seen a few, but not many (mostly faked stocks). Four years ago it was not hard to find authentic non-refurbished SKS's in Canada... but those days are behind us. The best that is currently available are all-matching "supergrades", many of which are mild refurbs (arsenal fitted replacement stocks, sometimes blued bayonets, etc.)
Seems as if there would be a stamp of some sort, likely on the barrel itself.
I will say that the unpaired #2 that bobdbldr indentifies on the left side of his receiver is very intriguing, as the matched pair of numbers on the left receiver flat and barrel shank are known to be an indication of an original matching barreled receiver.
The alingment marks might also reveal some information.
But without decent photos to corroborate there's no way to be certain.
Well that's 2 against and one for,I will get some pics on Sunday as it will be raining, (trying to finish a shed) will try to take half descent ones!
I can't really even say that I'm "for" or "against"... only that I lean heavily to one side.
I've started a lively discussion over on sks-files.com in the russian rifle section. It's a great topic that I have heard touched on breifly over the years, but never in depth. Your 1950 dated rifle with chrome lined bore was the impetus for some great and ongoing discussion.
I would like to say that unless there is photos of carbine it is questionable. And in my case there is still a problem because there is no other carbines in question like mine. 1950 with 90 degree gas port, eyelet latch pin, stock ferrule and spike bayonet and with numerous pictures to verify.
