SKS's Looking Rough These Days

Picked up a really nice "super grade" from Cabela's the other day and was really impressed with the condition. Unissued, relatively clean and a great stock. I had planned to take this one apart and go the Tapco stock route but I may keep this one original and pick up an average condition unit to pull apart. Still hovering in the $300.00 range though... Calgary Shooting centre still has the "pull from the crate" options.
 
The Kurgan said:
lol... I can confirm that some are finding their way here with what appears to be sand in the action... not alot but you can feel it.
Click to expand...

There's no telling whether a refurbed SKS was rebuilt in 1960 or 2015. Some of these rougher ones might be getting a quick bead blast to remove rust and a quick dunk in the hot dip bluing tank. Would not surprise me at all. I'm sure a good many rusted in storage - wood crates and wax paper are no longer the best system available for long term firearms storage!
 
GunsNotPuns said:
I think its arguable that discussions on the SKS-45 belong more in the milsurp subforum than they do the red rifle subforum.

At any rate, we were bound to reach this point sooner or later. They may have made several million of them but there eventually comes a day when the nice ones are gone and the rougher specimens are the norm. Is this that day? I wouldn't be surprised.
Click to expand...

Bear in mind the current crop are coming from former satellite states, not Russia-proper. I suspect the inventory in Ukraine (and the like) is getting sub-optimal. Probably lots of nice ones left in Russia, but with current relations, they are out of reach.
 
fat tony said:
How do they confirm for you that the SKS is unissued?
Click to expand...

Good question! It seems that we may be relying on the word of whoever is doing the selling. One "un-issued" that I bought
had a perfectly un-marred bolt face as well as other bare metal surfaces that did not show any signs of metal to metal contact.
Additionally, most of the outer surfaces of the SKS were un-marred and new looking except for a few storage blemishes including
rust and other signs that it had been stored for a long time. And it came in cosmoline that was dark and dry.

I guess it is a matter of trust and detective work (or self-delusion) on the part of those who care.:redface:
 
Was at Cabellas Edmonton yesterday and they had a bunch on display saying "super grade numbers matching" for $239. Now, I didn't ask to handle one but the wood looked good and the bayonets were clean
 
Robert Nicholson said:
Good question! It seems that we may be relying on the word of whoever is doing the selling. One "un-issued" that I bought
had a perfectly un-marred bolt face as well as other bare metal surfaces that did not show any signs of metal to metal contact.
Additionally, most of the outer surfaces of the SKS were un-marred and new looking except for a few storage blemishes including
rust and other signs that it had been stored for a long time. And it came in cosmoline that was dark and dry.

I guess it is a matter of trust and detective work (or self-delusion) on the part of those who care.:redface:
Click to expand...

All SKS rifles were test fired. Periodic firing and inspection is also par for the course for long term storage. There would be no discernible difference between a rifle that was never issued and one that was issued to a non-combat troop and was never fired. Thus, we cannot conclude that any particular rifle was "unissued" without a written record, which does not exist.
 
Robert Nicholson said:
Good question! It seems that we may be relying on the word of whoever is doing the selling. One "un-issued" that I bought
had a perfectly un-marred bolt face as well as other bare metal surfaces that did not show any signs of metal to metal contact.
Additionally, most of the outer surfaces of the SKS were un-marred and new looking except for a few storage blemishes including
rust and other signs that it had been stored for a long time. And it came in cosmoline that was dark and dry.

I guess it is a matter of trust and detective work (or self-delusion) on the part of those who care.:redface:
Click to expand...

Well, no refurbishment markings of any description and a rifle that doesn't appear fiddle farted with would be a good start I would think? (I have an unfired, unissued Tula)
 
The 2 chinese SKS 306 military beefier stock, i bought from Marstar a while ago are definetely very brand new, i am happy i have kept them in cosmo for posterity... JP.
 
caramel said:
The 2 chinese SKS 306 military beefier stock, i bought from Marstar a while ago are definetely very brand new, i am happy i have kept them in cosmo for posterity... JP.
Click to expand...

I could have purchased as many of these as I wanted for $105+taxes a few short years ago. Now that would have been a great investment!
 
I think its fair to say that a savvy collector is going to have a hard time finding a prime specimen at any big box store. If you really want a "collectible", get on ee or pay the Kurgan :).
 
I was in one of the local CT tonight ; and they had SKSs on sale for 184 each . They had 7 left , and 2 were laminate .
 
Last edited:
I have 2 Chinese and 2 Russian. I'm not really in a position where I want or need to hoard any more of them.
Especially since I predominantly only shoot one of them. Also, considering one of these fine rifles will certainly outlive myself and my kids.
 
It is easy to get hooked on SKSs since you get a military grade rifle for the price of a pellet gun .
 
Last edited:
Can anyone help in what to look for when buying an SKS? I mainly want a shooter and I've heard the refurbs might be better for shooting since they've been over hauled. Since reading this thread I think I might get another one for collecting and I'm not sure what to look for (the difference between regular markings and refurb markings).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom