thanks moving target for the best russian SKS i have ever seen .

jcoulson64 said:
The unknown is just that. On the others, there is dating on the top of the Reciever Cover. This one lacks that. I couldn't find any other markings indicating a date either. Ill try to get some pics up later.
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Is there a small star on the left hand side of the receiver after the serial number? Is the last character of the serial number a:
Flat top A
E
Backwards N
K

If your gun has the above characteristics it is a late 1955/56

If it has a star on the receiver cover but no date,and the serial number starts with KP it is a mid-late 1955

If your gun has non of the above it could still be a 1955. But close up pics would be needed of the cartouches,and markings.
 
Woodbeef said:
Is there a small star on the left hand side of the receiver after the serial number? Is the last character of the serial number a:
Flat top A
E
Backwards N
K

If your gun has the above characteristics it is a late 1955/56

If it has a star on the receiver cover but no date,and the serial number starts with KP it is a mid-late 1955

If your gun has non of the above it could still be a 1955. But close up pics would be needed of the cartouches,and markings.
Click to expand...

You can use the Character Map in Windows to copy and paste any non latin (Cyrillic or else) character:
А Б В Г Д Е Ж З И К Л М Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ю Я
אּ בּ גּ דּ
 
I have just received my sks from Moving Target. Its a 1953 Tula unissued. All matching, no wear on bolt or carrier,receiver,hammer. Maybe has been shot a few rounds for sighting but there no trace of powder on chamber&bolt,bore is sparkling new! Very little ding and scracht on wood. This little baby appear new! no refurb mark anywhere. I have got the cleaning kit,oiler&pouch,ammo pouch with some clip, but no sling. Should i have got the sling with or just the accessories mentioned earlier? I'm not sure if i will shoot it, i already have a chinese norinco and a beaten up but very good shooter Tula 1955/56 to wear out! I will try to post some pics later if i can borrow or steal a cam:D: Congratulation to the peoples of Moving Target, all was packaged very carefully FIRST CLASS SERVICE! They have a new customer on their list now! Ed you are the MAN!:D
 
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svt1940 said:
. Should i have got the sling with or just the accessories mentioned earlier?
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ed should have charged you an extra $20 for unissued grade but instead he kept the sling .















not ...... sling comes with every rifle ... call ed . :D
 
got mine today, i had asked for two unissued, but one definately shows signs of use/firing. and the other is a refurb or a rifle built using recycled parts. not complaining though as i have a hard time believing the whole "unissued" thing, which to me means that no one other than a factory worker or armourer ever touched it and it never saw the light of day other than at the factory or armoury. i do find it easy to believe that the "refurb" is unissued since refurb.

here is my take:

1) tula 1954, matching stamped numbers, golden bayo, no refurb mark. shows signs of wear, ie from the bayo being extending, and there is a hint of paint on the muzzle. also bayo is off center in the stock groove. shows signs of firing. there is wear from the two take-down levers. i would call this rifle excellent condition.

2) tula 1954, matching numbers - trigger guard is electropencil, stock shows that the original number, tula star, and 1954 were sanded down before a matching number being stamped, it also doesn't have the variety of stock markings that #1 has. no refurb mark. no sign that the bayo was ever extended. minimal if any signs of firing, ie inspection marks are visible on the front (muzzle end) of the rod extender (or whatever it is called). no sign that the tack-down lever on the receiver cover was every used, and only a little sign on the take-down lever for the gas system. condition is excellent. i think this rifle is closer to "unissued" than #1, the rifle shows no signs of use.

there is what looks like a well stuck "X" inside a poorly stuck box on the right side of the front receiver ring.

both rifles have touch ups on the buttplates. neither shows any sign that they ever wore a sling, at least one with any metal parts. i haven't disassembled them completely, but i have removed and looked at the gas tube/piston, they both seem to have the proper features (gas block, rear sight, etc) for 1954 as per the sticky on top of the SKS page.

i am no expert though, nor an i a true blue collector. i intent to shoot the pi** out of both of these. not going to bother with pictures, as they don't look any different than a punch already posted.

it is interesting to me that the inspector marks/assembly marks on the rifles are not the same on the two rifles. for example, i count 6 stampings on the receiver ring chamber area of #1 and 10 on #2. is this because #2 went through the factory twice?
 
MiG25 said:
it is interesting to me that the inspector marks/assembly marks on the rifles are not the same on the two rifles. for example, i count 6 stampings on the receiver ring chamber area of #1 and 10 on #2. is this because #2 went through the factory twice?
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where is this receiver ring ?
 
Got my unissued today!

Its a 1953 Tula with all numbers matching and show some handling marks on wood.

It does show signs of firing but the mag follower and mag show no signs of wear (could be test fire) however the sling swivel appears never have been use with a sling and metal works shows original non-refurbish condition.

The muzzle is bare metal (which is same as my 54 unissued Tula I got from somebody else), bore is clean and rifling is crisp and sharp.

I am no expert but it appears that it fits the description as "Unissued" due to the fact we have to put in the consideration the gun is over 50 years old and may been move, pack,unpacked moving around many hundreds times before it reaches our hand.

I can surely tell the difference between these two unissued vs a refurbished that I own prior and for little over three bills shipped these are a bargain!

Thanks again Ed and you and your wife have earned a life time loyal customer!:D
 
I received my unissued Russian a few days ago. Very nice looking gun.

Is there anything I need to do before taking it to the range? It looks very clean, but I'm not sure if they greased up the barrel for storage or something. Do I need to clean it out, or will it shoot fine out of the box?
 
Spectre said:
You should always field strip and clean any firearm you buy before shooting, even if it is brand new.

I have completely disassembled mine, and cleaned the grease and goo out of the barrel, gas port, and bolt (after I took it all apart.)

Then I coat with a good gun oil (like Break Free or Corrosion X) before reassembly.

When it is time to shoot, I clean the excess oil out of the barrel and gas system.
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Good to know, I'll do that.

edit: Will soap and water work for the cleaning out the oil? Also, what about a bore guide? I think there's one in the cleaning kit (the cap), but is that sufficient?
 
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Got my SKS too!

Hi guys and gals, I also got my unissued SKS from Moving target 2 days ago.

It is a 1954, Im just wondering what parts exactly need to match serial numbers to say its unissued.. The cover has no refurb mark and has the serial number stamped, as well as the trigger guard and wood stock.

However the gas cylinder ? (tube on top of barrel) has electro pencil serial as well as the butt pad..

When you open the bolt I see half circle marks in side the bolt.

it is in great shape for a 55 years old rifle thats for sure, just wondered if it is expected for a unissued rifle.

Thanks in advance :)
 
I think the "unissued" word is a little abused.
As long as they were delivered to the military they were issued, even if put in storage and never used.
As long as the searial #s on all parts match and there is no ###X s/n on the stock, electropenciled on any part but the gas tube, piston, ejector and rear sight then you have an all matching gun.
It is impossible to punch serial numbers on the gas tube without damaging it (thin metal tube), so ep or laser engraving (not available et the time of manufacture) is the answer. Also some other smaller parts like the ones mentioned above where punching is not practical.

DarkStalker said:
Hi guys and gals, I also got my unissued SKS from Moving target 2 days ago.

It is a 1954, Im just wondering what parts exactly need to match serial numbers to say its unissued.. The cover has no refurb mark and has the serial number stamped, as well as the trigger guard and wood stock.

However the gas cylinder ? (tube on top of barrel) has electro pencil serial as well as the butt pad..

When you open the bolt I see half circle marks in side the bolt.

it is in great shape for a 55 years old rifle thats for sure, just wondered if it is expected for a unissued rifle.

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
 
Spectre said:
Actually, I use Simple Green and really hot water if I want to keep the fumes down and there is a lot of Cosmoline on the metal. Otherwise, WD 40 or Kroil can be used to wipe down the firearm, and clean the bore and moving parts. Then just wipe off and coat with your favourite gun oil.

The SKS is nice in that you can push a one piece rod in from the rear of the receiver, if you pull the cover pin out of the way.

Good luck!:)
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I can see how cleaning from the receiver end would avoid the problem of cleaning fluid getting into the action/stock, but won't there still be a risk of the rod scratching the barrel?
 
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