Unissued Numbers Matching SKS?

[ljones]

Yeah first thing, not only thing.... Lol
Those are usually the first to disappear from the stock with use or sanding.

Yup.. shouldn't respond to posts way past my bedtime. lol

 

[westrifle_sks]

I read this thread and I did not want to jump in but I will. First of all Russians and Ukranian keep Sks in lots. Which means that lot 15623 is manufactured and then stored at the factory then this lot was send to Ukraine where first it might go for new soldiers to be train or it goes for a deep storage for later day. This is how as simple as I can put it. Now refurbishment process takes place in one location in a specific factory where those soldiers do training and then something brakes and it goes to a factory. Scenario number two is when every 3 to 5 years depending on location and weather condition of storage region those rifles that never got fired get inspected. Rifles that had cracked stock or any sign of mold or rust get pulled from storage and fixed ( refurbished) and stamped.
Both pictures showed you how Sks get refurbished, but we as dealers that go overseas have to buy first what available and second what we can choose. Some dealers that brought Sks in the past want cheaper price, 5 dollars cheaper and you can grab abused rifle.
In any case some dealers know that a certain lot was never issued to soldiers and was only shot at original factory or at refurbished factory.
We westrifle.com fly overseas when we choose our rifles and hand pick them at location. We found this to be the best solution to control quality of Sks we have in stock.

Al

 

[The Kurgan]

Throw some pics up of the inspector markings, bolts, carriers, etc

Here's a few random shots of a few of my non-refurbished SKS's. Disassemble and start analyzing each part. Look for refurb stamps, signs of sanding, ground metal/re-stamps, new barrel on worn rifle, etc, etc. It takes time, but it becomes obvious with practice.

 

[The Kurgan]

Another trick is to check that the electropenciling is of the same hand (though different hand writing may not mean a refurb):

 

[The Kurgan]

Unfired specimens (ok... we won't call them "unissued") are hard to spot. A couple of areas to check is wear on the bolt, bolt face, bolt carrier, and the inside of the receiver rail. A few of the photos above show this (which is a mix of fired and unfired, but all non-refurb). Here's an inside receiver rail...

unblemished bayo:

status of bluing above and below wood line:

 

[The Kurgan]

Also, look for striations inside the chamber:

 

[Spotagwan]

dont worry about ammo, get the cheapest and clean your gun buddy

 

[SKS45]

Ok. What about surplus ammo? Is it possible to get surplus ammo that is non-corrosive ?

Nothing wrong with the corrosive ammo...its great!!! Just clean your rifle.