Just purchased a Sneak!

[Worm]

Here she be!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=460620263

I'll post more pics when I get her in! My first Russian :D

[Stoned_Oli]

You know, I read somewhere those really aren't Russian... 

Nice looking firearm!

[Worm]

Well, when I get it, I will check and see if it says if it was made in China or not 

& Thanks!

Any idea on the year of production? My Russian-fu is poor. Mid-Late 50? Early 51?

[running-man]

Nice pickup Mitch!  I'd guess an early '51 if I had to, but heck it could be almost anything. I do see a faint Tula star cartouche outline on the stock though.  This gun is going to be a TGI import I think.

Looking forward to when you get it! 

[Stoned_Oli]

Well, when I get it, I will check and see if it says if it was made in China or not 

& Thanks!

Any idea on the year of production? My Russian-fu is poor. Mid-Late 50? Early 51?

<s>Clean it really well with solvent and don't oil it for a few days</s> See if it has a chrome lined barrel or not. Mine has features that would suggest mid to late '52, but the non-chrome lined bore suggests 1951, and looks a lot like yours.

[Worm]

Thanks peeps

Wouldn't non chrome suggest 1950? not 1951? He says it's chromed.. But wont know for sure until I get it.

Yeah, seein that gas block tells me it's a Tula. I don't think a 53' or 54' Izhevsk would have one like that right?

Hoping it's a matching stock. I don't think I've ever bought an SKS that had a matching stock. Very sad.

[Worm]

Hey RM, happen to have a list of Russian sneak serials? I know you were keeping track of the recent imports on another forum. But just wondering.

Buying this has obviously sparked my interest 

[Loose}{Cannon]

Good one!   

Welcome to the club..  we meet right here every day.   

You know, I read somewhere those really aren't Russian... 

Nice looking firearm!

ROFLMFAO!!!!!

[Phosphorus32]

Looks like a cool SKS!   

I'm looking forward to you getting it in your hands and posting more, and better, pictures than the seller provided 

[Worm]

Good one!   

Welcome to the club..  we meet right here every day.   

Excellent, I'll be here every day. 

Looks like a cool SKS!   

I'm looking forward to you getting it in your hands and posting more, and better, pictures than the seller provided 

Yes! I am very anxious to get my hands on it. Better pics will be provided ASAP. 

[Stoned_Oli]

Thanks peeps

Wouldn't non chrome suggest 1950? not 1951? He says it's chromed.. But wont know for sure until I get it.

Yeah, seein that gas block tells me it's a Tula. I don't think a 53' or 54' Izhevsk would have one like that right?

Hoping it's a matching stock. I don't think I've ever bought an SKS that had a matching stock. Very sad.

I have been under the impression that the chrome/not chrome was 51... can't recall from where...
Might be mistaken anyway since I discovered my bore wasn't chrome by scant research on cleaning methods and rust protection oversights. Mine has all early features except the hole in the bottom of the receiver is square backed, not rounded, which seems to be a post 50 trait according to Yooper John's sight.
I saw another site out there that really broke it down by feature and approximate year, but I can't recall how I found it.
Can't wait to see yours in detail!

[Worm]

Oh.. Sweet! Thanka ya, didn't know. I'm guessing mine doesn't have the original receiver cover so it'll all be guesses by the traits she has.

Once I get her i'll take some detailed pics. 

[running-man]

Hey RM, happen to have a list of Russian sneak serials? I know you were keeping track of the recent imports on another forum. But just wondering.

Buying this has obviously sparked my interest 

Here's what I've got (unfortunately with these sneaks, I didn't take date information, so it's just a list of S/Ns):

IO Monroe: (AO5188_И) (AT458) (AП919) (AГ4662) (BK478) (BM1066_И*) (CM4150_K*) (HE2007) (НГ2647) (HП1385*) (HП1708) (KA2951*) (KA4675_ Д) (KO1385) (KN1385) (KP2180) (KП1385*) (KП1708) (КП1950) (KП3123) (KП3627) KГ5468 (КЮ4129) (MB3789*) (MC2266) (MП5375) (O2642_P*) (O2960_P) (OK2110) (OЮ617) (OП8597) (PB1921) (PB3591) (PM9030) (PT4161) (PП1454) (PЛ4493) (PИ1578) (PЛ7360) (TИ4214_K) (TP7810_Д)
(ИM349) ЛТ4949* (ЛП3425) (ПA836) (ПA2277) (ПH298) (ФA1236) (ФЛ140) (ФП3879) (УM2571_K*) (УM2152) (ЗЮ1731*) (ЮП3243)

TGI: (AT1733_И* force matched '49 cover) CA2957 MT2782

IO Palm Bay: (HT1873) (KB2495*) (KГ4934) (KP6198) (KЮ1101) (ОП1415) (OЛ5219) (OЮ1495*) (РП5165) (PИ1578) (РИ3881) (PЛ7486) (ПO1257) (ЛM4202_И) (УA7687_И*) (УM6786_K)


Yours looks to be either a HГ (seen in IO Monroe) or a KГ (seen in Monroe and Palm Bay) prefix.  Neither set is a letter gun prefix, so it stands to reason yours isn't either (and the 45° gas block kind of verifies that anyhow). 

Either way, I'm thinking you're going to be pretty happy with it.  Would be awesome if it came with a matching receiver cover...but I think the odds are stacked against you, otherwise the seller would have indicated a year on it. Something like this...

[bbush44]

Mitch,
Did the seller send you any more pictures of it? I seen that listing and asked the seller for some close up pictures, and didn't get a reply. Congratulations man.

[Worm]

Awesome! Thanks RM. I'm ok with her being mismatched all over, just means she's been more loved  I am hoping the stock is Russian though.. Looks birch to me. I love Russian stocks.

I'm pretty positive it's a K, also.. not an H. Curious though, why do you think it will be a TGI import? Since there's only been three sneaks out of there I'm just curious.

bbush, nope, didn't ask for pics, just saw the cyrillic prefix and that was good enough for me lol And thanks 

[running-man]

I think it's a K in a Russian stock too Mitch, though I think lots of things, and it's only once in a while that I'm right (blind squirrel & nut, broken clock right 2x a day, etc.) 

Here's why I think what I do on the importer though.  The photo on the right side sure doesn't show a nice IO Monroe mark that we'd expect.  Those marks were nice and deep and consistent and visible from 100 feet away.  The IO Palm Bays came in right about the time IO was getting in trouble with the ATF, so even the list shows that there are not as many of those as there should be.  The right side doesn't show a well stamped IO Palm Bay stamp either, but it could be a light or partial stamp.  It could also be one that was totally blank as I've seen several of those floating around (that would be awesome now wouldn't it...instant "VN bringback"!! ).  The TGI stamp is typically on the left side between the barrel and the bayo.  I'm guessing that's where this one's import stamp is hiding.  Who knows though. 

If I was a betting man, I'd bet Blicero my nicest M59 against one of his old ratty K98s.  Bah I know better than to do that though, dealing with a legend like that only brings up feelings of inadequacy. 

[Worm]

Lmao Thanks for the explanation man. I'll let you know as soon as I do. I guess I now just play the waiting game. Hopefully this guy ships fast. I'm anxious :D

I've never taken much interest in Russians, but I've always wanted one of these from the Albanian batch. This'll fill the slot good. Not sure if I paid too much though. Ah well.