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SKS Carbines => Unaltered SKS Rifles => General SKS Discussion => Topic started by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 02:29:29 PM

Title: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 02:29:29 PM
Are there any reported serial numbers in the 12344000 range for arsenal 26 ? I just got one that is in this range with no import marks, high polish reblue, with high polished bolt carrier, and kinda rough, but matching stock. Looks to be unfired and all matching with sling and everything.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: Phosphorus32 on December 19, 2018, 03:39:50 PM
Are there any reported serial numbers in the 12344000 range for arsenal 26 ? I just got one that is in this range with no import marks, high polish reblue, with high polished bolt carrier, and kinda rough, but matching stock. Looks to be unfired and all matching with sling and everything.

Yup, RM has them up to 351,000 so that is at the upper end of known production.

https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=360.0


Let's see this beauty!
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 06:03:45 PM
Thanks. I saw that link but read it wrong. Yes 344 is inside of 351.  It has been a while since I found one all there.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: running-man on December 19, 2018, 06:09:51 PM
Are there any reported serial numbers in the 12344000 range for arsenal 26 ? I just got one that is in this range with no import marks, high polish reblue, with high polished bolt carrier, and kinda rough, but matching stock. Looks to be unfired and all matching with sling and everything.

Yup, RM has them up to 351,000 so that is at the upper end of known production.

https://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=360.0


Let's see this beauty!

I've got photos of a 12344xxx gun that has bringback papers (which I assume are legit..but you never know...I do have a 12346xxx gun that is 100% verified bringback though..most complete and excellent shape set of paperwork I've ever seen actually):

(https://i.ibb.co/fdt3fwb/12344003-receiver.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Jj2YVJN)
(https://i.ibb.co/wcNvFY9/12344003-left-rear.jpg) (https://ibb.co/J3RhwCf)
(https://i.ibb.co/31TPqNG/12344003-left-whole.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qBD2fsX)
(https://i.ibb.co/GMsYfHp/12344003-papers.jpg) (https://ibb.co/B64WHn3)
(https://i.ibb.co/vvZqYPP/12344003-right-whole.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0Vh2tMM)

Would not be surprised to see another gun of similar vintage that has no import stamp and has bringback characteristics. 

Closest imported gun I have to 12344xxx is this 12339xxx gun:
(https://i.ibb.co/1ZqQ4FR/12339943-receiver.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wyWg25p)
(https://i.ibb.co/9vXdkXx/12339943-stock2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b3hGMh4)
(https://i.ibb.co/KDpkwnL/12339943-right-whole.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Sc48rSd)
(https://i.ibb.co/qrNRQNf/12339943-right-rear.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Kr29v2k)
(https://i.ibb.co/K9N2VDq/12339943-right-lug.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kh34qJ8)
(https://i.ibb.co/dBCfrxR/12339943-receiver-cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7vMSXLq)
(https://i.ibb.co/mXhSDW3/12339943-left-whole.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZYcNLD0)
(https://i.ibb.co/H2dwF9k/12339943-bolt-carrier.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QcdSbx1)

I'm with P32, lets see this gun shoutout!  thumb1
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 06:35:42 PM
I am within 200 of 12344000. I will post some pics. The arsenal stamp and characters are very defined and do not look real cause most all of the are "Off" somewhat. I thin the polish and reblue may account for this, but the rifle looks unfired. It even looks like the toolkit was put in the stock and the then the cover put on cause I do not see a line where the tool kit tube scrubbed the hinged door.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 06:57:05 PM
How does this look?

(https://i.imgur.com/ttm5fpj.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 07:07:35 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/1OaLv9W.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 07:14:52 PM
I have looked on the barrel for an importer, but found nothing. The rifle looks like it has not been taken out of the stock. Is there any where else an import might have stamped? Here is the chamber area.

(https://i.imgur.com/jMaJw3i.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 07:20:31 PM
I guess my post count goes up this way. ::) Bolt face. Looks pretty good for a 1967.

(https://i.imgur.com/QUO91z7.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 07:31:43 PM
You would not believe the last one I got. Do you know how to keep a scope mounted receiver cover from moving? I am talking not moving ever so slightly. Well Bubba knows. You simply weld the receiver cover to the receiver. I got this one after leaving it for a few days. Cleaned up pretty good for a shooter. All there too. Bubba saved the factory cover and it fit right on like nothing had happened.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 08:26:59 PM
Could this be a new rifle, not refurbed, and the stock is just beat up some?  I thought about this, but then there are no boo-boos on the metal. What gives? Any pic requests?
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: running-man on December 19, 2018, 09:51:13 PM
Could this be a new rifle, not refurbed, and the stock is just beat up some?  I thought about this, but then there are no boo-boos on the metal. What gives? Any pic requests?

In my opinion, the gun has been given a light scrubbing and reblued - possibly this was done at the factory prior to initial issue, but the relatively beat up stock vs. the relatively pristine metal is a pretty good indication that it's been refurbished.  You can also tell by the flatness of the metal around the stamps and the dark blue color across the entirety of the valley portions of the S/N digits.  Original as-issued type 56s have definitive raised areas where the stamp has upset the metal.  These raised areas often are the first to have the bluing wear off and give the numerals a kind of whitish outline:

(https://i.ibb.co/vH4hMJx/12247989-receiver.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FK4XdBb)

What does the stock cutout for the receiver cover takedown lever look like?  Your S/N is well within the range for an inverted takedown lever and all original stocks for these guns that I've seen have the appropriate takedown lever notch in them.

It's a nice gun, the lack of import stamp is pretty neat and it may very well be a VN bringback.  Unfortunately in today's market, that will only give you a very small premium over a similar condition type 56.  thumb1
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 10:10:16 PM

I noticed the flatness on the stamps too. The trigger guard, receiver cover and box magazine are all "flattened" too. It has a U rear sight ladder , two piece gas tube and short screw barrel.
(https://i.imgur.com/eMeE1Lm.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 10:15:32 PM
This is the first thing I noticed unusual about this rifle. A very nice, no rust or scraped, bright blue and polished butt plate.

(https://i.imgur.com/3DKvr7F.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 10:26:52 PM
Stock with large numbers.

(https://i.imgur.com/n5zCpyE.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 19, 2018, 10:34:14 PM
Stamped trigger assembly-----------

(https://i.imgur.com/JKjqtMg.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: running-man on December 20, 2018, 09:27:51 AM
I's definitely got all correct features for a 12 mil /26\ gun.  Pretty nice specimen!  thumb1
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 20, 2018, 09:33:20 AM
Thanks. I just checked the box magazine for any sort of 5 round block. Nothing.  Here is a picture of the butt plate and one of the screws.

(https://i.imgur.com/rGIx4qa.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 20, 2018, 09:39:14 AM
A camera flash brings out a "plum" look to some of the metal.

(https://i.imgur.com/es8exx1.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 20, 2018, 09:52:18 AM
I have noticed that the stock has "wood fur" sticking up and out around where the metal goes into the stock. I have only seen this on new rifles cause after a few time of unstocking, firing, cleaning and general handling this  fur seem to get smoothed in or rubbed off. I still am unsure about if this is a numbers matching replacement stock or the original stock. There are a couple places on the stock that look like a bolt handle from another SKS  put lines in the wood.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 20, 2018, 10:56:38 AM
I have noticed on the stripper clip cut on the bolt carrier there are differences. Some are flat on top some have two hash marks. This one has two well defined lead in ramps for the clip.

(https://i.imgur.com/IkUpquW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zWElDRg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0qecqB0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/722X3lh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SBkhsQK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sNmvld1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bN2U34y.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f0aLKrb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hKOaDfN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/295iibb.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 20, 2018, 11:37:54 AM
What is up with the rear sight ladder that looks like it has a pin placed through it? I guess rather than the ends ending flat they step down and form a tit. I guess this helps placing the rear sight ladder in the groves?

(https://i.imgur.com/7BanFGs.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 20, 2018, 01:41:26 PM
Look closely at the above photo. There is something else interesting. Can you find it?
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: Phosphorus32 on December 20, 2018, 04:44:12 PM
I have looked on the barrel for an importer, but found nothing. The rifle looks like it has not been taken out of the stock. Is there any where else an import might have stamped?

Right side of the receiver, left side of the receiver, right side of the barrel towards the muzzle, bottom of the barrel. I don't think any SKSs are known to have import stamps hidden by the wood like Samco and Navy Arms sometimes did on their other firearms, but I wouldn't say never.

I've seen a Century imported M44 with a small lightly "laser-etched" import stamp on the bottom of the barrel in front of the front sight base. I knew it was marked because the transliterated Cyrillic letters were on the barrel shank, but it took a minute to locate the import mark.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 24, 2018, 09:38:57 AM
No import marks on upper barrel area. I checked over and under and around gas tube and bayonet. I spoke to the shop where I got it from and asked if they knew anything about this rifle. This came from a large collection, over 1000, firearms. There were pistols and rifles from everywhere with no imports marks. I saw all this and wondered how it could be. Then I found out he was high up in the US Air Force. I feel confident about the no import marks and original condition of this rifle. The one picture shows two hardness testing dots on the rear sight block. You can see one  dot in the pictures posted of the other 67' in above post. I have seen these testing dots before, but with all the new camera and internet stuff it s fun to and easy to magnify and post.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: shotout on December 24, 2018, 09:49:30 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/eZMThSj.jpg)
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: Phosphorus32 on December 24, 2018, 01:24:03 PM
No import marks on upper barrel area. I checked over and under and around gas tube and bayonet. I spoke to the shop where I got it from and asked if they knew anything about this rifle. This came from a large collection, over 1000, firearms. There were pistols and rifles from everywhere with no imports marks. I saw all this and wondered how it could be. Then I found out he was high up in the US Air Force. I feel confident about the no import marks and original condition of this rifle.

That is an interesting story. If the USAF O-6/7/8/9/10 is deceased, and the collection sold off, perhaps they'd share his name so you could chase down some info. Alternatively, with a collection that size, perhaps they could point you to the auction house with which the family consigned his collection.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: Larry D. on February 10, 2019, 01:24:10 AM
Good lord!
Some gorgeous rifles pictured in this thread.
Title: Re: 1967 SKS
Post by: Matchka on February 10, 2019, 05:27:36 PM
Nice rifle! And, now I know what to call the teeny-tiny bits of wood poking out around the metal. "Wood fur"!