5 digit (?) serial number with SS or 55?

[Matchka]

Ghost or letter type? Arsenal stamp is light. No idea.

[Loose}{Cannon]

1957 banian with lots of coldblue and a replacement stock (russian).

2380899

[running-man]

LC nails it...though I think the S/N is 2380855. 

That slant in the numerals is pretty common in that serial number sequence.  Look at these others in the same neighborhood.  Also the /26\ stamp had broken and consistently produced the same poor stampings.  Took them a couple thousand guns to notice & replace it I guess. 

[Loose}{Cannon]

The bottom hook is the same as the 9 not the 5....   but whos fonting. 

[Bob_The_Student]

I'm with RM on the serial 2380855.

The "broken" /26\ stamp has this ONLY been observed in the 2mil 3hundred ..... span?

[Loose}{Cannon]

I'm with RM on the serial 2380855.

The "broken" /26\ stamp has this ONLY been observed in the 2mil 3hundred ..... span?

No, we have seen broken sections of all stamps all, over the place.

[running-man]

They break, they notice, they replace.  Often it takes several thousand S/Ns of degrading stampings before the stamps are finally retired.  Communist countries were frugal if nothing else!  Some arsenal stamps are downright unreadable.  This is where many of the mistaken ID of arsenals come from.  How many times have you seen people calling out /25\ stamps?  They don't exist, they are simply poorly struck /26\, /256\, or even /135\ stamps like this one.   

[Matchka]

Once again, excellent feedback! Pics are definitely value added.

[Bob_The_Student]

Glad this was discussed. That knowledge of broken stamps will help in the future. I would've been wary otherwise. Thanks