1954 Izhevsk SKS

[theSKSguy45]

Just came today, paid $575 CAD for it

Anyone have a resource on these rifles, it's my first and I have a cursory knowledge of it.

[Boris Badinov]

This forum is the best resource for information on all sks variants.

What do you want you know?

Also, nice catch. Even in a replacement stock, a '54 Izhevsk is a great addition.

[theSKSguy45]

Well first off the serial number is quite different from Tula manufactured rifles, why is that?

Second what are the production numbers roughly on these? (Or at least in comparison to Tula)

Third aside from the dust cover markings and SN is there anything else different from other Russians?

[jstin2]

The stock on yours is a laminate replacement. Here is what it should look like.

[theSKSguy45]

Kinda figured lol

[Boris Badinov]

The Izehevsk rifles are no different in design,  form and function from the '53 & '54 Tula rifles.

In 1953 amd part of '54, Izhevsk rifles had the same serial pattern as the Tula rifles-- double cyrillic prefix followed by 1-4 digits.

For some reason they change to the single prefix single suffix durin 1954 production.

As for why, we do not know. Possibly it was to prevent confusion created by duplicate serials on Tula rifles.   ?

Im not sure about production numbers, but some insight may be gained by counting the known cyrillic pairs associated with izhevsk serials in the serial archive link.

[theSKSguy45]

I've heard 53' s are significantly more rare than 54' s

How many 54' s are there roughly for every 53' if you had to guess. Looking to fill out my collection and Izhevsk is now 1/2 done

[running-man]

Well first off the serial number is quite different from Tula manufactured rifles, why is that?

Second what are the production numbers roughly on these? (Or at least in comparison to Tula)

Third aside from the dust cover markings and SN is there anything else different from other Russians?

Like Boris said, nobody truly knows why the S/N format changed.  It's interesting, because Ishevsk production of Mosin Nagants, PMs, SVTs, AKs, etc. generally seem to follow the standard dual Cyrillic + up to 4 digit serial format (at least I have not run across any oddball S/N variations in my admittedly limited experience with those other weapons).  Why the '54 SKS45s were so very different in format when the '53 Ishevsk SKS45s were pretty 'standard' is one of those head scratchers that will probably never be solved.  It seems likely that the Soviets were advancing and/or experimenting a bit with the serialization, but whatever format they came up with didn't seem to stick.  It's also interesting that by 1956, we start to see letter year code suffixes pop up on firearms (letter codes had been on cartridges as early as 1952).

True quantity built is another thing that may truly never be known.  There have been guesses from Russian sources, something like 2 to 3 million seems to ring a bell but I honestly don't remember and don't have time to look it up right now (one of the more knowledgable members may be able to chime in here). 

Based on the SKS45 database we have, here's the rundown of years/arsenal that I'm currently seeing (note that this list may be skewed a bit by the more rare variants getting posted a bit more often than say your run of the mill 1953 refurb):

1949: 55 (4.7%)
1950: 80 (6.8%)
1951: 128 (10.9%)
1952: 106 (9.0%)
1953: 85 (7.2)
1954: 263 (22.4%)
1955: 28 (2.4%)
1956: 94 (8.0%)
1957: 130 (11.1%)
1958: 84 (7.2%)

1953 Ishevsk: 27 (2.3%)
1954 Ishevsk: 90 (7.7%)

Total Tula: 1053 (90%)
Total Ishevsk: 117 (10%)

Total dated carbines in database: 1170 (100%)

Uncertain / Unable to 100% accurately date: 389
Total records in database: 1559

There is nothing mechanically different in an Ishevsk built SKS45 vs a Tula built one.  The acceptance stamps are a bit different and the Ishevsk font is immediately identifiable if you've seen enough examples. 

Here's the little sister to your carbine:





And here are some of the Ishevsk specific acceptance stamps:

[theSKSguy45]

Perhaps my experience is skewed but I've noticed a lot more 50's and 51' tulas that that percentage, on par with 54 tulas. Actually at my work there is a nice 50' Tula that has a loop take down and 90 gas block (owner doesn't want to sell unfortunately). I'll see if he'd let e post photos

[running-man]

Could be.  I had always thought that '52s were the clear second in line compared to '54s myself, but the data shows that '57s and 51's are slightly ahead at #2 and #3 while '52s come in at #4. 

If you have data to compare, I'm all ears. 

[theSKSguy45]

oh no i wasn't trying to dispute your survey, just stating my observation

[Direct Connection]

If all the numbers on the metal parts match then you got a really good deal. Not a top notch collector but for 575.00 you didn't get hurt at all. Nice one 

[theSKSguy45]

mags mismatched but the rest is good