New to the boards, first SKS:Tula 1952

[bartski]

Hi Everyone,
I just purchased my first SKS and thought I'd share/gather info. My goal was to find a Russian model in good condition and I think this one is just right!

What I know:
1952 Tula #BT2996 with CAI ST ALB VT import mark.
Chrome Lined Barrel in exceptional condition
All numbers match, except on the stock. The stock has been XXX'd and re-marked with the same serial as the rest of the rifle.
I can barely make out a refurb mark on the bottom of the stock [/], but cannot find one anywhere else.
Came with 10 Stripper Clips, Oil Can and Case, Bandolier, and tool kit.
What I don't know:
How rare is this rifle?
What is the significance of the force matched stock?
How old is the import mark? My other surplus rifles (Mosins) have laser etching or electro-pencil markings.

Any tips, info, or comments are welcome!



More Images: http://imgur.com/a/Lrw6B#cXrpZiV

[CARBINE]

Welcome to the files, thats one heck of a first sks!! Started out with the Cadillac, nice choice! Looks to be a lite refurb, will make a nice shooter, or a pretty safe queen.

[CARBINE]

The gun is not extremely rare but because it doesn't have bbq'ed parts and looks to be in excellent shape it is desirable. The forced matched stock just means when it went through the refurb process the stock was replaced and re-numbered, this was very common.

[Worm]

Gorgeous! 

[running-man]

How rare is this rifle?
What is the significance of the force matched stock?
How old is the import mark? My other surplus rifles (Mosins) have laser etching or electro-pencil markings.

Hi Bartski.   You've got a nice one there for certain.  I wouldn't call a '52 Tula any 'rarer' than any other Tula.  It's still a nice gun in very good shape, so it should command a premium over a similar gun in BBQ paint like Carbine said.
As for the CAI stamp.  CAI was one of the four companies who imported these Russian SKSs.  They were only imported for a short time, between the fall of the Soviet Union in Dec 1991, to the signing of the VRA in April 1996.   CAI marks are sought after because they did not stamp the receiver, except to 'translate' the Cyrillic S/N letters into Roman letters for recording into bound books.  ATF got after them shortly after '96 and decreed that the S/N had to be totally restamped, on non-Roman letter guns, not just partially restamped and reused (like they'd been doing) as there was confusion when running traces about which S/N was actually correct. 

Welcome aboard! 

[armedhippie]

You did very well man. My 1st was a 1950 Tula way back in '98 and it's had a few 1000 rds through her and is still my baby ( even though she's BBQ'd in a laminate stock...Your first is always special  )

Yours really is nice and the fact that it's not bubba'd adds to the rarity factor in my book. A lot of times when guys get there first SKS, they start to get all sorts of ideas... Lets just say , many regret them in the long run. Enjoy that '52 man and Welcome... to the addiction 

[Dannyboy53]

Really nice bartski, she's a real looker!

[Loose}{Cannon]

Very nice carbine.....      have you shot it yet?

[SKhiSm 59-66A1]

Looks great, you did very well

[bartski]

Thanks for all of the info/comments!

I knew it wasn't super rare, just wanted to justify my purchase, I guess. Basically, I have $500 in it... which made me wince a bit for an SKS, but this one seemed really nice compared to the others I've looked at. Plus, I wanted a quality Russian rifle that I could go out and shoot. It was the missing link in my Mosin/SKS/AK progression (which I intend to keep in stock condition... no bubba mods over here!)

I'll post pics, etc when I get to shoot it!