I hope I did well. I have to ask the experts here.

Weldrdave · July 28, 2020, 07:10:25 PM

Hello all, Well I now feel like I got a few posts under my belt and have collected several SKS's and some other cool stuff now that I'm getting fat and retired!
I saw a Izhmash, Izhevsk 1954, Un touched, unfired (supposedly) on Gun Broker two weeks ago and I couldn't pass it up, I bought it. After the FFL and the NICS check my FFL friend and I just looked at this in awwwwww.... He nor I can't find any re-furb marks on it, "That we know of". The bore looks new, the rifle looks Pristine! I don't even see any slide marks in the bolt. The magazine has "no" scratches of any rounds that have been in it. Everything matches, "everything" even the gas tube piston. I hope I hit pay dirt because this will be a keepsake and a cherished hand me down. Any thoughts? Enjoy the pics, hope they are clear enough. Thanks, Dave.

Boris Badinov · July 28, 2020, 08:46:02 PM

The (gorgeous) laminate stock is a replacement. The original stock would have been hard wood with the Izhevsk arsenal stamp, date and full serial number.

Beautiful nonetheless.

Nice grab

Phosphorus32 · July 28, 2020, 10:19:26 PM

Boris nailed it, laminate stock is a replacement. It is a really beautiful rifle! Congratulations

Bob_The_Student · July 28, 2020, 10:29:23 PM

Great looking matching Izhevsk. Be proud although it has the laminate replacement it's in good shape.

Bacarnal · July 28, 2020, 11:34:24 PM

Not knowing Soviet rifles well enough, depending on what you had to fork over, looks like you bagged a prime rifle

.

Larry D. · July 29, 2020, 12:28:29 AM

Yow!

What a beauty!

Justin Hell · July 29, 2020, 01:24:45 AM

Yes, you did quite well.

Beautiful!

Weldrdave · July 29, 2020, 07:00:08 AM

Thank you all for the info! I may have paid more than I wanted to but it was a "Had to have" kinda thing, I spent a 1K. Kinda late for any tears and no regrets but I was thinking "some" later models came with laminate stocks for whatever reason. I guess I'll go back into the site and keep reading. Thanks again for the great info folks!!!

.

Justin Hell · July 29, 2020, 10:42:25 AM

Quote from: Weldrdave on July 29, 2020, 07:00:08 AM
Thank you all for the info! I may have paid more than I wanted to but it was a "Had to have" kinda thing, I spent a 1K. Kinda late for any tears and no regrets but I was thinking "some" later models came with laminate stocks for whatever reason. I guess I'll go back into the site and keep reading. Thanks again for the great info folks!!! .

Funny, I was pretty sure I had read later ones came with laminates too. But planned on reading a little more again before putting my foot back into my mouth again. In this day and age, I don't think you got a bad deal...I would easily part with both of the Classics I got this year and an extra $250 for such a nice SKS.

running-man · July 29, 2020, 11:25:41 AM

1957-58 SKS45's can have original laminate stocks on them (or they could have original hardwood stocks as well). There is debate that year 1956 did this as well, though I only have photos of two guns that could be candidates, and both have nagging issues in my mind. Izhevsk did not use laminate stocks in either '53 or '54.

When determining whether a gun has an original laminate stock vs a replacement laminate stock, look at the shellac color: Red = possibly original. Yellow = replacement. (at least I have *never* seen a yellow laminate original stock out of several thousand guns looked at & catalogued)

It's certainly a very nice refurb in very good condition. You won't regret that purchase as the years roll on Dave.

Weldrdave · July 29, 2020, 11:37:18 AM

Quote from: running-man on July 29, 2020, 11:25:41 AM
1957-58 SKS45's can have original laminate stocks on them (or they could have original hardwood stocks as well). There is debate that year 1956 did this as well, though I only have photos of two guns that could be candidates, and both have nagging issues in my mind. Izhevsk did not use laminate stocks in either '53 or '54.

When determining whether a gun has an original laminate stock vs a replacement laminate stock, look at the shellac color: Red = possibly original. Yellow = replacement. (at least I have *never* seen a yellow laminate original stock out of several thousand guns looked at & catalogued)

It's certainly a very nice refurb in very good condition. You won't regret that purchase as the years roll on Dave.

Thank you! I don't have any now! At pushing 60 I don't know how many I'm gonna come across or if I can afford one down the road, so I gotta look at it like that. I have a couple very nice Tula's that are original and as some of you know I've collected 5 Chinese and a M59 Yugo. Nope, not sad at all and very interested learning from all of you!!! I just now gotta convince the wife that I need more...

Bob_The_Student · July 29, 2020, 04:51:06 PM

Dave, tell her you're looking for a '53 Izhevsk for her. She will love it...

Weldrdave · July 30, 2020, 08:55:00 AM

Quote from: Bob_The_Student on July 29, 2020, 04:51:06 PM
Dave, tell her you're looking for a '53 Izhevsk for her. She will love it...

The only reason I was able to get this is because "she" just got herself a Ruger SRC9 recently. With all that's going on in the world, she wanted something to have in the house close by that she could handle. She was a little intimidated by my 1911

and said it was a bit much for her to handle. I think she was more scared of the "bark" than anything. The 9mm doesn't seem to phase her.
I'll work on her slowly. I'm moving at retirees pace...

News:

I hope I did well. I have to ask the experts here.