Correct '52

MEBears · December 18, 2015, 02:25:19 AM

A big Thanks! to pcke 2000 for posting this one in the auction section. (My wife would like to have a word with you

)This has a refurb stamp but not much was done to it. From what I can tell if the parts aren't original they are at least correct for a '52. All numbers match including EPs on the piston, gas tube, extractor, and sight leaf. It has the correct gas block and the early trigger group with no safety spring. The bayo lug is transitional with straight inner ear and lightening cut. The receiver cover has a square lug with no lightening holes. It has the early style magazine and a different piston extension spring than I have seen before. The cleaning kit was a little different than others I've seen with the shoulder on the cap. To me the rifle is nicer than what comes to mind when I hear refurb so I'm making my own category, "Correct, matching"

Are there any other '52 specific features I should be looking for? And does anyone know which arsenal/depot is associated with that refurb mark?

Phosphorus32 · December 18, 2015, 07:07:34 AM

That's a stunner! Nice pick up!

Where's the refurb mark...I'm looking on my phone when I should be asleep

Loose}{Cannon · December 18, 2015, 08:32:24 AM

To the left of the serial on the receiver...

Yup, very nice rifle... Congrats!

pcke2000 · December 18, 2015, 09:01:17 AM

to OP: wow, your carbine is much better looking than it's in seller's pictures !! Congratulations!!

CARBINE · December 18, 2015, 10:02:48 AM

Nice snag, won't find them any nicer than that........Never seen a cleaning kit with the bottle neck, weird, hey ak47 guys is that from a ak?

Phosphorus32 · December 18, 2015, 11:43:37 AM

Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on December 18, 2015, 08:32:24 AM
To the left of the serial on the receiver...

Oh, got it. Light (angled) strike of the Mercedes refurb mark

I'm not familiar with that one.

martin08 · December 18, 2015, 12:05:21 PM

The sixty four thousand dollar question:

Chromed bore, or non-chromed bore?

running-man · December 18, 2015, 01:08:18 PM

That's a heck of a nice one MEB, very slick!

She has a sister. I have this one in my records ЗM2274, though not in the same league as yours I don't think:

Your features sets match this other gun's (w/o an obvious refurb mark) 1952 features perfectly based on what I'm able to see. Early receiver type, straight bayo lug /w lightening cut, 45° gas block, short stamped receiver cover take-down lever, & tabbed gas tube take-down lever. If they did any work to yours, it was very minor I'd say.

Interesting that yours is a CAI import and this other one is a KBI "RH" import, they obviously didn't arrive to the US in the same shipment.

MEBears · December 18, 2015, 05:15:11 PM

Thanks everyone, Martin, the bore is lined and in excellent shape. I was so excited about the other features I just gave it a quick look. The muzzle is in the white.

Quote from: pcke2000 on December 18, 2015, 09:01:17 AM
to OP: wow, your carbine is much better looking than it's in seller's pictures !! Congratulations!!

Yes, Ralph's auctions leave a lot to be desired. I've seen a few things of his not sell because of presentation.

Dannyboy53 · December 18, 2015, 08:58:31 PM

VERY nice Bears, congratulations on picking up a real looker!

Loose}{Cannon · December 20, 2015, 04:37:24 PM

QuoteI'm starting to wonder if the mark before the serial is the "mercedes" mark. It almost looks like an X or Y and it doesn't go to the edge of the circle. I wish I could find some marks to compare it to.

You didn't see this?

http://sks-files.com/index.php?topic=1985.0

Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on December 12, 2015, 02:53:42 PM
Rework mark... Very common in that location. 5th row 3rd one down.

MEBears · December 20, 2015, 06:48:18 PM

Yes I did but looking at the mark close up I'm not sure that's what it is. The angle looks a little off on the lines and it seems like they should reach the edges on the part where it is struck deeply. I've never seen any mark like this and can't find any through google . I was hoping people who had one might share a pic of the whole mark. I also wonder if it could be the mark shown from R-Ms pic in that auction thread that had a circle and only two spokes instead of three. I agree it's probably an arsenal /facility mark not an inspection mark it being larger and the placement.

Loose}{Cannon · December 20, 2015, 07:20:46 PM

I would hate to have someone dismiss a /26\ for something else because by artistic depiction wasn't 100%

Its the exact location and size of many of these we have been observing. Yours was stamped at an angle leaving the left half incomplete. Its one of the two shown in that column. No mystery needed.

Its like looking at a tula plant rollstamp in a book and dismissing it as not what I have because the arrow fletchings are not exactly the same.

MEBears · December 20, 2015, 07:32:50 PM

I find it odd that I'm defending a post from SKS Boards. It's exactly why I didn't pose the question here. You dismiss out of hand that it could be anything else. Fine case closed.

Loose}{Cannon · December 20, 2015, 07:40:53 PM

Easy there killer. Lol

Maybe you posted it over there because you didn't like the results you received over here? I dunno

Just keepin it real man.

Like I said before, it could have simply had a spring replaced or similar but several of these location stamps are showing up on guns that people would have otherwise thought to be 'as issued' or 'non furb' etc and not everyone is going to like the results.

running-man · December 20, 2015, 08:53:57 PM

A data point of one is a horrible trend indicator. You can't make any kind of determination based of a partial stamp of a mark that really hasn't been widely seen. Though this one looks very similar to the mercedes or 2/3 mercedes stamps, I agree that it could easily be a circle X, circle Y, or some other mark.

I think one thing we can say is that it is likely not:

120th GRAU in Bryansk:

ABV in Kiev:

ABV in Tyumen:

Loose}{Cannon · December 20, 2015, 09:00:14 PM

Where is a circle k or Y of that size and in that specific location? Judging off those known stamp descriptions, they have no place being in that location anyhow.

This is no dif then the deedeeargh bs... same location, same size, same list, same denial. lol

MEBears · December 21, 2015, 06:36:58 PM

Sorry I misunderstood. I posted over there and brought it up again here because I was hoping to see pics of the mark on other rifles just for comparison. I can't help but wonder why the lines don't meet the edge and wanted to see a complete mark. I agree it's a rework /facility mark.

Loose}{Cannon · December 21, 2015, 06:47:33 PM

Meh... No need to be sorry.

Unfortunately all these stamps are popping up one at a time and we only have this one example of whats 'likely' one of the two discussed previously.

I still say this is as close to 'original' as humanly possible because they have likely all passed through some type of arsenal checkup etc.

Carl in CT · December 30, 2015, 03:27:01 PM

Gorgeous gun, congrats! I have a '52 in excellent condition too, they sure are pretty. I cannot find any refurb marks anywhere. There are no marks on the left side of the receiver besides the serial number and the tiny little inspection marks. The right side has only the inspection marks and the darned CDI importer stamp. It does have the little star on the rear sight ramp. Not sure that helps you at all but there it is.

News:

Correct '52