1953 Russian Tula SKS with "1959"

[fenceline]

Just sharing one of the Russians in my collection. 

It is a 1951 Tula SKS that appears to be all matching. The stock looks like the serial number had the last two digits over stamped and was possibly first stamped 1958, then the 58 overstamped 47. There are no refurb markings, and all original cartouches are as they should be. The only other weird marking is a “19 O 60” marking on the left side of the receiver to the rear of the serial number. This is the third Russian SKS that I have seen this on.

The first was a 1949 that Westrifle (Canadian Importer) was selling. I saw the marking in the same spot, and they were to send me pics but they sold it before they sent pics.  I’m not sure what the extra marking on the 49 was, although the poor pics were good enough to see it was 4 digits.

The second one I saw was a 1953 with “1959” stamped in the same fashion as the 49 and this 51. Again, I have only observed three like this and those sightings were online sales, and I wasn’t about to not grab this one when I could. Just something different, but no idea what or why.

Best guess is that one of the refurbishment arsenals in Russian took to actually stamping their refurbs differently that other arsenals, and actually dated the refurbishment year into the receiver.  Total guess though.

Also interesting, the bayonet has a faded black finish revealing a shiny bayonet. This is a fresh import, I'm the first owner since its arrival, save for the importer themselves.

Just another odd ball to inspire some chatter.