1946 and 1948 Year Soviet Russian SKS Receiver Covers

[pcke2000]

Bought these two receiver covers this morning. One is 1946, the other 1948. Neither is demilitarized. It seems like both are from trial rifles converted to training rifles. The 1946 is the 1st un-cut 1946 receiver cover I have ever seen. Previously, Gunboards forums member Ratnik kindly posted pics of de-activated refurb 1946 dated SKS training rifle sold in Russia (deactivated in Ukraine). Unfortunately, the receiver cover on that rifle was cut in center on top for demilitarization, resulting in partial destruction of the important markings on top.

The 1948 has much better and more clear markings compared to the one I bought last year. Obviously the Tula stars on 1946 and 1948 are very different. And the ways СКС (SKS) were cut are also different.

[Justin Hell]

I love how the arrow on the 46 looks like a shrugging stick figure. 

I posted a couple pics of the 46 an hour or so ago on a FB SKS board...blew some minds....then had a lot of explaining to do.

It's really cool you found these in functional form vs. the atrocities done to demil them.  Have you seen what they do to the poor bayonets?  It's amazing gravity doesn't break them.   Since they work, are you considering using them?  I would love to just see the look on a pawn shop guy's face while trying to figure out what he was looking at.   Granted, you would have to beat the heck out of a gun to make it seem like it matched the cover....I mean, how oft do you see a refurb stamp that's in need of a refurb itself? 

Very very cool stuff, thanks for sharing with us!

[Bob_The_Student]

Very cool  . I want one or two or....

[Phosphorus32]

Excellent historically very important finds! Thanks for sharing the pics!

[running-man]

Very nice.    That odd format prefix '2A'367 on the '48 kind of implies it's the original number as the other '48s I've seen were 2A prefixes as well.

I wonder, are there any dimensional differences between the '46 and a '48 or even a '49/transitional '50?  The later (post transitional '50) covers that have the different lug where the takedown lever goes through and different mill paths and even seating features on the bottom face seem to indicate that the design was in flux for a good while after these two were made. 

Edit: I lie, the '2' is common, but the '48s I've seen have prefix 2B.

[Larry D.]

Very cool!

I love seeing these old gems.

[pcke2000]

Very nice.    That odd format prefix '2A'367 on the '48 kind of implies it's the original number as the other '48s I've seen were 2A prefixes as well.

I wonder, are there any dimensional differences between the '46 and a '48 or even a '49/transitional '50?  The later (post transitional '50) covers that have the different lug where the takedown lever goes through and different mill paths and even seating features on the bottom face seem to indicate that the design was in flux for a good while after these two were made. 

Edit: I lie, the '2' is common, but the '48s I've seen have prefix 2B.

I believe that Ratnik once mentioned 2BXXX and 2VXXX are known provisional serial number blocks used on trial rifles.

Not sure if 2AXXX is a trial rifle serial block. But it is very different from serial formats used for later mass production.

[pcke2000]

Thank you very much all!

It is very interesting that someone on gunboards forums already contacted me expressing his interest in buying my previously bought 1948 receiver cover, shortly after I posted on gunboards. It is good to see that I am not the only one who is willing to spend some money on these historically interesting pieces.

[pcke2000]

OK, the serial number on the 1946, SG213, may actually be original to the part. I did find multiple trial rifles assigned SGXXX format serial numbers in Chumak's Tokarev rifle book.

[Matchka]

Justin, I was the FB SKS guy asking where you picked 'em up!

[running-man]

OK, the serial number on the 1946, SG213, may actually be original to the part. I did find multiple trial rifles assigned SGXXX format serial numbers in Chumak's Tokarev rifle book.

That’s pretty interesting PCKE!  It may make sense as the S/N is pretty low and a single line. If a restamped refurb, it would be dual line regardless of the number of digits (or at least that’s what I remember from what I’ve seen)   

[pcke2000]

OK, the serial number on the 1946, SG213, may actually be original to the part. I did find multiple trial rifles assigned SGXXX format serial numbers in Chumak's Tokarev rifle book.

That’s pretty interesting PCKE!  It may make sense as the S/N is pretty low and a single line. If a restamped refurb, it would be dual line regardless of the number of digits (or at least that’s what I remember from what I’ve seen)   

I now think the two serial numbers are extremely likely original. In D. N. Bolotin's book 'Fifty Years of Soviet Small Arms' (Leningrad, 1967), two other 1946 year made trial SKS are mentioned, serials SG48 and SG207. According to other museum samples listed in the book, in 1947, serial Cyrillic prefix changed to 'SV'. In 1948, further changed to '2A'.