There once was a 1955 from Irkutsk

[Phosphorus32]

I picked up this heavy refurb at an auction a few weeks ago to fill the relatively scarce 1955 slot (missing 1952, 53 and 56). I like the looks of the renumbered replacement stock in the sunlight, in spite of the chipped bbq paint.

The /1\, Arsenal No. 109, Irkutsk refurbishment mark is lightly struck but visible in-person, and the characteristic horizontal stock and handguard serial numbers are consistent with that facility located near the southwest shore of Lake Baikal in Siberia.



































/1\ marking to the left of, and below, the serial number

[Shoot The Refurbs]

I'm going to be honest, She's a little rough but we've seen a lot worse here  .
I can't quite tell, is she a 55' stamped or do you know it's a 55' by serial data kind of like mine   
I've not seen that type of renumbering on the TG myself, is that specific to the Irkutsk refurb facility?

[Boris Badinov]

I'm going to be honest, She's a little rough but we've seen a lot worse here  .
I can't quite tell, is she a 55' stamped or do you know it's a 55' by serial data kind of like mine   
I've not seen that type of renumbering on the TG myself, is that specific to the Irkutsk refurb facility?

The matching No-date cover and absence of letter suffix and receiver star identify the date of manufacture as late 1955.

[Phosphorus32]

I'm going to be honest, She's a little rough but we've seen a lot worse here  .
I can't quite tell, is she a 55' stamped or do you know it's a 55' by serial data kind of like mine   
I've not seen that type of renumbering on the TG myself, is that specific to the Irkutsk refurb facility?

Everything Boris said above and it’s a known letter block for ‘55s.

It is definitely a heavy refurb and the high temperature paint doesn’t age well if the rifle is used. This is only the second SKS with bbq paint that I’ve bought (my ‘49), but I’m accustomed to late WWII and beyond Lee-Enfields and their Suncorite paint, French 7.5x54 MAS models,  post-WWII FN offerings, and a few others, which also did the Parkerizing and paint. The point being, I’m used to the appearance, although I’d say the Russian refurbishment paint appears to be the least durable.

I don’t recall seeing a trigger guard scrubbed that deeply before on a Russian. The EP’d numbers are quite faint too.

My 1954 Izhevsk also went through the Irkutsk Arsenal No. 109, but it didn’t get the bbq paint. Refurbishment processes changed over time, even within the same facility.

[carls sks]

i like it, nice. thanks for sharing.

[Phosphorus32]

i like it, nice. thanks for sharing.

Thanks Carl!

[Phosphorus32]

Apologies. I didn't post a cover picture and misread Boris' point about it in the middle of the night 

1. It has a Tula star and 1955г on the cover.
2. The font on the back of the cover matches the font on the receiver rail.
3. Weaker but consistent with the two strong points above, the letter block matches those known for 1955s.

[Boris Badinov]

Aha!

I thought the lack of a cover photo in the op meant it was blank!

[Matchka]

BB, Whatever happened to BBB?

http://www.the 'other' boards/smf/index.php?topic=150156.0

[running-man]

BB, Whatever happened to BBB?

http://SKSBoards.com/smf/index.php?topic=150156.0

Fixed it for you Matcka, you have to capitalize SKSBoards.com otherwise the server will kick it out.  We don't give them free page views here, they have to earn it 

[Boris Badinov]

BB, Whatever happened to BBB?

http://www.the 'other' boards/smf/index.php?topic=150156.0

No idea.

They banned me for talking about Chinese serials, dates, and evidence vs conjecture.

[Direct Connection]

Phos could you pronounce that referb plant name for us ? 

All SkS's are cool. That find is mouth drooling cool scratches or not  Now you got everyone running to check there ex ddr's for a  IRKUTSK marking

Thanks For sharing pics. 

[Phosphorus32]

Phos could you pronounce that referb plant name for us ? 

All SkS's are cool. That find is mouth drooling cool scratches or not  Now you got everyone running to check there ex ddr's for a  IRKUTSK marking

Thanks For sharing pics.

Thanks DC!

It's pronounced: Ar-si-nol num-ber wun-oh-nin   

Okay, it's eer·KOOT·skuh. Irkutsk is easier than saying "ex-ex-DDR" 

[Greasemonkey]

  P32 mic drop... He's learned well.. 

[Phosphorus32]

P32 mic drop... He's learned well.. 

Jimmy, meet Jonny 

[Greatguns]

Okay, so I got to waxing lyrical about this thread so, here ya go Jon;


There once was a '55 from Irkutsk
Who's owner did post up some pics
Though it looked kind of rough
It had all the right stuff
And this is how Phos gets his kicks

[Phosphorus32]

Okay, so I got to waxing lyrical about this thread so, here ya go Jon;


There once was a '55 from Irkutsk
Who's owner did post up some pics
Though it looked kind of rough
It had all the right stuff
And this is how Phos gets his kicks

[Greatguns]

Okay, so I got to waxing lyrical about this thread so, here ya go Jon;


There once was a '55 from Irkutsk
Who's owner did post up some pics
Though it looked kind of rough
It had all the right stuff
And this is how Phos gets his kicks

Didn't know I was a poet as well did ya?

[Matchka]

BB, Whatever happened to BBB?

http://SKSBoards.com/smf/index.php?topic=150156.0

Fixed it for you Matcka, you have to capitalize SKSBoards.com otherwise the server will kick it out.  We don't give them free page views here, they have to earn it 

THANKS! I actually read the capitalize SKSB tip a couple of years ago - alas, the second thing to go.... 

[sksarego]

there is a complete russian stock for sale on ebay right now