New here. Possible non-referbished 1955 Tula, interesting serial number

[spectormike]

Sks fan for years but by no means an expert. I recently acquired a 1955 Tula that I believe to be non-referbished. All the bluing matches, no known (to me) referb marks noted. Gold bayonet. Pretty crazy serial number as well

[running-man]

Beautiful carbine Mike!  '55s in this condition are exceedingly hard to find.

While I personally will never call any SKS45 "non-refurbished" (because we simply don't know what it's been through from rolling off the line in '55 up until it was exported in the 90's), it certainly would warrant a place in the 'gold standard' section of the database I use for feature comparisons based on all the features you rightly point out.  I used to (and still often do out of habit) call SKS45s that look like this one 'as-issued', but one could make an argument that even the 'as-issued' moniker is not necessarily accurate as we honestly don't know what one of these really looked like coming off the line: Did it have EP'd parts? Did it have chromate dipped bayos?  Did it have all the stock cartouches around the crossbolt? Etc.

Thanks for sharing & welcome to the SKS-Files!

[spectormike]

I agree running-man, there is no way to know for sure. Lurking in the forums over the years, I see the terms "non-referbished" and "as isssued" used a lot. "As issued" is more fitting. I should have used that verbiage instead of non-referbished.

[Greatguns]

Very, very nice Ruskie you have there Mike, and welcome to the files.

[spectormike]

Thanks Greatguns! Happy to be here. I should have joined here a lot sooner. Been a lurker for years.

[High Noon]

Hey Mike....

Great SKS you have there.  She's a beaut. 

[Shoot The Refurbs]

Gorgeous example. Stamped 55's are far from commonplace and you've snagged a really good looking one, congrats.
-STR

[firstchoice]

Welcome to the SKS-Files, spectormike! Very nice Russian SKS-45!

firstchoice

[Phosphorus32]

Wow, that's a gorgeous example. Love that stock color!

I'd have to see all of the serial number fonts, but if they were all matching and identical styles then I'd personally be comfortable with as-issued or non-refurbished. From what I can see in the current photos, it doesn't have any markings from, or known signs of having been handled at a Soviet refurbishment arsenal.

[Bacarnal]

Very nice carbine, spectormike . Welcome from Kentucky!!

[Direct Connection]

That Pretty little Russian is a fantastic way come aboard Mike.  Nice numbers too

[Papahound]

Very nice catch .. welcome from NC