Could use some help with ID

[Whiskey6eod]

Hello all - I picked this rifle up yesterday in an estate sale, don't really know what I have but I'm smart enough to ask the experts (smile). Seems to be a 1951 Tula in an aftermarket stock - that's all I know. I've never seen a blued bayonet before. I stumbled into another SKS a while back and you folks were gracious enough to tell me what I had - so I am back seeking knowledge (smile). If additional pictures would help - please tell me where to aim the camera. Thanks!  Paul

[Greatguns]

Appears to be an early 1951 Russian Tula built Model-45 SKS (45* gas block) that somebody stuck into a Butler Creek aftermarket stock then cut a slot for the bayonet. I've seen many blued bayonet on refurbs, sad they lost track of the original wood stock set.

[running-man]

Hey Whiskey, thanks for posting this one.  Looks like a really nice carbine! 

I can't really tell you terribly much more than you already know, but here goes:

Stock appears to be a K-Sports branded Butler Creek green stock that was used on both their Parka-Para and 20.5" Parkerized SKS Carbines.  The handguard matches, which is excellent as those often get scattered the wind.  Unfortunately, as GG says, the stock has been cut to fit the bayonet which will crater the value should you decide to move on from it.

The carbine itself appears to be a refurbished Russian SKS45.  The '51 that the receiver cover says jives with all the early features (w/o seeing the S/N font on the receiver cover it's tough to say for certain), but looking at my files I see other AЮ prefixed carbines that are *all* either 1949 or 1951, so with that I would say there's 99% chance this is indeed a '51 built Tula SKS.

Here are a few of the nicer '51 sister carbines I have recorded:

"As-issued" with a gold bayo and a really nice stock:





"As-issued" with another gold bayo:






Another "as-issued" with a gold bayo and slightly beat up stock:





Almost "as-issued", but with a blued bayonet like yours:







Looks this prefix had a good run with lots of nice specimens left! 

[Whiskey6eod]

Thanks so much! I appreciate the info. Im attaching a pict of the rear of the receiver cover - thanks for noting that. Man, what I wouldn't give for the correct wood...but it is what it is. Am I looking at a "shooter" - or something more? Value?

[Whiskey6eod]

Yes, K-Sports on the pad. You are correct. What makes this a "refurb"? Just curious.

[echo1]

That's a nice Russian you got there. I've got a Russian laminate if you're interested. I could use the Butler Creek HG. It's a nice laminate but numbered. I have a HG that is close but not laminate. Here it is on a Romy. PAX

[running-man]

Only reason I say refurb is due to the blued bayo.  Others here will certainly have differing opinions.  There have been many lengthy discussions and arguments as to which bayonet should be on an as-issued SKS45 but I don't know anyone who would consider a blued bayonet to be the original finish. 

It's a moot point, however, since the wood is long gone.  You could certainly restore it back to a non-numbers matching wood stock, but refurb is the best you'll get to...

Shooter is not a bad word when it comes to a carbine like this.  It is what it is.  Hopefully you got a decent deal at the sale.  I'd say it's worth $600 +/- $100 in its current condition.  The stock set by itself would have been worth $150 to $200 w/o the bubba'd bayo groove put in.   As it is, someone who doesn't care about the bayo groove might give you $50 to $100 for it.  Maybe enough to source a nice Russian hardwood stock to replace it with...

[Whiskey6eod]

Thanks again - exactly the info I was looking for. I'll drag it to the show this weekend and see what it does. Much appreciated all.

[pcke2000]

rear sight leaf seems from a much later rifle.

[running-man]

Good catch pcke! I didn't notice the TK acceptance stamp my first look.  Good indication that it indeed saw some form of refurb back in the USSR.