Purch. help - Russkie SKS

Good folks, I seek your advice.

Guy at work has a serious mil/vintage rifle collection and he's selling a lot of it. Has a Russian SKS with (2nd gen?) laminated stock, all original equipment (sling, bayonet, cleaning kit, even a belt pouch for stripper clips). Numbers match, hand-picked it from a huge lot many years ago, less than 1k rounds fired, maybe closer to 500. This is all "claimed" info as I haven't seen it in person or photos yet, though we found some online that he said are very similar for comparison. Hope to see actual pics tomorrow.

Question- (please pardon any newbie "duh" stuff on my part)

I talked to another coworker who's very experienced - ex-Marine who's done gunsmith work for Prairie Arms, incl class 3 conversions and so on. He cautioned that true Russian SKS's can be ID'd by their blued bolt, and that Chinese/Yugo/etc clones don't. Can anyone verify that?

Any tips/help/info appreciated, thanks guys. Mods, if this should be moved feel free, didn't know where else to put it.
-Chris

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...wants me to see it first and make an offer.....

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http://www.splitfocus.org/pics/lis-robot.jpg

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DANGER, DANGER...

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First, I talked to another coworker who's very experienced - ex-Marine who's done gunsmith work for Prairie Arms, incl class 3 conversions and so on. He cautioned that true Russian SKS's can be ID'd by their blued bolt, and that Chinese/Yugo/etc clones don't. Can anyone verify that?

sorry but he is mis-informed russian sks' did come with polished or black (not blued) bolts. . depending on year , arsenal built, original, refurbished etc. chicom sks were polished bolts. and if he really knew his stuff (regarding sks') he would have advised you to look at the receiver. the russian's have some cryllic markings (some) a triangle, or star arsenal mark. russian's had blade bayonet and screwed in bbl along with milled trigger group. chi-com ones came pinned or screw in bbl. milled or stamped trigger group, spike or blade bayonet. as well as full length or carbine, fixed or detachable (ak mag) mag.

for a little more then his price (SHAMELESS PLUG) i have one that is a true unfired russian sks. with extra's. sent you an i-m

Thanks Jim, wrote ya back.

Seller provided some pics today. Not great size but I didn't wanna post/host real big images. I can link bigger versions if it'll help anyone assess.

Basic view

Business end

Other end

Better look at laminated stock

Action closed

Action open

Bolt end

Receiver stampings ...note lack of re-man markings, as explained/ID'd at this site.


Kinda torn... no doubting it's nice, and at this point I think his claims have been justified (have a few more pics - #s definitely match). Oh and he added the extended rubber buttplate, but the original metal is still on there underneath.

Thanks for your time guys.

sent you a pm

f you can get it for a lower price then it's a good deal. if you're looking to go ak instead you will get the versatility of the detachable mags etc.
i like both. evil wise the sks is one especially the russian sks is something you can own in almost any state with or w/out the bayonet. as it doesn't meet the criteria of "assault weapon". that's a plus. down side is th eround capability. but get enough stripper clips and practice and you will be surprised.

I recently sold my Russian SKS for $225. It was a 1953 Tula rearsenaled. I have seen a couple others go for $200 to $225 in the last month as well.

If this is just going to be a fun gun then I wouldn't go over $250. If you're collecting then I might go up to $300.

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.

Took the Mini-14 to a range last weekend, realized I need a scope*, and there are other purchases in the works for our existing pieces. Then there's that pesky stuff like car maintenance (one just hit 190k, the other 240k) and working on the house, so any cash I can reserve for shooting fun needs to be spent on our current hardware.

For now anyway.... [pirate]

Cheers.



* At 100yds the front sight pretty much covers the target. :roll: Looking at Leupold and Burris options mostly, loves me some lifetime warranty.