A big Thanks! to pcke 2000 for posting this one in the auction section. (My wife would like to have a word with you :)) )This has a refurb stamp but not much was done to it. From what I can tell if the parts aren't original they are at least correct for a '52. All numbers match including EPs on the piston, gas tube, extractor, and sight leaf. It has the correct gas block and the early trigger group with no safety spring. The bayo lug is transitional with straight inner ear and lightening cut. The receiver cover has a square lug with no lightening holes. It has the early style magazine and a different piston extension spring than I have seen before. The cleaning kit was a little different than others I've seen with the shoulder on the cap. To me the rifle is nicer than what comes to mind when I hear refurb so I'm making my own category, "Correct, matching" :)) Are there any other '52 specific features I should be looking for? And does anyone know which arsenal/depot is associated with that refurb mark?
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4407_zpsylhomedx.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4399_zpsmr3joedl.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4397_zpszi8gduzx.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4383_zpsam9yw5nh.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4388_zpsqgxt7dpp.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4404_zpsqbvaclnu.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4394_zpsxi5qnjei.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4337_zpsz9wo3w03.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4340_zps9aftsawn.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4338_zpsuraeebce.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4356_zps9qnslf28.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4355_zpsyrxkppss.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4350_zpsc4y14jrp.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4349_zpsvctvf5qs.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4346_zpsvfxgltlh.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4362_zps9ugvtktq.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4364_zpsnhxmxncx.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4370_zpsbrsposd7.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4375_zpsskx1dflm.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4379_zpsykhg92fn.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4384_zpsq3qygr5k.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4386_zpsbfowd7r1.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4413_zpsgsklp5yy.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag94/James_Budge/DSCN4361_zps7pobkhtx.jpg)
That's a stunner! Nice pick up! thumb1
Where's the refurb mark...I'm looking on my phone when I should be asleep ;)
To the left of the serial on the receiver...
Yup, very nice rifle... Congrats!
to OP: wow, your carbine is much better looking than it's in seller's pictures !! Congratulations!!
Nice snag, won't find them any nicer than that........Never seen a cleaning kit with the bottle neck, weird, hey ak47 guys is that from a ak?
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on December 18, 2015, 08:32:24 AM
To the left of the serial on the receiver...
Oh, got it. Light (angled) strike of the Mercedes refurb mark :))
I'm not familiar with that one.
The sixty four thousand dollar question:
Chromed bore, or non-chromed bore?
That's a heck of a nice one MEB, very slick!
She has a sister. I have this one in my records ЗM2274, though not in the same league as yours I don't think:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1952_Tula/M2274_left_whole.jpg~original)
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1952_Tula/M2274_receiver.jpg~original)
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1952_Tula/M2274_receiver_cover_top.jpg~original)
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1952_Tula/M2274_left_front.jpg~original)
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/Russian/1952_Tula/M2274_stock.jpg~original)
Your features sets match this other gun's (w/o an obvious refurb mark) 1952 features perfectly based on what I'm able to see. Early receiver type, straight bayo lug /w lightening cut, 45° gas block, short stamped receiver cover take-down lever, & tabbed gas tube take-down lever. If they did any work to yours, it was very minor I'd say.
Interesting that yours is a CAI import and this other one is a KBI "RH" import, they obviously didn't arrive to the US in the same shipment.
Thanks everyone, Martin, the bore is lined and in excellent shape. I was so excited about the other features I just gave it a quick look. The muzzle is in the white.
Quote from: pcke2000 on December 18, 2015, 09:01:17 AM
to OP: wow, your carbine is much better looking than it's in seller's pictures !! Congratulations!!
Yes, Ralph's auctions leave a lot to be desired. I've seen a few things of his not sell because of presentation.
VERY nice Bears, congratulations on picking up a real looker!
QuoteI'm starting to wonder if the mark before the serial is the "mercedes" mark. It almost looks like an X or Y and it doesn't go to the edge of the circle. I wish I could find some marks to compare it to.
You didn't see this?
https://clone.sks-files.com/index.php?topic=1985.0
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on December 12, 2015, 02:53:42 PM
Rework mark... Very common in that location. 5th row 3rd one down.
(http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/mrcoinring/mrcoinring001/Screenshot_2015-08-09-17-03-17_1.png)
Yes I did but looking at the mark close up I'm not sure that's what it is. The angle looks a little off on the lines and it seems like they should reach the edges on the part where it is struck deeply. I've never seen any mark like this and can't find any through google . I was hoping people who had one might share a pic of the whole mark. I also wonder if it could be the mark shown from R-Ms pic in that auction thread that had a circle and only two spokes instead of three. I agree it's probably an arsenal /facility mark not an inspection mark it being larger and the placement.
I would hate to have someone dismiss a /26\ for something else because by artistic depiction wasn't 100% :-X
Its the exact location and size of many of these we have been observing. Yours was stamped at an angle leaving the left half incomplete. Its one of the two shown in that column. No mystery needed.
Its like looking at a tula plant rollstamp in a book and dismissing it as not what I have because the arrow fletchings are not exactly the same.
I find it odd that I'm defending a post from SKS Boards. It's exactly why I didn't pose the question here. You dismiss out of hand that it could be anything else. Fine case closed.
Easy there killer. Lol
Maybe you posted it over there because you didn't like the results you received over here? I dunno
Just keepin it real man. thumb1
Like I said before, it could have simply had a spring replaced or similar but several of these location stamps are showing up on guns that people would have otherwise thought to be 'as issued' or 'non furb' etc and not everyone is going to like the results.
A data point of one is a horrible trend indicator. You can't make any kind of determination based of a partial stamp of a mark that really hasn't been widely seen. Though this one looks very similar to the mercedes or 2/3 mercedes stamps, I agree that it could easily be a circle X, circle Y, or some other mark.
I think one thing we can say is that it is likely not:
120th GRAU in Bryansk:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/survey/russian/refurb_marks/120th_GRAU_Bryansk.jpg~original)
ABV in Kiev:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/survey/russian/refurb_marks/ABV_Kiev_city_Nizhyn.jpg~original)
ABV in Tyumen:
(http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q647/jelucer/survey/russian/refurb_marks/ABV_Tyumen.jpg~original)
Where is a circle k or Y of that size and in that specific location? Judging off those known stamp descriptions, they have no place being in that location anyhow.
This is no dif then the deedeeargh bs... same location, same size, same list, same denial. lol
Sorry I misunderstood. I posted over there and brought it up again here because I was hoping to see pics of the mark on other rifles just for comparison. I can't help but wonder why the lines don't meet the edge and wanted to see a complete mark. I agree it's a rework /facility mark.
Meh... No need to be sorry. thumb1
Unfortunately all these stamps are popping up one at a time and we only have this one example of whats 'likely' one of the two discussed previously.
I still say this is as close to 'original' as humanly possible because they have likely all passed through some type of arsenal checkup etc.
Gorgeous gun, congrats! I have a '52 in excellent condition too, they sure are pretty. I cannot find any refurb marks anywhere. There are no marks on the left side of the receiver besides the serial number and the tiny little inspection marks. The right side has only the inspection marks and the darned CDI importer stamp. It does have the little star on the rear sight ramp. Not sure that helps you at all but there it is.
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/P1020382_zpsdm1tgzyt.jpg)
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0015.jpg)
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0062.jpg)
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0063.jpg)
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0006.jpg)
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0007.jpg)
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0023.jpg)
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0026.jpg)
That's a nice one Carl! thumb1
I always love seeing the '52 Carl. thumb1
Do you have any shots that are side on of the bayo lug up front? Is it a Square Ear Solid or a Square Ear Lightening Cut?
I have a ЗМ prefix in the database that is Square Ear Lightening Cut lug, but a МП prefix with a Square Ear Solid lug. It'll be interesting to see where yours falls in this transition...
RM, it's a square ear with lightening cut, this is the best pic I had handy. Thanks bears, not trying to steal your thunder, just trying to help ID stuff. Yours might be a tick nicer anyway.
(http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s430/Carl_in_CT/SKS/IMG_0034.jpg)
Thanks Carl, much appreciated my friend! thumb1
I don't know, if I had both yours and bears '52s in front of me and was absolutely forced to pick which was nicer, I think that would be one heck of a hard choice. It's like in Rio Bravo when James Dean asks John Wayne "Is he as good as I used to be?" and Wayne replies: "It'd be pretty close. I'd hate to have to live on the difference."
Both are simply excellent specimens.