SKS-FILES FORUM

SKS Carbines => Unaltered SKS Rifles => Russian SKS => Topic started by: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 03:36:21 AM

Title: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 03:36:21 AM
Went strong with the 53', she's a little rough but she's all mine.
Lammy stock was my only initial indication of refurbishment but it was numbers matching so i went for it.
gas tube is ep'd twice with the same matching SN, weird.
Probably paid too much but I'm happy so  dance2

(https://i.ibb.co/NFNyGNS/izzy2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Cw9HS92)

(https://i.ibb.co/hLB3jG7/izzy3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9cbQLx8)

(https://i.ibb.co/gy36pqM/izzy1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6YmNx9R)

(https://i.ibb.co/GT09Mz4/izzy5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FVKXYRL)

(https://i.ibb.co/pwkkXKc/izzy6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1Q442X1)

(https://i.ibb.co/WcmyqfZ/izzy7.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MRFVW7r)

(https://i.ibb.co/PWXRWBW/izzy8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Ydn6dvd)

(https://i.ibb.co/TRwDBgm/izzy9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XpWfZCS)

(https://i.ibb.co/z86V2Yp/izzy11.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FsH4YM2)

(https://i.ibb.co/BT6fvNw/izzy13.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8PxmGcX)

(https://i.ibb.co/r5c3sVR/izzy12.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BTrGN95)

(https://i.ibb.co/XyKrTx4/izzy14.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f8yz7dS)

just noticed i didn't get a picture of the receiver cover sn, only the top, it matches but I'll get a picture of it tomorrow.

-STR
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Larry D. on July 20, 2020, 04:17:56 AM
Nice.
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Hotrod on July 20, 2020, 07:27:16 AM
Me likey  dance2
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: carls sks on July 20, 2020, 09:25:17 AM
numbers matching and nice bluing too. beauty.  thumb1
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Bubbazinetti on July 20, 2020, 10:23:02 AM
She looks to be in real nice shape.You did well.Are you going to lick it or shoot it?
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Greatguns on July 20, 2020, 10:25:49 AM
Nice Russian. I quit buying the Russians as I was always afraid I would bow to the temptation to Modify it like I have done so many time with Chinese parts rifles I've had.
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: running-man on July 20, 2020, 10:26:17 AM
Nice looker!  Difficult year to find in any condition let alone at a low price.  When the dust settles, you'll think back and know you did well.  thumb1

This one probably came off the same line a few hours before after yours.  I think it's a refurb too, but a pretty light one:
(https://i.ibb.co/KDGrBYZ/B-797-receiver.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sCPVchS)
(https://i.ibb.co/Xfnyqh0/B-797-crossbolt.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SDkQzhY)
(https://i.ibb.co/Hp4Q75T/B-797-left-whole.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LhRfSVd)
(https://i.ibb.co/VCPSVLk/B-797-receiver-cover-top.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PWfhxrV)
(https://i.ibb.co/RbfYzcB/B-797-receiver-cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XL1jSt3)
(https://i.ibb.co/hdzC5xG/B-797-right-stock.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8xZX3ny)
(https://i.ibb.co/BKjy3t3/B-797-stock.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Kz72hXh)
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Bacarnal on July 20, 2020, 10:27:14 AM
Good find, STR!! Matching is good thumb1
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Justin Hell on July 20, 2020, 02:01:15 PM
I think she is gorgeous, and she probably doesn't think you spent too much on her....any time there isn't paint involved it's worth it.
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Bob_The_Student on July 20, 2020, 02:05:20 PM
F' tha money... you got a '53 Izhevsk!!! Congratulations
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 03:09:17 PM
Thanks for the kind regards gents, I'm pretty happy with it.
The wife, however, is not...
I'm with Bob, ef it, I got a 53 Izhevsk finally  :)

Quote from: Bubbazinetti on July 20, 2020, 10:23:02 AM
She looks to be in real nice shape.You did well.Are you going to lick it or shoot it?
I honestly probably won't. Shooting a matching 53' izzy is becoming more and more sacrilegious by the day, plus i've got a few tinker toys just for that.
I know she's not exactly a beauty queen and she's a refurb but having a 53' izzy is, as the youth would say; #lifegoals.

Quote from: running-man on July 20, 2020, 10:26:17 AM
Nice looker!  Difficult year to find in any condition let alone at a low price.  When the dust settles, you'll think back and know you did well.  thumb1

This one probably came off the same line a few hours before after yours.  I think it's a refurb too, but a pretty light one:

(https://i.ibb.co/VCPSVLk/B-797-receiver-cover-top.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PWfhxrV)
(https://i.ibb.co/RbfYzcB/B-797-receiver-cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XL1jSt3)


WOW!  :o
So dang cool to see stuff like this, just 44 numbers off, but the life of the rifle could vary so much. Who's the importer on yours? this ones a KBI.

Will snap a couple photos of the SN's i missed momentarily.


Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 03:11:54 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/Nm0JzsR/izzy15.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CMjYFzL)

(https://i.ibb.co/WkFmRTK/izzy16.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jyGnjp4)
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Bubbazinetti on July 20, 2020, 03:20:43 PM
I think it looks much nicer than you give it credit for.
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: running-man on July 20, 2020, 04:23:30 PM
Quote from: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 03:09:17 PM
WOW!  :o
So dang cool to see stuff like this, just 44 numbers off, but the life of the rifle could vary so much. Who's the importer on yours? this ones a KBI.

Will snap a couple photos of the SN's i missed momentarily.

My files shows that the BЛ797 is a CAI import.  (And I see the "VL" translation on the receiver photo so that entry looks to be correct  thumb1)
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 05:31:23 PM
Quote from: running-man on July 20, 2020, 04:23:30 PM
Quote from: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 03:09:17 PM
WOW!  :o
So dang cool to see stuff like this, just 44 numbers off, but the life of the rifle could vary so much. Who's the importer on yours? this ones a KBI.

Will snap a couple photos of the SN's i missed momentarily.

My files shows that the BЛ797 is a CAI import.  (And I see the "VL" translation on the receiver photo so that entry looks to be correct  thumb1)

I noticed it had the translated characters, but haven't studied them enough to recognize which one did the translations, or cccp stamps, dot matrix's, etc.
Love to see it when two rifles off the same line that find their way to the same final country albeit through different importers, and then are both bought by members of the same online community.
Super neat the way things go sometimes, and a pretty girl you've got there RM  thumb1

Quote from: Bubbazinetti on July 20, 2020, 03:20:43 PM
I think it looks much nicer than you give it credit for.
Don't get me wrong, she's absolutely beautiful to me, but we've got to be truthfully honest with the wear spots this one shows.
Even just comparing the wear on receiver covers between mine and RM's it's apparent, but maybe I'm being a bit hard on the old girl  :))
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Phosphorus32 on July 20, 2020, 09:41:03 PM
Very nice score! Congratulations  banana time

I like yours a lot!  thumb1  Mine has a bland monotone brown replacement stock but I may have to post it someday anyhow.

Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: running-man on July 21, 2020, 10:39:30 AM
The twin to yours I posted isn't mine.  I actually only own a single Russian SKS, a BBQ refurbed '50.  I would suspect that 95% of the membership here actually has a far larger collection that I do  :))  I have compulsive issues, and it takes quite a bit of my willpower to keep things in check.  Hence the "The only way to avoid Mosin..." moniker under my avatar.   thumb1

CAI was the only Russian Importer to transliterate Cyrillic letters on Russian SKS45s.  They got in hot water with the ATF because the serial numbers on poorly translated guns were impossible to read and were being entered incorrectly into FFL's bound books making tracing next to impossible.  The ATF went so far as to issue guidance that Cyrillic and greek alphabets were absolutely not to be used on imported guns and a new unique S/N must be stamped into the gun according to the CFR. (min height, min depth, located on a non-removable part of the firearm, visible w/o removing any component, etc.)
KBI re-serialized their guns with two batches of new numbers, the larger RH batch and the smaller RL batch.
CDI are the ones famous for the "CCCP" billboard sized font re-serial on the rear right of the receiver.
NHM is the last one of the big four and they are kind of all over the map.  Early on they utilized a straight number with five digits XXXXX right next to the original Cyrillic S/N.  Next they utilized a seven digit number beginning with 99 near the original Cyrillic S/N: 99XXXXX.  Eventually this 99XXXX number format moved to the rear of the left side of the receiver and was pin punched in dot matrix font.  After that they utilized the same 99XXXX number in a billboard sized font on the rear right of the receiver.  Finally they went back to the left side rear of the receiver with dot matrix pin punched font, but utilized a NXXXX serial number.  No consistency there at all.   dntknw1

Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Phosphorus32 on July 21, 2020, 11:07:47 AM
Quote from: running-man on July 21, 2020, 10:39:30 AM
The twin to yours I posted isn't mine.  I actually only own a single Russian SKS, a BBQ refurbed '50.  I would suspect that 95% of the membership here actually has a far larger collection that I do  :))  I have compulsive issues, and it takes quite a bit of my willpower to keep things in check.  Hence the "The only way to avoid Mosin..." moniker under my avatar.   thumb1

CAI was the only Russian Importer to transliterate Cyrillic letters on Russian SKS45s.  They got in hot water with the ATF because the serial numbers on poorly translated guns were impossible to read and were being entered incorrectly into FFL's bound books making tracing next to impossible.  The ATF went so far as to issue guidance that Cyrillic and greek alphabets were absolutely not to be used on imported guns and a new unique S/N must be stamped into the gun according to the CFR. (min height, min depth, located on a non-removable part of the firearm, visible w/o removing any component, etc.)
KBI re-serialized their guns with two batches of new numbers, the larger RH batch and the smaller RL batch.
CDI are the ones famous for the "CCCP" billboard sized font re-serial on the rear right of the receiver.
NHM is the last one of the big four and they are kind of all over the map.  Early on they utilized a straight number with five digits XXXXX right next to the original Cyrillic S/N.  Next they utilized a seven digit number beginning with 99 near the original Cyrillic S/N: 99XXXXX.  Eventually this 99XXXX number format moved to the rear of the left side of the receiver and was pin punched in dot matrix font.  After that they utilized the same 99XXXX number in a billboard sized font on the rear right of the receiver.  Finally they went back to the left side rear of the receiver with dot matrix pin punched font, but utilized a NXXXX serial number.  No consistency there at all.   dntknw1

Holy cow Joe, your accumulated knowledge from observations, categorizations and analysis is always astounding  thumb1
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Larry D. on July 21, 2020, 12:29:18 PM
Quote from: Shoot The Refurbs on July 20, 2020, 05:31:23 PM

Even just comparing the wear on receiver covers between mine and RM's it's apparent, but maybe I'm being a bit hard on the old girl  :))

*snicker*
You said hard on......

*snicker snicker*
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Shoot The Refurbs on July 21, 2020, 01:27:48 PM
My mistake RM, I misread and looking back it seems obvious you were referencing the database. doh! :-[
Funny you should say a bbq 50' refurb, that was the first sks and even rifle i bought upon turning 18. You sir, have good taste  ;)

Quote from: Phosphorus32 on July 21, 2020, 11:07:47 AM


Holy cow Joe, your accumulated knowledge from observations, categorizations and analysis is always astounding  thumb1

Indeed, I knew some had switched around here and there but not even close to the depth that you know it.
Kind of neat with all the changes to the import marks over time, it seems like we can easily identify which importation batches a rifle came from, and possibly help understand the rifles story a little better, maybe which country the cache came from or at the very least the time period when it made its way to the US.
I hope you consider listing these out on a separate post and sticky'ing that if it isn't already. Very neat stuff RM.

Quote from: Larry D. on July 21, 2020, 12:29:18 PM
*snicker*
You said hard on......
*snicker snicker*

I did  ;)

And P32, post her up, I'm sure the Izzy girls wouldn't mind a little get together!  :)
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: running-man on July 21, 2020, 01:43:23 PM
Quote from: Shoot The Refurbs on July 21, 2020, 01:27:48 PM
My mistake RM, I misread and looking back it seems obvious you were referencing the database. doh! :-[
Funny you should say a bbq 50' refurb, that was the first sks and even rifle i bought upon turning 18. You sir, have good taste  ;)

Quote from: Phosphorus32 on July 21, 2020, 11:07:47 AM


Holy cow Joe, your accumulated knowledge from observations, categorizations and analysis is always astounding  thumb1

Indeed, I knew some had switched around here and there but not even close to the depth that you know it.
Kind of neat with all the changes to the import marks over time, it seems like we can easily identify which importation batches a rifle came from, and possibly help understand the rifles story a little better, maybe which country the cache came from or at the very least the time period when it made its way to the US.
I hope you consider listing these out on a separate post and sticky'ing that if it isn't already. Very neat stuff RM.

Quote from: Larry D. on July 21, 2020, 12:29:18 PM
*snicker*
You said hard on......
*snicker snicker*

I did  ;)

And P32, post her up, I'm sure the Izzy girls wouldn't mind a little get together!  :)

Definitely want to see P32's '53!  That fence of his needs some TLC anyhow!

As for this info, it's here and there in various stickies.  The problem is we have enough posts now that things often get lost in the mix.  Russian importers can be found here: https://clone.sks-files.com/index.php?topic=2361.0

I tried to make a "XXXX SKS FAQ, HOWTOs, & Guides" thread in each subsection that has all the important links contained within it.  Some of those are a bit old and may be outdated.  Definitely something to add to my spring cleaning list.   thumb1
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: running-man on July 21, 2020, 02:01:24 PM
Also I had forgotten I had made this FAQ on Russian Serial Numbers: https://clone.sks-files.com/index.php?topic=1105.msg13374#msg13374

Some of the NHM info (like saying they only used a 9,9XX,XXX) S/N) is outdated...I've collected more data since that was written and it needs refreshing...
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Bob_The_Student on July 21, 2020, 03:49:09 PM
RM, if there is ever anything I can help you with on the site let me know. Especially in the winter months.
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: Shoot The Refurbs on July 21, 2020, 04:27:25 PM
Quote from: Bob_The_Student on July 21, 2020, 03:49:09 PM
RM, if there is ever anything I can help you with on the site let me know. Especially in the winter months.

Hear, hear!
RM it's not stated enough how much you do for the SKS community, I know so much of the work can only be done by you to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information but if there is something we can do to help please let us know.  thumb1

*Edited: grammer
Title: Re: First Izzy, 53'
Post by: running-man on July 21, 2020, 04:48:19 PM
Much appreciated gents, will keep that in mind!  thumb1