Hello all, I have a question for the Gurus here with the Black Bolt on the Russians.
Last Night I noticed a Very Nice Russian on Gun Broker, "nobody" had bid on and it was beautiful! I know it is a refurb but is absolutely gorgeous. So, 5 minutes left in the auction I bid $605.00, starting bid was $599.00 and I won it! So my question is; Is the bolt parkerized, painted or powder coated? The condition of the entire gun looks the same as the Bolt. It does have the Laminate wood stock which is very pretty. Why don't/didn't they leave the Bolts natural?
Now I realize questions are limited to one a day but I have one more... chuckles1. The Serial # has the backwards "N" after the numbers and it has no date stamped on the Bolt Cover, but does have a "star" stamped on the receiver a couple inches back from the serial numbers. Would this rifle be a 1956/57?
Thanks all for any reply. Pics will follow when I receive it. I haven't purchased an SKS since last year some time so I figured I'd get another before we can't get any at all!
Dave
Does sound like you latched onto a 56-58 late model refurb. Do you have a link to the auction? Pics would help confirm.
Please link the auction. The photos from the auction, will help to answer your questions
Also, nice fishing trip.
I've won a couple of gems on the first bid.and it Always sweeter to catch a keeper on the first cast.
Here ya go! I think this should load up. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/892479004
Bolt painted with typical Russian BBQ paint.
Interestingly, the listing did not show pic of serial on bolt carrier.
Yep, looks like you have a '57 heavy refurb the way I see it. Force matched FCG Nice grab at $649 + possible FFL fees
Quote from: Greatguns on March 01, 2021, 01:12:55 PM
Yep, looks like you have a '57 heavy refurb the way I see it. Force matched FCG Nice grab at $649 + possible FFL fees
Yes! Because I live here in the Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey, I got WHACKED in the balls with 7% sales tax on top of it all. >:( My FFL is a sweet lady and she's been my FFL for years, This one will be another $25.00 for the NICS and transfer.
Quote from: pcke2000 on March 01, 2021, 01:11:52 PM
Bolt painted with typical Russian BBQ paint.
Interestingly, the listing did not show pic of serial on bolt carrier.
I noticed that as well... , I'm hoping it is. Well, it's not 100% by any stretch but it'll be a nice shooter I hope. I figured ANY Russian now at this price would be worth scooping up. Not to cry the blues but we are living on a Military retirement budget "only" now because my wife was layed off last year due to the dam Covid crap! So, this was in my budget that I could afford! :)
I think you did well, Dave.
Doubly so in these times.
Quote from: Larry D. on March 01, 2021, 01:43:41 PM
I think you did well, Dave.
Doubly so in these times.
Thank you! Kinda what I thought as well, I've been peeking into GB occasionally and looking at the prices ??? And every time I do I just say to myself, Dam this is getting Crazy! cry1. Last night I figured I'd give it a scan and on the last page or so of the SKS's was this rifle. It was a head scratcher because there was 0 bids and I figured something was hidden or drastically wrong with it.
I guess nobody wanted a Refurb. I spoke with the gun shop owner this morning when I paid for it, and he said it was in excellent shape and the bore was perfect as you can get. I have gotten lucky in the last year I suppose.
Nice pick up. thumb1 I've seen quite a few refurbs in way worse shape going for more on GB lately. Should be a very nice shooter regardless of any potential force match.
Yeah, good grab these days. I have avoided the black painted SKS-45s, but your refurbished 1957 with it's laminated stock and handguard is a nice looking SKS thumb1
Quote from: Phosphorus32 on March 01, 2021, 02:31:10 PM
Yeah, good grab these days. I have avoided the black painted SKS-45s, but your refurbished 1957 with it's laminated stock and handguard is a nice looking SKS thumb1
If I may be as so bold to ask; I realize they "are" Refurbs and not much of a true original value, but why do folks have the fear of them? nea1 I have the other one I showed here last year and it shoots like a dream! At 100 yards, I was punching out 4" groups with my 60 year old eyes! chuckles1 Who knows, maybe the way things are going even these might become "collectable" some day... wink1
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 01, 2021, 02:45:02 PM
Quote from: Phosphorus32 on March 01, 2021, 02:31:10 PM
Yeah, good grab these days. I have avoided the black painted SKS-45s, but your refurbished 1957 with it's laminated stock and handguard is a nice looking SKS thumb1
If I may be as so bold to ask; I realize they "are" Refurbs and not much of a true original value, but why do folks have the fear of them? nea1 I have the other one I showed here last year and it shoots like a dream! At 100 yards, I was punching out 4" groups with my 60 year old eyes! chuckles1 Who knows, maybe the way things are going even these might become "collectable" some day... wink1
Mostly people didn't like the "BBQ paint finish". it has been held that "as-issued" or "light refurb" were the "collectible" guns. That is changing somewhat as time goes by. Now I'd say it is a little more of a "what year it was made" and "is it an Ishevsk" as much as anything, then the aesthetics come into play secondary. Partly maybe due to long time collectors trying to fill the last holes in their collection. Other Countries of origin are going the same way. Heck now even once considered "no value" commercial Chinese are becoming collectible.
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 01, 2021, 02:45:02 PM
Quote from: Phosphorus32 on March 01, 2021, 02:31:10 PM
Yeah, good grab these days. I have avoided the black painted SKS-45s, but your refurbished 1957 with it's laminated stock and handguard is a nice looking SKS thumb1
If I may be as so bold to ask; I realize they "are" Refurbs and not much of a true original value, but why do folks have the fear of them? nea1 I have the other one I showed here last year and it shoots like a dream! At 100 yards, I was punching out 4" groups with my 60 year old eyes! chuckles1 Who knows, maybe the way things are going even these might become "collectable" some day... wink1
I don't "fear" them, and my avoidance of them is not due to concerns about functionality. They were refurbished by a Russian arsenal with the sole purpose of returning them to maximum functionality, so they should be great shooters thumb1 It's just my personal preference as a collector that I avoid the painted ones. I have plenty of other types of refurbished SKSs.
My opinion.. refurbs get shunned because they are and can be mixed and matched from various parts and pieces. Like Garands, M1 Carbines, Mausers, Mosins and everything else.. some want as it come from the factory vs being rebuilt. Some don't make sense... Most all Finnish Mosins are technically refurb, but they still command that premium.. personally, I'm not picky.. refurbed, as issued or papered, if the mood strikes, I'm on it, dag on it. :)
Regardless... They are all collectibles, cause they aren't made any longer, much less imported. thumb1
And BBQ refurbs ARE collectible, just less fashionable I guess. Which might change over time :) Unless, of course, they are '49 or early '50.
BBQ refurbs are unique in a way that to my limited knowledge no other Russian/Soviet arms have bolts in the "black". A lot of black bolt SKS's are associated with civilian use in former USSR.
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 01, 2021, 01:53:25 PM
Quote from: Larry D. on March 01, 2021, 01:43:41 PM
I think you did well, Dave.
Doubly so in these times.
Thank you! Kinda what I thought as well, I've been peeking into GB occasionally and looking at the prices ??? And every time I do I just say to myself, Dam this is getting Crazy! cry1. Last night I figured I'd give it a scan and on the last page or so of the SKS's was this rifle. It was a head scratcher because there was 0 bids and I figured something was hidden or drastically wrong with it.
I guess nobody wanted a Refurb. I spoke with the gun shop owner this morning when I paid for it, and he said it was in excellent shape and the bore was perfect as you can get. I have gotten lucky in the last year I suppose.
The price is good in today's market, even after adding sales taxes and FFL transfer fees.
As long as no changes of the mutual agreement (no more new Russian SKS imported) in future (seems like extremely unlike to change), BBQ painted will become highly collectible soon. Take a look at what has happened to Russian SVT, RC K98K, etc.
Thanks for all that Great Info everyone! I was always curious some people shunned them from the reading I did. I think my other Refurb is a 1953 Tula and it's a sweetie to shoot. That one is all matching numbers, except the stock has the xxxxxx, then the serial numbers. Well, Thank you all for the lesson! :). I'll let you all know how it shoots when it comes in. Thank God I still have about 700 or 800 rounds left from the 1000 case I bought last April for $199.00 whistle12. Thanks again everyone! 8)
I think i
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 01, 2021, 02:45:02 PM
If I may be as so bold to ask; I realize they "are" Refurbs and not much of a true original value, but why do folks have the fear of them? nea1 I have the other one I showed here last year and it shoots like a dream! At 100 yards, I was punching out 4" groups with my 60 year old eyes! chuckles1 Who knows, maybe the way things are going even these might become "collectable" some day... wink1
Here in NM, we have a type of cow that you get when you have a Black Angus bull bred with a Hereford cow that are commonly called "Black Baldies". Bearing that in mind, whenever I see a blonde laminate stocked gun with BBQ paint, the term "Black Blondie" always pops into my head. These guns have always been a bit of an outlier price-wise because they tend to command a higher price than most collectors think they "should". We noticed this way back in 2012 when Boomer was still doing the SKS gunbroker report over at SKSBoards.
As many in this thread have said, there is nothing wrong with them at all. Great shooters, great lookers. I think the reason they are often valued higher is because they look so darn nice! The alluring photos draw collectors in and in the olden days before this craziness, you would once in a while get an auction where one of these guns would command a price close to what you'd pay for an as-issued '54 Tula.
I don't pretend to understand the market and what truly drives prices, but it is what it is and by this metric you did really well on this one Dave. thumb1
Quote from: running-man on March 01, 2021, 03:53:48 PM
I think iQuote from: Weldrdave on March 01, 2021, 02:45:02 PM
If I may be as so bold to ask; I realize they "are" Refurbs and not much of a true original value, but why do folks have the fear of them? nea1 I have the other one I showed here last year and it shoots like a dream! At 100 yards, I was punching out 4" groups with my 60 year old eyes! chuckles1 Who knows, maybe the way things are going even these might become "collectable" some day... wink1
Here in NM, we have a type of cow that you get when you have a Black Angus bull bred with a Hereford cow that are commonly called "Black Baldies". Bearing that in mind, whenever I see a blonde laminate stocked gun with BBQ paint, the term "Black Blondie" always pops into my head. These guns have always been a bit of an outlier price-wise because they tend to command a higher price than most collectors think they "should". We noticed this way back in 2012 when Boomer was still doing the SKS gunbroker report over at SKSBoards.
As many in this thread have said, there is nothing wrong with them at all. Great shooters, great lookers. I think the reason they are often valued higher is because they look so darn nice! The alluring photos draw collectors in and in the olden days before this craziness, you would once in a while get an auction where one of these guns would command a price close to what you'd pay for an as-issued '54 Tula.
I don't pretend to understand the market and what truly drives prices, but it is what it is and by this metric you did really well on this one Dave. thumb1
Thanks for the Input RM! thumb1. As said before, I'm still in the learning process but catching on quick. I think some of those Refurbs are very nice looking. And as said, I realize there not original but the way I'm now looking at it, It's an SKS as long as it's not Bubbasized! I like the purity of the rifle. I did "snow camo"one I had, you might remember but the stock was beat to $#IT and it was Californized/bayonet lug was milled off, not to mention it was a high number Chinese. So, I'm gonna use that one for my New Hampshire ATV rides! I just love shooting these rifles and none of mine shoot quite the same. This is now my 7th I think... whistle12. Oh Boy, not sure now that I'm writing this... chuckles1
I finally recieved my SKS yesterday, the bolt carrier "Does" match the rest of the serial numbers, it wasn't in the photos. Now here's another question; The stock IS Lamanite but the serial numbers and original, No XXXXXXX in them or it anythere. Could this be an original stock? Going back to the reading and learning here is says in one of the posts that they 1957 "could" have either/or. Any real way of knowing? Sadly, the only forced match part is the magazine, all the rest is a match. I'm gonna take it to the range today. :).
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 10, 2021, 08:25:29 AM
I finally recieved my SKS yesterday, the bolt carrier "Does" match the rest of the serial numbers, it wasn't in the photos. Now here's another question; The stock IS Lamanite but the serial numbers and original, No XXXXXXX in them or it anythere. Could this be an original stock? Going back to the reading and learning here is says in one of the posts that they 1957 "could" have either/or. Any real way of knowing? Sadly, the only forced match part is the magazine, all the rest is a match. I'm gonna take it to the range today. :).
No the stock is not original.
Quote from: pcke2000 on March 10, 2021, 09:29:51 AM
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 10, 2021, 08:25:29 AM
I finally recieved my SKS yesterday, the bolt carrier "Does" match the rest of the serial numbers, it wasn't in the photos. Now here's another question; The stock IS Lamanite but the serial numbers and original, No XXXXXXX in them or it anythere. Could this be an original stock? Going back to the reading and learning here is says in one of the posts that they 1957 "could" have either/or. Any real way of knowing? Sadly, the only forced match part is the magazine, all the rest is a match. I'm gonna take it to the range today. :).
No the stock is not original.
pcke2k, wouldn't it be possible on a '57 for the laminated stock to be the original one? I thought '55 and up they were issued with them.
Quote from: Greatguns on March 10, 2021, 10:06:06 AM
Quote from: pcke2000 on March 10, 2021, 09:29:51 AM
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 10, 2021, 08:25:29 AM
I finally recieved my SKS yesterday, the bolt carrier "Does" match the rest of the serial numbers, it wasn't in the photos. Now here's another question; The stock IS Lamanite but the serial numbers and original, No XXXXXXX in them or it anythere. Could this be an original stock? Going back to the reading and learning here is says in one of the posts that they 1957 "could" have either/or. Any real way of knowing? Sadly, the only forced match part is the magazine, all the rest is a match. I'm gonna take it to the range today. :).
No the stock is not original.
pcke2k, wouldn't it be possible on a '57 for the laminated stock to be the original one? I thought '55 and up they were issued with them.
Yes, but not with this specific rifle. Non-refurb original laminated stocks have very different colors and like Russian hardwood stocks, there's an inward 'dent' at upper rear end of buttstock.
Quote from: pcke2000 on March 10, 2021, 10:23:59 AM
Quote from: Greatguns on March 10, 2021, 10:06:06 AM
Quote from: pcke2000 on March 10, 2021, 09:29:51 AM
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 10, 2021, 08:25:29 AM
I finally recieved my SKS yesterday, the bolt carrier "Does" match the rest of the serial numbers, it wasn't in the photos. Now here's another question; The stock IS Lamanite but the serial numbers and original, No XXXXXXX in them or it anythere. Could this be an original stock? Going back to the reading and learning here is says in one of the posts that they 1957 "could" have either/or. Any real way of knowing? Sadly, the only forced match part is the magazine, all the rest is a match. I'm gonna take it to the range today. :).
No the stock is not original.
pcke2k, wouldn't it be possible on a '57 for the laminated stock to be the original one? I thought '55 and up they were issued with them.
Yes, but not with this specific rifle. Non-refurb original laminated stocks have very different colors and like Russian hardwood stocks, there's an inward 'dent' at upper rear end of buttstock.
Ah okay, gotchya, that's beyond my knowledge-base when you start talking color differences. :)
Quote from: Greatguns on March 10, 2021, 10:06:06 AM
Quote from: pcke2000 on March 10, 2021, 09:29:51 AM
Quote from: Weldrdave on March 10, 2021, 08:25:29 AM
I finally recieved my SKS yesterday, the bolt carrier "Does" match the rest of the serial numbers, it wasn't in the photos. Now here's another question; The stock IS Lamanite but the serial numbers and original, No XXXXXXX in them or it anythere. Could this be an original stock? Going back to the reading and learning here is says in one of the posts that they 1957 "could" have either/or. Any real way of knowing? Sadly, the only forced match part is the magazine, all the rest is a match. I'm gonna take it to the range today. :).
No the stock is not original.
pcke2k, wouldn't it be possible on a '57 for the laminated stock to be the original one? I thought '55 and up they were issued with them.
I had the same thought. ???
Home from the range, the pics are the first 40 rounds through it. 20 on left target, 1st group of shots then 20 on the right target after I got myself in zone and minumul site adjustment. It's a great shooter! These are at 50 yards.
(https://i.ibb.co/W51Wtvj/DSCN4391.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MSLD6kQ)
Why, given the range report AND the title of this thread, do I keep hearing a certain RAM JAM song in my head??
Whoa Black Bolt Russian; Lyrics revised by yours truly rofl rofl
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Simonov had a child (Bam-ba-lam)
The damn thing gone wild (Bam-ba-lam)
He said, "I make this for simple mind" (Bam-ba-lam)
The best rifle one can find (Bam-ba-lam)
I said oh, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
She really gets me high (Bam-ba-lam)
You know that's no lie (Bam-ba-lam)
She's so rock steady (Bam-ba-lam)
And she's always ready (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Get it!
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
From the CCCP (Bam-ba-lam)
Made in the Urals be (Bam-ba-lam)
Well, she comes with a sling (Bam-ba-lam)
Boy, she makes me sing (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian
Bam-ba-laaam, yeah, yeah
Way too funny!
Quote from: Greatguns on March 10, 2021, 05:08:07 PM
Why, given the range report AND the title of this thread, do I keep hearing a certain RAM JAM song in my head??
Whoa Black Bolt Russian; Lyrics revised by yours truly rofl rofl
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Simonov had a child (Bam-ba-lam)
The damn thing gone wild (Bam-ba-lam)
He said, "I make this for simple mind" (Bam-ba-lam)
The best rifle one can find (Bam-ba-lam)
I said oh, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
She really gets me high (Bam-ba-lam)
You know that's no lie (Bam-ba-lam)
She's so rock steady (Bam-ba-lam)
And she's always ready (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Get it!
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
From the CCCP (Bam-ba-lam)
Made in the Urals be (Bam-ba-lam)
Well, she comes with a sling (Bam-ba-lam)
Boy, she makes me sing (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian (Bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Bolt Russian
Bam-ba-laaam, yeah, yeah
I think you have a hit there! thumb1
Now you need to make a youtube video and start making big $$$ for new SKS's!