Well, gentlemen. Some things are a LONG time coming, and this case is certainly no exception. Presenting another "little gunshop" find that came my way a couple of months ago. A 1951 Tula Factory SKS-45, non-refurbished.
The SKS model gun is the first passion of mine, before the Mosin bug hit. And I've been needing a 1951 to nearly round out my Russian collection of all years and variants. I've passed on plenty of refurbished ones, or original ones that were priced at $600-plus. This one was already priced fairly at $425, but a little haggling brought it down to $375, and I hope the shop owner didn't see me walking on air as I stepped out his door! Only the dated cover 1955 eludes me from completing the series from 1949 to the undated 1956.
It's a matching unit, inside and out. (bolt and electropenciled gas piston not pictured)
And the tell-tale sign of the original finish is the matching numbered stock stamping breaking through the garnet shellac on the arctic birch stock. The diamond stamps around the crossbolt, the acceptance mark on the right side of the stock, and various other original cartouches can also be found on the furniture.
Not all had the bronzed-tint bayonet, as some 1951's have the bright chrome, but I'll take this one just as it is to fit safely in the vault. And per usual, thanks for looking.
The SKS model gun is the first passion of mine, before the Mosin bug hit. And I've been needing a 1951 to nearly round out my Russian collection of all years and variants. I've passed on plenty of refurbished ones, or original ones that were priced at $600-plus. This one was already priced fairly at $425, but a little haggling brought it down to $375, and I hope the shop owner didn't see me walking on air as I stepped out his door! Only the dated cover 1955 eludes me from completing the series from 1949 to the undated 1956.
It's a matching unit, inside and out. (bolt and electropenciled gas piston not pictured)
And the tell-tale sign of the original finish is the matching numbered stock stamping breaking through the garnet shellac on the arctic birch stock. The diamond stamps around the crossbolt, the acceptance mark on the right side of the stock, and various other original cartouches can also be found on the furniture.
Not all had the bronzed-tint bayonet, as some 1951's have the bright chrome, but I'll take this one just as it is to fit safely in the vault. And per usual, thanks for looking.
![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
