1952 RUSSIAN

[woodwzrd1010]

Hey guys, picked this up tonight, trying to figure out if its a Non Refurb......NO XXX'S.....NO BBQ PAINT.......
but has a small stamp on barrel......Will get more pics soon....Just wondering if the Stamp means Refurb.....
Thanks for any Help

[Greatguns]

I believe it is an inspection stamp from refurbishment. It looks like maybe to be a light refurb or maybe a non-issued rifle that was inspected and stamped for export. Others may know better then me though.

[Hodgie]

Very clean rifle, great piece either way.

[Logan7]

Looks very nice, woodwizard. That's not a metal stamp I know.

I just pulled my '52 refurb out and it has 6 small stamps on the barrel, plus 2 tiny uniform gouges that I take to be hardness tests, and none of them look like your mark. To be clear, let's not rule your picture out as a refurb stamp (possibly from some other refurb facility than my Tula went through) but if that's the only mark on your barrel then I doubt it's been refurbed or replaced.

We would need to see a lot more photos of your nice rifle, all the markings on the wood and metal, to tell you with any assurance.
And be sure to include one with your feet. It's an old SKS board tradition. 

[sweetgrass]

woodwzard    This is a pretty late reply to your post but I've just recently joined the SKS Forum and saw your 1952 Russian posting.  I have two Russian SKS rifles dated 1952 on the dust cover.    Both have been refurbished to a factory new appearance both shoot very well and each have a blade bayonet on the muzzle end.    The serial numbers on each rifle are all matching including the stock.    I'd like to remove the "black paint" on the bolt & bolt carrier of each rifle and thought you or someone on this post could tell me about a good method to do this.    Thanks

[PAX]

If you have nothing else soaking in brake fluid works, PAX

[sweetgrass]

PAX   Thanks, I'll give brake fluid a try.

[PAX]

PAX   Thanks, I'll give brake fluid a try.

Do one group at a time. Soak then scrub with stiff bristle brush, then clean with brake cleaner. Brake fluid leaves a film. PAX

[sweetgrass]

PAX   Thanks again, I was going to ask what kind of method would you recommend I use to remove the black paint with the brake fluid.    I'll only use your method on one bolt and bolt carrier at a time.   

[Dino412]

The 45 degree gas block strikes me as odd. IIRC the 45 degree gas block was fazed out by late 1951. It could be original but very uncommon.

[Logan7]

IIRC the 45 degree gas block was fazed out by late 1951.

Dino, I believe it was phased out in early '52. I've got an all-original metal '52 Tula with the 45 angle, but also had a '52 with the curved gas block.
So, Woodwizard's '52 can genuinely have either.