Bought assuming it was from izhevsk arsenal

[Vladk]

I purchased my first sks today thinking it was from the izhevsk arsenal. When i saw it there was no arsenal marking on the dust cover. The guy I bought it from said the triangle with a T in the middle was the arsenal mark. Upon closer inspection I think it might be a letter series "k". All numbers seem to match except for the piston and I can't separate the barrel from the stock to check for other markings. Any information about this sks would be very much appreciated.

[Vladk]

Here's a few more pics

[Dino412]

Yea, not an Izhevsk Arsenal but a "K" lettergun 1957-58. Looks to have the original laminated stock too. Does not look to be re-arsenaled, but if it was, there would be a re-furb mark in the shape of a diamond on top of the dust cover or a square with a diagonal line inside, on the right side butt stock. Hope you didn't pay Izzy price for it.

[Vladk]

It was a very reasonable price. Wouldn't it be more valuable it being a letter sks? The top of the dust cover has nothing on it but there is a definite colour difference on it.

[Hodgie]

Here in the States both your rifle and a try non return Izzy would fetch a premium these days. The Izzy would probably go.for more to the right buyer. Canada seems to be a completely difference since there are still a fair amount of Russians on the open market.

[Filroy77]

Congrats on the new acquisition. Scarf up as much ammo while you still can. The times they are a Changin’.

[Dino412]

It was a very reasonable price. Wouldn't it be more valuable it being a letter sks? The top of the dust cover has nothing on it but there is a definite colour difference on it.

Non refurbished SKS are definitely more desirable than the refurbished SKS. I see nothing that indicates your SKS was refurbished. The different shades of bluing on the dust cover is original. Is it more valuable than an Izhevsk factory SKS? In the same condition as your SKS, the Izhevsk would be more desirable IMO. Your SKS is desirable and valuable in it's present condition since it is a matching, non refurbed "K" lettergun.   

[Vladk]

Thank you everyone. I really don't care if it's more valuable, I feel a letter gun is more rare and the fact that it doesn't seem refurbished appeals to me as well. It's it common for the barrel to be difficult to remove from the stock when breaking down? Does anyone know what some of the other markings might mean? If need be I can add more pics.

[Dino412]

Usually the stock will separate from the barrel and receiver with a light tap to the bottom of the muzzle while holding the stock. Was the trigger group removed easily? Did you remove the cleaning rod and box mag before trying to remove the stock? Extend the bayonet first?

[Vladk]

Yes I was able to remove everything fairly easily. The trigger group came out easier than expected. I did get the stock to start to lift up from the stock but was afraid I would damage something if I forced it too much. I might need to give it another try, it seems like the guy before me didn't care too much for keeping it clean.

[pcke2000]

Thank you everyone. I really don't care if it's more valuable, I feel a letter gun is more rare and the fact that it doesn't seem refurbished appeals to me as well. It's it common for the barrel to be difficult to remove from the stock when breaking down? Does anyone know what some of the other markings might mean? If need be I can add more pics.

It's a refurb Russian letter gun. Stock shows it.

[Vladk]

Can you please explain how the stock shows its a refurb? I'm genuinely interested, thank you.

[Dino412]

Thank you everyone. I really don't care if it's more valuable, I feel a letter gun is more rare and the fact that it doesn't seem refurbished appeals to me as well. It's it common for the barrel to be difficult to remove from the stock when breaking down? Does anyone know what some of the other markings might mean? If need be I can add more pics.

It's a refurb Russian letter gun. Stock shows it.

Can you please explain how the stock shows its a refurb? I'm genuinely interested, thank you.

Me too.

[pcke2000]

Can you please explain how the stock shows its a refurb? I'm genuinely interested, thank you.

Lack of inspection cartouches around cross-bolt on left side of stock is an obvious sign.

Good news is that the stock itself is quite uncommon, because it's a refurbed 'original' laminated stock. Here, 'original' means the stock was originally made for a same time period non-refurb letter gun, not like those for the later mass SKS refurb program.

Other features of the stock you may want to check are: (1) if the final military representative's acceptance stamp/cartouche (supposed to be Cyrillic letters T and F inside a circle) is still on right side of buttstock. and (2) if the top rear end of the stock has an inward lip.

[Dino412]

If a laminated stock that was originally issued on a lettergun was factory refurbished there would almost definitely be a refurb mark on the right side butt stock. The presence or lack of Crossbolt cartouches is not definitive of refurbishment or not, some even speculate that cartooches are a sign of refurbishment.