1954 Izzy

[Woodbeef]

That's a fine batch of '54 Izzy's there Woodbeef!  Beautiful!  So do you have a pile of '53 Izzy's as well?

Also, what makes the last one your favorite?

HR

I sold 2 other non-reburbed 54 Izzies this year,and 2 hardwood refurbs. I've also sold 1 laminate and one hardwood 53 Izzy refurbs. The 53s are harder to find. As for the last pic of the 54s. That one is as issued,and just has a presence about it.

Here's some 53s

These 2 are refurbs.







This one is in an Izzy stock,sanded and hard to see the stamp,but it's there.







And the jewel of my Izzy collection

http://yooperj.com/SKS-30.htm

[hifiguns]

The bronze tinted film looks like shellac. They really slopped it on at the arsenal. Try denatured alcohol to get it off of the trapdoor. Don't get any on the stock. It will strip the shellac.

[harleyrider]

Woodbeef, your collection of Ruskies is stunning!  Thanks for sharing with us.

BTW, the '53 Izzy un-issued on Yooper's is beyond human words.  Good show! 

HR

[harleyrider]

The bronze tinted film looks like shellac. They really slopped it on at the arsenal. Try denatured alcohol to get it off of the trapdoor. Don't get any on the stock. It will strip the shellac.

Thanks hifi, but I'm pretty sure it's not shellac.  Shellac would have stripped easily away with the brake cleaner, acetone, & CLP bath I gave it.

No, I believe it was/is some residual leftover from a lubricant or something that maybe had a copper or bronze component in it.  Or maybe really old cosmo layer like that that turns Russian bayonets that kinda bronze yellow color.  Slow, steady work with the 0000 steel wool, a toothbrush, and CLP did the trick.  It just took a long time.

HR

[jswledhed]

Here's some 53s

These 2 are refurbs.

Looks like mine.

[boomer34]

Great find HR. Commenting on Woodbeef's post. Do we know that the Izzy Arsenal did not make a Letter Series in their last runs in '54? Be an interesting point to verify if it could be done.

I've seen more of the late type serial numbers on the 54 Izzies. Also not seen very many Izzies with 4 numbers in the serial number from either years

My '54 Izzy DDR marked has a serial # under 500 making it three digits. Anyone else have a three digit Izzy?

[acl864]

Wow! Awesome collection of Izzy's. I'd love to see them in person. I'm sure pics don't do them justice.

[Woodbeef]

Great find HR. Commenting on Woodbeef's post. Do we know that the Izzy Arsenal did not make a Letter Series in their last runs in '54? Be an interesting point to verify if it could be done.

I've seen more of the late type serial numbers on the 54 Izzies. Also not seen very many Izzies with 4 numbers in the serial number from either years

My '54 Izzy DDR marked has a serial # under 500 making it three digits. Anyone else have a three digit Izzy?

Out of the 15 or so Izzies I've had in the last 2 years,only one had a 4 digit seriel number. All the rest were 3.

[beachbumwithagun]

nice find HR and as woodbeef says 4 digit serials are not real common. I only have one with a 4 digit myself, it has the same letters as yours E462xN

[harleyrider]

Out of the 15 or so Izzies I've had in the last 2 years,only one had a 4 digit seriel number. All the rest were 3.

nice find HR and as woodbeef says 4 digit serials are not real common. I only have one with a 4 digit myself, it has the same letters as yours E462xN

So by inference would this mean that the 1954 w/4-digit serials would correspond to the latest Izzy's produced?

HR

[Woodbeef]

Not really. The only 4 digit I had was a 53 Izzy. What makes your's a late Izzy is the character after the numbers.

[harleyrider]

Not really. The only 4 digit I had was a 53 Izzy. What makes your's a late Izzy is the character after the numbers.

Gotcha Woodbeef.  Thanks!

HR

[SKS Lizard]

Nice.  I picked up a 1954 Izhevsk SKS in March of 2008 for $375.00.  The only sign of refurbishment on that one is like on yours - the force matched Tula stock.  Mine also had that odd brownish stuff on it here and there, but it came off more easily for me.  The only flaw on mine is that some of the shellac finish must have flaked off of the upper handguard while the previous owner had it.

I should see if I can find pictures of it somewhere.

[harleyrider]

I should see if I can find pictures of it somewhere.

Please Do!  We're all about the pictures here!

HR

[tvfreakarms]

How can you tell if it's a refurb?