Helpon a 54 Izhevsk refurb mark.

[OLD OUTLAW]

Hogg, I've known you for along time. BUT, Ya gonna get Neutered real soon!

[Junk Yard Dog]

Tough crowd, ouch!

[howiebearse]

I figured I would put my 2 cents worth here . I cannot be sure what those marks were supposed to be but my guess is they were diamond proofs that Izhevsk used on their refurbed guns.(also possible that the inspector tried twice to stamp it with same results leaving that mark set) Many times while a gun is being processed either the inspector has a bad day or bad tool and cannot get the thing proofed right. Other things also can come into play with someone marking something for their own reason on a piece. I will post both my top covers and you can draw your own conclusions. The inspectors proof punches can be different and you might see a different shape depending on who milled the punch. If you notice on the 54 Tula they have two very different 4 stamps on the date 1954. This may not be much of an answer but its all i can figure. The gun is a refurb with that laminated stock Many guns go through the inspection and rebuild and do not need much sometimes a stock sometimes a new finish. The laminated stock was an update as well so it did not mean that the hardwood stock was bad. If the gun was done in 56 perhaps they were just using up what they had plenty of knowing no more manufacture was happening.

[boomer34]

How about this? The rifle was assembled at the Tula Arsenal after the Ishevsk Arsenal was closed. All the matching parts came over to the Tula Arsenal and were used there with the laminated stock and the marks on the receiver cover indicate that. Therefore, what those marks could mean-An Izhevsk rifle assembled at Tula and the two marks indicate that.

All the metal parts were matching numbers kept together and then the Tula arsenal added the laminated stock and I assume stamped the proper serial number on the stock. This could have happened in 1955. the life of the Tula Arsenal into 1956 is an unknown quanity. You would expect some reasonable order at the Tula Arsenal receiving the excess Izhevsk parts through most of 1955 until the Tula Arsenal got it's closing orders to shut down in 1956.

We think we know from the Letter Series rifles that the laminated stocks were issued on late original rifles. The original "I" I have has been one of the centerpieces of that discussion. There is no reason not to believe that the same happening might not have happened with OO's rifle and it was maked to so indicate.

But, you can bet that the Russians, knowing that the SKS was being discontinued, made the best use they could of what they had left of a disappearing supply.

[OLD OUTLAW]

Boomer! I guess I never thought of that possibility. This rifle obviously was never used, I mean, it is 100% perfect. No one has fired
this rifle since it was imported. But, it came with the laminated stock. Your thoughts make sense. Even complete rifles minus the stocks could have been transferred to Tula. As my memory now seems to serve me, my Russian friend over there did say some thing about some completed Izhevsk rifles
being crated up with out stocks. He told me he knew they were not transferred to China with the production equipment. But not sure what happened
to those crates. I will send him a few questions later tonight. Good thinking Boomer. It does sound reasonable. Or, could those crates from Izhevsk have been even shipped to a refurb facility to be stocked before final storage? I will see what he can find out for me.
Steve

[boomer34]

It's a possibility. What your contact in Russia said about the complete Izzys being crated without stocks would fit the proposed scenerio pretty well.

[OLD OUTLAW]

It's a possibility. What your contact in Russia said about the complete Izzys being crated without stocks would fit the proposed scenerio pretty well.

You are correct about that. Would explain a number of basically unissued Izhevsk 54 rifles in a plain Jane laminate stock.
We have seem more than one similar on GB over last couple of years. If they went to Tula or some refurb. facility, they would likely put some refurb mark on it.

[boomer34]

My guess is that what you have may have come from the Tula Arsenal and the mark, as opposed to the several refrub marks we are all acquianted with, is different and meant to signify what it is. An original rifle with two parents.

We know that the laminated stocks came into being for two reasons. One, they were running out of the birch. Two, the birch stocks had a problem with wrist weakness and therefore the stronger laminated with the crossbolt at the wrist.

So, by the time these Izzys got to the Tula Arsneal, the laminated stocks were in play and that is what yours got.

The laminated stocks were also in good supply at the refurb facilities, wherever they were, and for those rifles going through them, the refrubs received their distinctive stamps and new laminated where necessary.