I got a SKS!!!!!

[Polypterus]

after reviewing this site: http://yooperj.com/SKS.htm i'm not so sure my sks is a refurb. my friends have a russian tula sks that is 1953 i believe (1 year after mine) adn they insist it isn't refurb, and the sks is def different looking. the reciever/ dust cover appears to be painted, not blued like mine, and the bolt is black, also the stock doesn't seem to be lacquered or at least have as much lacquer on it. aside from that i cannot remember any specific differences, but from what i've been reading at yooper's site it seems like their sks may be refurb and mine isn't. am i right? or am i all confused

thanks for all the help!

I firmly believe your gun is NOT a referb and is in stock service condition. It may have had some work done on it somewhere down the line. (They all have to some extent) It clearly was not arsenal refinished as it shows no signs of it. Yooper is great but here is a better guide to Identification of a Russian referb http://www.simonov.net/uberrussian.htm

 

[Polypterus]

Oh poly I finally read all thru the thread. I Also have a g-43. Non import marked. Havent been able to locate a scope and mount for it though. If you hear of one of those please do tell. Any other older rifles you find interesting? Heh i've got a few oddballs.

I have a K-43 varient of the G-43 and is one of the out of place guns in my collection of mostly Eastern weapons. Got it from a guy who claimed he picked it up in Germany in 1945 and while it has no papers it looks like it. Has a duffle cut at the wrist and looks like crud... but then with a K-43 thats sometimes hard to determine much from. I've seen some "excellent" ones that looked like crud..

Good luck on the ZF-4 there are some Reproduction mounts and scopes around or Czech made from parts available from time to time on gunbroker. Last real one I saw went for what I paid for my gun.

If your not to picky you can do what I did for awhile. I have an original mount and outfitted it with a Russian PU scope. This actually was a practice that was used by Russia with captured G-43 and even by the Germans as a field expedient measure. PU scopes where often easier to get as a replacement than the ZF-4. (much as they are today ironically)

I'm personally interested in all rifles and weapons just specialize in collecting Eastern European ones.

 

[jason longboard]

 

[Stone Like Fish]

Nice rubberband minigun, would of been good if you told us what it was lol


Back on topic: What was the standard infantry rifle for russian soldier in WWII?

 

[riverfishguy]

Poly my G-43 also has the duffle cut and the stock looks skanky lol. Shoots just fine the few times i've fired it. I never thought about using a russian scope on it. The average person wouldnt know the difference so thats a pretty good idea. Ever mess with m1 carbines? I've got a IBM and a rockola but im still hunting for a national postal meter. Oh out of curiosity you ever lay hands on a japanese arisaka breakdown type? You seem to have run across a lot of oddballs.

Btw whats a good decent shooting AK variant that wont cost an arm and a leg? I'd kind of like one of the 5.45 x 39's. Dont know where to find or what to pay for one though.

 

[Polypterus]

Poly my G-43 also has the duffle cut and the stock looks skanky lol. Shoots just fine the few times i've fired it. I never thought about using a russian scope on it. The average person wouldnt know the difference so thats a pretty good idea. Ever mess with m1 carbines? I've got a IBM and a rockola but im still hunting for a national postal meter. Oh out of curiosity you ever lay hands on a japanese arisaka breakdown type? You seem to have run across a lot of oddballs.

Btw whats a good decent shooting AK variant that wont cost an arm and a leg? I'd kind of like one of the 5.45 x 39's. Dont know where to find or what to pay for one though.

I had an Inland M-1 that was Russian marked and rearsanaled..Could never figure that one out as they where never lend / leased to Russia. Kills me that I sold it also....

I've been looking at a takedown Arisaka... http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87947587
Just not sure if I want it or an SVT-40 I've been drooling over.. More likely going to go with the SVT as it is a bit different than the other two I have. Those takedown arisaka have always interested me however.

A good Ak-74 variant would be the Polish Tantal.. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=88054615
or one of the Bulgarian guns put together by Ohio ordnance, Ohio rapid fire or Arsenal. The Romanian guns (Sar 2) are OK but not as well built.

Back on topic: What was the standard infantry rifle for russian soldier in WWII?

Depends on the Unit and time period. The Mosin M-91/30 was the most issued and was standard in rifle units. Many a soldier though would discard the thing quickly if a PPSH-41 became available. Later in the war 1944 and 1945 91/30's where replaced more frequently with Mosin M-1938 carbines and M-44 carbines. But again it depended on your unit. In some poorly preforming units the standard issue weapon was a M-91/30 bayonet....No gun included...

 

[riverfishguy]

Thanks for the AK pointer. Pretty slick looking rifle. Any idea if there is a wood stock version also? As it is I think I'll order one of those soon as the money comes along. I like interesting lookin wallhangers. Svt-40's are wonderful old rifles. I'd pick it over an arisaka. Ever shot one? Surprising how low the recoil impulse is.

An M1 carbine that was russian arsenal marked? Thats wild. Never heard of such a thing. That arisaka is nice but the crest being ground off is a major downer for me. Im a bit neurotic about my keepers being unmolested. My type 99 has the mum monopod and airplane intact and the finish is in excellent shape. One of my odder mutt guns though is a 6.5 jap chambered italian carcano. Built at the terni arsenal for japan iirc.

(Don't have it on hand loaned it to a local museum doing a pacific theater display.)

 

[Polypterus]

Thanks for the AK pointer. Pretty slick looking rifle. Any idea if there is a wood stock version also? As it is I think I'll order one of those soon as the money comes along. I like interesting lookin wallhangers. Svt-40's are wonderful old rifles. I'd pick it over an arisaka. Ever shot one? Surprising how low the recoil impulse is.

An M1 carbine that was russian arsenal marked? Thats wild. Never heard of such a thing. That arisaka is nice but the crest being ground off is a major downer for me. Im a bit neurotic about my keepers being unmolested. My type 99 has the mum monopod and airplane intact and the finish is in excellent shape. One of my odder mutt guns though is a 6.5 jap chambered italian carcano. Built at the terni arsenal for japan iirc.

(Don't have it on hand loaned it to a local museum doing a pacific theater display.)

Your within 922 to put original wood stocks on An AK-74 varient. You can get authentic repro US made AK-74 wood furniture without much problem. http://www.ironwooddesigns.com/2aprod/1zAKproduct.html
Grip should be phenolic plastic though and you can find this elsewhere. I really like Ironwoods stocks as they are very accurate and well made. I use their Yugo Repros on some of my guns to avoid damaging or wearing the originals for some of my guns I like to use. I have a couple that have special carvings and markings that I like to keep intact and little used. I occasionally enjoy taking them to the range in original condition but mostly prefer not doing so.

I personally love the SVT. This is a favorite of mine. These guns are a joy to shoot and my personal favorite among all firearms. That one Japanese gun I have always wanted though..It would help if it was Russian arsenal marked to get me to buy it though...For now I'm Buying the AVS / SVT transition

I'm the same BTW I do not like my guns molested or messed with. I look for two things when buying a gun. Original condition and history. I have a few BS guns mostly AK variants made for US markets but even these have a weird history to them.

Not sure if you have one Riverfishguy but a C&R license is your best friend if your into these things.

 

[riverfishguy]

Im honestly not sure about the differences in the svt's. mine has the varnished stock and plum colored bolt but I wouldnt know how to tell which arsenal it came out of. Any help there would be appreciated. That polish ak variant isint C&R eligible is it? I didnt look for a production date but it appeared fairly new. (my dad had one so im aware of em just never tried getting one) I'm still hunting for an original trapdoor springfield conversion to. got one built in 1884 but its not a conversion from a civil war rifle.

As for molesting and bubba'ing out guns. I am in the process of doing it to an M1A. Mainly to make it a better shooter though. Kriger heavy barrel and replacing all the other parts with NM grade stuff.

 

[Polypterus]

Im honestly not sure about the differences in the svt's. mine has the varnished stock and plum colored bolt but I wouldnt know how to tell which arsenal it came out of. Any help there would be appreciated. That polish ak variant isint C&R eligible is it? I didnt look for a production date but it appeared fairly new. (my dad had one so im aware of em just never tried getting one) I'm still hunting for an original trapdoor springfield conversion to. got one built in 1884 but its not a conversion from a civil war rifle.

As for molesting and bubba'ing out guns. I am in the process of doing it to an M1A. Mainly to make it a better shooter though. Kriger heavy barrel and replacing all the other parts with NM grade stuff.

Most SVT are Tula (Star with arrow). Ishvesk (Triangle with arrow) are rather rare. The most desirable IMO are the Ishvesk guns as they seem to have better work put into them.

Unfortunately the Polish tantal / PMK / KbK are not C&R and are made from mostly US parts. They are by Classification New made guns despite having some original parts.

Funny you mention an old Springfield as your preferred hunting rifle.. I'm personally fond of using a 1874 Sharps with 32 inch barrel. It was built in 1878 and then rebuilt again somewhere and re-barreled to 45/70 but it is a hell of a tack driver. It has the Creedmore sights on it so it is a joy to shoot and hunt with.