Why Izhevsk SKS-45 Carbines Are So Rare & Collectible (Soviet-Russian Cold War Storytime)

[@Johnnyg67-]

I think you should keep it, Misha. After all, it already has a like new sling . Thanks for another great video!

[@jimdg2000able]

Anything I bought during the Golden era of MIlsurps is staying with me until I die. So, I'd keep that SKS. Even the crustiest $65 Turkish Mauser or $99 Finnish Mosin is worth far to me than what it's worth on a gun auction site. Too much time spent knee deep in cosmo cleaning them up. Too many cheap crates of dubious corrosive ammo down range. Too much time reading Gunboards, Tuco's and Parallax's milsurp gun forums, and too many memories to part with.

[@misha5670]

If only it were not my job to sell guns. Yeah sometimes its a good job and others a tough one.

[@samadams4070]

All my life I've been a cheap bastard and passed on guns I wanted, I've also sold all the cheap surplus that I got in the 90's. I finally realized that prices will never go down, the good ol' days are over. So, these days I don't give a shit what something costs-I see it, I want it, I buy it. I'm a happy man.

[@g54b95]

THIS! Surplus dries up and then becomes collectable, and then you really have to pay up.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

To a degree I do the same, I do wait for a slump in sales for Most USA items. Imports... i want, I buy. We all have the ones that got away!!

[@FulcrumMVD]

Love these videos! You sold me a PE90 that I adore. Keep it up!

[@Straightlineusa]

I got lucky and picked up a 1953 seemingly original condition Ishevsk SKS at a gun show for not too much a few years ago, at the time I had no idea I bought a "rare" gun until I started watching your videos Misha.

[@LedZeppelinXV]

Let me help you out a bit on some of the details you got wrong. The type 2 AK was made from 1951-1955, and the type 3 was from 1955-1959. Late 1954 to mid 1955 rifles were transitional with features of both the type 2 and type 3. The laminate birch and ribbed magazines appeared with the introduction of the type 3 in 1955 and yes, very late production Tula SKSs were made with laminate stocks from the factory as well, a very rare sight to still see those with their original stocks. For the date codes that were used from 1955-1959, we have updated information on that. The full 1955 date was still used from January - March of that year, and here are the letter codes and when they were used: Д (April - June, 1955) И (July - December, 1955) К (1956) Л (1957) М (1958) Р (1959) These codes were the same at both factories, so this can be used to date a late Tula SKS as well. In 1960 this system was dropped, and the standard full date markings returned. Another fun fact, the SKS actually started production in 1948 at Tula. I have no idea how many were made, but they are incredibly rare. I have only seen 2 examples posted on the internet over the years. Hope this helps anyone that is interested in Russian stuff like me.

[@darinstenger7123]

Thanks for all your info....i fianlly added a beautiful matching 1950 non refurb Russian sks to my collection ....when i randomly seen it at a local store. Its a absolute beauty..

[@1uptospeed]

you sir are a wealth of knowledge. thanks for the history lesson.

[@walther5027]

God I really love the videos where he doesn’t beg for money. Just better content. Very interesting

[@grosspapa1679]

I dont think reworked or refurbished means that much. I never sell good guns, tools, or vehicles. I will say this. Everything has a price. Im 50 yrs old. Been in to firearms most my life. The SKS will always be in my top 5 favorite rifles. It just shoots nice and controllable. No funny stuff. This was a great video. Thank you.

[@Coinbro]

Should have got a m38 lol man I miss when surplus was cheap and affordable... But I guess what didnt seem long ago was 20 years ago

[@mattmorrison9379]

10 years ago they were 200, 9130s were 125 lol. Smh

[@misha5670]

I love that M38. Just a handy little gun.

[@ShadyPlauge]

thanks misha

[@chrischiampo7647]

Nice Misha My SKS is a Chinese Model Brought Back By My Uncle From Vietnam 😀

[@alexander1902]

Me watching with my one AKMS in my gun box whilst Misha has an entire room full of AK and SKS rifles. Cool shirt too. 😊

[@АлакПатрова]

@@alexander1902 lol everytime I feel pretty good about my collection I see one of these people and it makes me a little sad.

[@misha5670]

@@АлакПатрова Dpm t be. I have what I have only because these guns were so inexpensive 2 decades ago. But I myself missed out on a lot of the inexpensive milsurp from the 1950s-1960s. Not to mention all the cool 1980s preban guns like the FAMAS or FNC *shrug*.

[@zachbarnett8226]

I would keep it but it depends on what you want to collect and your reasons are valid for moving it, I got my first Russian sks last year at an online auction for about five hundred but I didn’t notice that it had a mismatched bolt bc the numbers were so close together & it didn’t have a refurb mark but shoots great

[@Cyberdemon-9001]

Ive got a Russian one as well, 1954, all matching serial numbers except the box mag. I do have the detatchable mag it came with kicking around. Not sure where it was produced, but its a fun rifle to plink with

[@jeffreyforsthoffer2480]

A few months ago I picked up a ‘54 Izhevsk not re-arsenaled. Except for a bump here and there on the stock, it is in excellent condition. I think it may have been a parade/guard rifle? It is one of my very few gems. I can understand if you want to move on from yours but IMHO other SKS’s pale in comparison.

[@2._-1.-_]

Thank you!

[@mattmorrison9379]

I snagged a 53 tula all matching minus the magazine non refurb for 525 off GB. It had an extended rubber butt pad and an ugly after-market top cover. But the original came with . Bought an original butt plate and a new top cover pin and waala a nice sks under 600. Yes, please, and thank you. It has that beautiful red finish with random dark spots in the wood. This style of sks stock is just the bees knees imo.

[@dinosworkinonit3563]

I loves me my SKSs, maybe why I have so many of them (14). I started collecting them in 1992, since by then, I have amassed quite a few M91/30s and M44s. I've owned many SKSs and sold many too. What I ended up with after 30 years is a collection of the finest examples from most of the countries that produced them. The Queen Mary of the fleet is my "D" Lettergun in unissued and unfired condition with the Tiger striped Arctic Birch stock. Over the years I had some interesting discussions about some of the features and markings on SKSs, in particular, the "golden hue" blade bayonets, the crossbolt cartouches, and the factory of origin letter series guns. Some argue that the golden hue bayonets may be a replacement at refurbishment, the crossbolt cartouches were stamped on at refurbishment, and that the lettergun series were not produced at Tula. I'd love to hear your opinions on these topics. Thanks for the video.

[@АлакПатрова]

Hell yea man.

[@misha5670]

I definitely think the golden bayonets are original. The colour is probably from either a heat treat, other metal finishing process, or simply a result of long-term storage in grease/oil/cosmo. Just look how some US milspec park finish had taken ona a greenish colour after time, oil, and whatever else. As for the letter series guns, if Tula didn't make them? who did? It wouldn't be China. Nah, i think they were just the last of the run, using up parts and maybe being made for export (even as pattern rifles for others maybe?) But i see nothing about them that doesn't appear Soviet.

[@dinosworkinonit3563]

@@misha5670 Thanks for your thoughts. It has been argued by some members of a prominent SKS Forum that the letter series were soviet made, just not Tula, because of the missing Tula factory mark on the dust cover. The Tula star is present on the receiver, but still some speculate it is the Soviet star symbol, and not necessarily a Tula Star. All speculation. Your thoughts on the crossbolt cartouches?

[@dinosworkinonit3563]

@@АлакПатрова You Damn right!

[@ComblocEli]

This might be a sign , my local FFL just got a Russian Izzy mint condition. Always wanted to add an SKS to my stable.

[@misha5670]

Just double check the year.

[@zacharyjohnson5111]

Always wanted an SKS just waiting to find a decent one at a pawnshop or something lol

[@shawnoandrew]

I scored a matching 57 Russian SKS Tula off GB for 430.00. Putting a Polish Laminate stock and handguard on it. I have many SKS rifles of 5 countries of origin. Need an EG and a NORK.

[@UncleSam-7.62]

You are a National Treasure Misha. You must have had to sling beucoup firearms to end up with such a Magnificent collection of Beautiful Firearms like you have. My Compliments and My Respect to you. ❤️👍

[@misha5670]

thanks and yep you are right. My guns represent a huge investment in time and energy; even more than strictly speaking just moneys.

[@thomasmintz913]

Fyi. You do not need to lift the coller up to put the blade on the barrel. It was made to be released from the catch and slammed onto the barrel as designed.

[@misha5670]

Yep but i like being gentle with most of my guns, why not?

[@Punisherfan123]

Holy hell, you look a lot like Fedsmoker

[@thomasmintz913]

I have a 54 izzy unissued still in the original box. I did have a 53 but unfortunately traded that off

[@АлакПатрова]

I miss surplus stuff. These times suck

[@alexander1902]

I've given up on trying to get one, especially given the fact you can get an AK for less.

[@АлакПатрова]

@alexander1902 yea, I paid 75 for my first mosin M44 and 150 for my first norinco SKS if I knew then what I know now I would have bought them by the pallet. I feel bad for the younger dudes that never even got a taste of it.

[@TheTrueNorth11]

I've got 6 Tulas and 2 Izhevsks. And 4 Chinese variants. Maybe the only benefit to being Canadian.

[@alexander1902]

@@TheTrueNorth11 how are the incoming laws affecting you guys?

[@scottenlow5249]

@@TheTrueNorth11 Don't sleep on Tim Bits!

[@spd579]

If I had one from each country that built the SKS, then yes, I would!

[@simonerubino52]

The Izzy is neat. It would match my M38 and M44. But I already have A52 Tula. If I'm gonna collect and ask KS with a different marking. I think i'd go for a Romanian. Because I don't have one of those.

[@jasonbourne1985]

I can build a good parts kit ak for cheaper than what people are asking for sks's these days. It's insane.

[@user-oj5jr8rm4z]

I like the yugos the grenade sights are just so interesting but the Russian ones are definitely pretty

[@misha5670]

I still have my first Yugo M59/66. Bought in the 'unissued' condition and have never fired it in over 20 years. I have others I can shoot instead. Still smells like Yugo cosmo too lol.

[@ericsennert7933]

So why were the Russians using TT33s in the movie "Spy's Like Us"? That question has plagued me for years.

[@misha5670]

Hell, they used Nagant revolvers well into the 1990s so *shrug*

[@ericsennert7933]

@misha5670 ok. So it would be accurate in the 80s. Thanks

[@kenjgsc]

Fed Smoker has a son!!?? 🤯😳 OMG someone call Tom & Christina 😂 🤟 👖