Russian SKS questions from new comer

[ATS76]

I got my C&R 2 weeks ago and just bought a Russian SKS from a private party. Importer KBI in VA, Serial # RH224XXX, original serial # 3T3XXX. All Russian SKS is supposed to have chromed barrel. Should the barrel be shinny or blue? The receiver cover is not original. Is there anyway to tell the year?
Thank you.

[mblat]

http://yooperj.com/

This site probably best SKS dedicated site there is. Take a look there.

[TonyNorCal]

Russians started chroming their SKS bores in mid-1951...so there are some out there that aren't.

My Russians have the date stamped on the receiver cover. I don't know how to tell production year from serial numbers...if that info is out there I'd like to know.

Of course, without a date one can use clues like the chrome versus no chrome and spiker versus blade bayonet to narrow down the possible years.

[smeg]

I got my C&R 2 weeks ago and just bought a Russian SKS from a private party. Importer KBI in VA, Serial # RH224XXX, original serial # 3T3XXX. All Russian SKS is supposed to have chromed barrel. Should the barrel be shinny or blue? The receiver cover is not original. Is there anyway to tell the year?
Thank you.

when you asked if the barrel is shiny or blue, do you mean the outside barrel finish? the outside barrel finish should be blue. the breech and bore would be chromed. hopefully, your bore is in great shape and shiny

[metalhead357]

As I understood it- if you have a pre 51 with a darkend bolt then it means that at some time the gun went back for an arsenal refinish as I thought the post 51's were all Dark................but who knows, I've been wrong before so I'd check out SKS boards or its current reincarnation........

All my years on mine are on reciever where it meets the barrel.......