First, I talked to another coworker who's very experienced - ex-Marine who's done gunsmith work for Prairie Arms, incl class 3 conversions and so on. He cautioned that true Russian SKS's can be ID'd by their blued bolt, and that Chinese/Yugo/etc clones don't. Can anyone verify that?

sorry but he is mis-informed russian sks' did come with polished or black (not blued) bolts. . depending on year , arsenal built, original, refurbished etc. chicom sks were polished bolts. and if he really knew his stuff (regarding sks') he would have advised you to look at the receiver. the russian's have some cryllic markings (some) a triangle, or star arsenal mark. russian's had blade bayonet and screwed in bbl along with milled trigger group. chi-com ones came pinned or screw in bbl. milled or stamped trigger group, spike or blade bayonet. as well as full length or carbine, fixed or detachable (ak mag) mag.

for a little more then his price (SHAMELESS PLUG) i have one that is a true unfired russian sks. with extra's. sent you an i-m