Went to a small gun and bait shop today for the first time about ten miles from my house.  Just wanted to see what they had.

The guy had a Yugo SKS with the grenade firing brake, and he had two , according to him, Russian SKS rifles. I asked him about them and he said they were made in the 1950's, and they looked brand new. Very good finish on all of the metal parts and barrel.  They both had underfolding bayonets, cyrrilic
markings, and a star on the receiver. Stocks were very nice looking. The wood had a blonde/walnut
mix coloration and appeared to be sealed in some sort of polyurethane or other lamination.

He was asking $295 each. Is that too much to pay, and do they sound Russian to you. What else
do I need to know or look for in picking an SKS?

He also had a brand new Romanian SAR-1 for sale. If I told you guys how little he wanted for it,
I would be getting IM's for the next three days asking me where this shop is located.  
I ain't telling until I make up my mind if I am going to buy it AND an SKS.

Let me know about the SKS. Thanks.

Herman

Check out the Markings tacked thread for identifying different countries SKSs.

Just a star would make it north korean.  A star with an arrow in it would make it a tula, or russian sks.  Built between 49 and 55.  As far as price goes for a nice one I don't know.  I know here I can get a norinco or yugo sks for 200.