Question for China Sports

[CAV Trooper]

Since you have a lot more knowledge obout Chinese AK's than I do, I thought I would make use of your expertise.

I have a Chinese Type 56 that you might be interested in. The only markings on the gun are 416 in a triangle and the serial number P85-762-xxxx. Both are on the left upper side of the stamped reciever. There is NO importer name and the last four numbers are on all major parts including the buttstock. There it is stamped into the wood and filled in with white paint. The stock, handguards and pistol grip are light brown wood with a nice grain and are matched perfectly. The grip has flat checkering on both sides. It has a folding spike bayonet and a nut on the threaded muzzle. The metal is the standard flat black paint except the bolt, bolt carrier and gas piston are unpainted steel (silver). It has a three position selector with Chinese charecters for "semi" and "auto". Having said that, let me assure you that the rifle is actually semi-auto ONLY. It doesn't have the third hole drilled for the auto sear and and all the fire control parts are semi auto. It will fire with the selector in either position but again, semi only. It has a sling swivel on both the bottom rear of the stock and also one on the left front of the stock. It has a standard, green canvas sling. The original 30 round magazine has "POLY CHINA" stamped on the floor plate and a CHROME follower. I've never seen a mag like that before. The fit and finish of the rifle are excellent. Much better than anything I have seen lately.

Again, other than the ones I listed, there are NO markings on the rifle at all. I was told that it was made at the Minshan Arsenal which produces rifles strictly for the Chinese military.

I've seen some messages on this forum that indicate a serial number like mine is a PolyTech but others that lead me to believe that they only did milled recievers.

I'd really like to get your thoughts and opinions on this rifle. Thanks

[This message has been edited by CAV Trooper (edited 01-25-2000).]

[China Sports]

The only Arsenals which can be disclosed, by name or location are as follows.

Triangle 66 - Norinco
Oval 386 - PolyTech
Triangle 416 - Ling Hua

That being said I remembered about your post about the Min Shan arsenal. The Min Shan arsenal does exist, but I don't recall them importing weapons to the united states. Maybe I have it backwards and its Ling Hua that didnt import and Min Shan that did. If so, my 416 arsenal marking is backwards too. I'll have to check with my contacts at Norinco about that.
In regards to you asking if it is a polytech weapon, every poly rifle I have ever seen has been marked with the 386 in the oval arsenal marking, which denotes PolyTech, so that rules that out.
The magazine however sounds to be Polytech, which doesn't surprise me as most mags in china are only from a few manufacturers, meaning these might have just been thrown in with the rifle.
Those are the arsenal markings as far as I recall. Actually, if you have any interest in trading or selling it i might be interested, but as for information. here goes.

Basicly the chinese got lazy and decided to use their full auto recievers and just not drill the auto hole so they are marked like auto guns, just without auto parts. They're actually pretty neat pieces. Ling Hua is a good arsenal, as are all chinese govt. arsenals. The workers farm by day, and work at the arsenals by night. Hard to plot against a government when you're not allowed to be alone and you only get paid with a bowl of food and some water.

Most govt arsenals are run by China Sports, a large company controling Norinco. If you need more in depth information, feel free to email me and ill get back to you as soon as possible.

~CS

[This message has been edited by China Sports (edited 01-26-2000).]

[GATOR]

hey CAV,
my POLY -TECH marked underfolder is imported by KENG'S and has the "416" stamped on the trunion if that helps.....

[LAARS]

china sport,
why does my polytech have 416 in a triangle if 386 in a oval is a polytech.Are they both polytechs but made in different arsenals.You mentioned Triangle 416 - Ling Hua .My serial number is pw85-762-***** model AKS-762 then on the left side of the receiver it says poly tech beijing china. On the bottom of the receiver it is stamped, imported by KFS. The receiver is a stamped one. Is it just the legend is made at the 386 arsenal and the aks-762 is made at the 416 Ling Hua arsenal? Hope you can figure this out, since this has been questioned a few times but not really explained why this is. Thanks

[This message has been edited by LAARS (edited 02-12-2000).]

[This message has been edited by LAARS (edited 02-12-2000).]

[China Sports]

Re: the 416 and 386 arsenals, I believe both are PolyTech, and that PolyTech was assigned a new arsenal number somewhere along the line. that or parts were all assembled under PolyTech supervision at different arsenals. both are possible.